William Penn Adair
Encyclopedia
William Penn Adair was a Cherokee
leader and Confederate
colonel.
, Georgia. His parents were George Washington Adair and Martha Adair. He attended Cherokee schools in Indian Territory
, studying law. He was a Freemason, belonging to the Vinita
Lodge No. 5, which was chartered in 1875. He was described as being "six foot and two inches in height, magnetic, logical and frankly agreeable, the ablest and most brilliant of all Cherokees.
Adair's first wife was Sarah Ann McNair. His second was Susannah "Sue" McIntosh Drew. He lived on the Grand River
in what is now Adair, Oklahoma
.
he served in the Confederate States Army
, first in the First Regiment of Cherokee Mounted Volunteers, under General Stand Watie
. Adair rose in rank to colonel and organized the Second Cherokee Mounted Volunteers.
in many capacities. He was a senator, a justice of the Cherokee Supreme Court, delegate to Washington, DC, and assistant principal chief. He served as the Senator from the Flint District from 1855-1860 and Senator from the Saline District from 1869-1874. In 1879, he was elected as Assistant Chief. Throughout the 1860s and 1870s, Adair served as a delegate to Washington.
He was a vocal advocate for the rights of the Texas Cherokees. In 1873, he and Clement Neely Vann co-authored the book, History of the Claim of the Texas Cherokees, in which they wrote on behalf of "the Texas Cherokees and Affiliated Bands."
Cherokees sought compensation from Texas for lands lost in 1839 and sent Adair to Washington to petition Congress to allow him to sue the state to return lands in Texas once belonging to Cherokee people. In 1839, Republic of Texas
President Mirabeau Lamar had forcibly driven Texas Cherokees into Indian Territory and seized their Texan lands. The tribe wanted 1500000 acres (6,070.3 km²) in East Texas returned to them. The state offered lands in the Texas Panhandle
, but the tribe refused to accept that offer.
was named for William Penn Adair and his brother, Dr. Walter Thompson Adair.
Cherokee
The Cherokee are a Native American people historically settled in the Southeastern United States . Linguistically, they are part of the Iroquoian language family...
leader and Confederate
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
colonel.
Background
William Penn Adair was born on April 15, 1830 in the old Cherokee Nation in New EchotaNew Echota
New Echota was the capital of the Cherokee Nation prior to their forced removal in the 1830s. New Echota is 3.68 miles north of present-day Calhoun, Georgia, and south of Resaca, Georgia. The site is a state park and an historic site....
, Georgia. His parents were George Washington Adair and Martha Adair. He attended Cherokee schools in Indian Territory
Indian Territory
The Indian Territory, also known as the Indian Territories and the Indian Country, was land set aside within the United States for the settlement of American Indians...
, studying law. He was a Freemason, belonging to the Vinita
Vinita, Oklahoma
Vinita is a city in south-central Craig County, Oklahoma. As of 2009, the population estimate was 6,057. It is the county seat of Craig County.-Geography:...
Lodge No. 5, which was chartered in 1875. He was described as being "six foot and two inches in height, magnetic, logical and frankly agreeable, the ablest and most brilliant of all Cherokees.
Adair's first wife was Sarah Ann McNair. His second was Susannah "Sue" McIntosh Drew. He lived on the Grand River
Grand River (Oklahoma)
The Grand River is an alternate name for the lower section of the Neosho River, a tributary of the Arkansas River in Oklahoma. "Grand River" refers to the section of river below the confluence of the Neosho and Spring rivers in Ottawa County near Miami...
in what is now Adair, Oklahoma
Adair, Oklahoma
Adair is a town in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 790 at the 2010 census, compared to 704 at the 2000 census. Named for two prominent Cherokee brothers, the town was established in 1883 and opened a Cherokee school.-History:...
.
Military service
During the civil warAmerican Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
he served in the Confederate States Army
Confederate States Army
The Confederate States Army was the army of the Confederate States of America while the Confederacy existed during the American Civil War. On February 8, 1861, delegates from the seven Deep South states which had already declared their secession from the United States of America adopted the...
, first in the First Regiment of Cherokee Mounted Volunteers, under General Stand Watie
Stand Watie
Stand Watie , also known as Standhope Uwatie, Degataga , meaning “stand firm”), and Isaac S. Watie, was a leader of the Cherokee Nation and a brigadier general of the Confederate States Army during the American Civil War...
. Adair rose in rank to colonel and organized the Second Cherokee Mounted Volunteers.
Tribal leadership
Adair served the Cherokee NationCherokee Nation (19th century)
The Cherokee Nation of the 19th century —an historic entity —was a legal, autonomous, tribal government in North America existing from 1794–1906. Often referred to simply as The Nation by its inhabitants, it should not be confused with what is known today as the "modern" Cherokee Nation...
in many capacities. He was a senator, a justice of the Cherokee Supreme Court, delegate to Washington, DC, and assistant principal chief. He served as the Senator from the Flint District from 1855-1860 and Senator from the Saline District from 1869-1874. In 1879, he was elected as Assistant Chief. Throughout the 1860s and 1870s, Adair served as a delegate to Washington.
He was a vocal advocate for the rights of the Texas Cherokees. In 1873, he and Clement Neely Vann co-authored the book, History of the Claim of the Texas Cherokees, in which they wrote on behalf of "the Texas Cherokees and Affiliated Bands."
Cherokees sought compensation from Texas for lands lost in 1839 and sent Adair to Washington to petition Congress to allow him to sue the state to return lands in Texas once belonging to Cherokee people. In 1839, Republic of Texas
Republic of Texas
The Republic of Texas was an independent nation in North America, bordering the United States and Mexico, that existed from 1836 to 1846.Formed as a break-away republic from Mexico by the Texas Revolution, the state claimed borders that encompassed an area that included all of the present U.S...
President Mirabeau Lamar had forcibly driven Texas Cherokees into Indian Territory and seized their Texan lands. The tribe wanted 1500000 acres (6,070.3 km²) in East Texas returned to them. The state offered lands in the Texas Panhandle
Texas Panhandle
The Texas Panhandle is a region of the U.S. state of Texas consisting of the northernmost 26 counties in the state. The panhandle is a rectangular area bordered by New Mexico to the west and Oklahoma to the north and east...
, but the tribe refused to accept that offer.
Death and legacy
While in Washington, DC, Adair died on October 23, 1880. Several Cherokee men were named after him in the late 19th century, including the celebrated Cherokee humorist William Penn Adair Rogers (better known as Will Rogers). Adair, OklahomaAdair, Oklahoma
Adair is a town in Mayes County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 790 at the 2010 census, compared to 704 at the 2000 census. Named for two prominent Cherokee brothers, the town was established in 1883 and opened a Cherokee school.-History:...
was named for William Penn Adair and his brother, Dr. Walter Thompson Adair.
External links
- "William Penn Adair," article in the Chronicles of Oklahoma by Cherrie Adair Moore, Spring 1951.