- NORRIS W. ADAIR, deceased. It becomes both the duty and the
pleasure of the historian to
- perpetuate the lives of those who have borne a prominent
part in the history of the country, and therefore we are pleased
to record this sketch of Mr. Norris W. ADAIR. He was numbered
among the leading attorneys of Rock County, and was a resident
of Evansville. In this State he passed his entire life, having
been born in Green County, Wis. He was a son of Mathias and Elizabeth
(BECKER) ADAIR. His father bravely enlisted in the service of
the country during the late Civil War and was one of the thousands
who offered up their lives on the altar of their country in order
that the Union might be preserved. The death of his father occurring
when he was a lad of seven years, Mr. ADAIR was then thrown upon
his own resources and from that time made his own way in the
world. He was truly a self-made man, and the success to which
he attained was but the greater on account of the station from
which he arose. He received his education in the common schools,
and on looking about him for some trade or profession chose the
law as the one which he most wished to make his life work. With
determined energy he set to work to master that profession, and
being of a studious nature, undaunted by any trial which might
cross his path, he soon gained a knowledge of the law which would
have done credit to many an old practitioner. In 1879 he was
admitted to the bar of Rock County in Janesville and located
in the thriving little city of Evansville.
- In 1877 Mr. ADAIR was united in marriage with Miss Amanda
WINSTON, a daughter of
- Reuben WINSTON, of Evansville. Two little sons came to bless
their union, Ralph and Herman.
- After locating in Evansville, Mr. ADAIR applied himself with
untiring zeal to his profession and
- secured a good practice. He was rapidly gaining a prominent
position at the bar and displayed marked talent and ability,
but confining himself too closely to his work, over-study and
his arduous labors impaired his constitution, and on the 29th
of March, 1881, the flame of life burned itself out. In his death
the community lost one of her most brilliant and promising citizens,
the young wife a loving and tender husband, and the little sons
a kind and indulgent father. On being throw upon his own resources
he had resolved to make for himself a place in this world, and
his ambition and love of study spurred him on until his health
gave way before the strain. His life was one of the strictest
integrity and uprightness, and he leaves to his children the
priceless heritage of a good name.
- On the 2d day of April, 1885, Mrs. ADAIR was again married,
becoming the wife of George H.
- BUTTS, a leading farmer residing on section 28, in the town
of Milton. Her children are yet with her and are bright intelligent
little lads, of whom she may well be proud. When only fours years
of age Ralph was afflicted with spinal meningitis, which left
the right lower limb paralyzed. He suffered greatly and at length
lost the entire use of that limb. It was then thought best that
the member should be amputated, and it was taken off just above
the knee.
-
- Taken from "The Portrait and Biographical Album of
Rock County, Wis." (c)1889, pp. 747-748.
-
- Courtesy of Carol
|