Adair Heritage Association, Columbia, Kentucky

06/03/2026

Akin, George R., private, Company C, 13 KY Cavalry, enrolled 26 December 1863 Adair County, age 18, resided Adair County, mustered 23 December 1863 Columbia, KY; mustered out 10 January 1865 Camp Nelson; born Adair County, died 13 October 1931 Adair County, age 84; married Martha A. Dillingham 2 April 1867 Adair; pensioner. Geo. R. Akin, age 13, born Adair, in household of Joseph K. & Nancy B. Akin in 1860 Adair census; resided Sparksville post office, in Adair 1890 veterans census.

“Last Wednesday a birthday dinner was given in honor of Mr. G.R. Akin at his home. Mr. Akin, who is Civil War veteran, was 81 years of age and many of his friends gathered to assist in celebrating the occasion...”—Adair County News, 27 March 1928

“Mr. George Akin, Aged Resident of Sparksville, Passed Away Tuesday Morning—After over a year of declining health, Mr. George Akin died at his home in Sparksville Tuesday morning at 1 o'clock. He was one of the oldest citizens of the county, and was a Civil War veteran, having served in the Federal army in the Thirteenth Kentucky Cavalry. Though not a native of Adair County, Mr. Akin was a member of a family long identified with the growth of this section of Kentucky. He was born in Cumberland County, the son of Joseph K. Akin, and moved to Adair early in life. With the exception of a short time spent in Columbia, he had lived the greater part of his life in the Sparksville neighborhood, where his death is an occasion of sorrow to the relatives and friends. He is survived by his wife, Mrs. Mollie Akin, and four sons by a former marriage: Lee Akin, of Ardmore, Okla.; Zed Akin, Greenfield, Okla.; Lafe Akin, of Sparksville; and Evan Akin, of Columbia, Jailer of Adair County. There are also a number of grandchildren and several great-grandchildren. Funeral services will be conducted at the home at 2:30 o'clock this afternoon. Burial will be in the cemetery at Antioch Church.”—Adair County News, 14 October 1931

06/02/2026

Abrel, Graffienburg “Graf,” “G.R.”—AG has Graffenburg Absell, private Company C, 13 KY Cavalry, enrolled 25 November 1863, Adair County, age 18, mustered 23 December 1863 Columbia, KY; mustered out 10 January 1865 Camp Nelson; born 7 January 1846 Russell County, died 9 April 1916 Glensfork, Adair County, buried Abrel Cemetery, Adair County, son of Fountain & Lucinda Winfrey Abrel; DeGraftonreed in 1850 Adair census, age 5; “Allen D.G.” in 1860 Russell County census, age 13, household of his mother, Lucinda; resided Adair County after the War; married Sarah P. Lewis 1870 Adair County; farmer, minister; pensioner, widow pensioned.

Adair County News clipping, 19 April 1916, p5

06/02/2026

Tickets for the Saturday event are on sale NOW!

The festival draws ever closer!

Soon you will see our flyers going up around town. Help us spread the word by letting your friends and family know! General admission is $15, and that gets you in for the ENTIRE day of events Saturday! Our reception on Friday, however, is totally free!

Get your tickets now 🎟️!! https://cur8.com/25925/project/139668

06/02/2026

Adair County Genealogical Society 2026 Meeting Schedule & Other Historical Activities in America250!

June 1: ACGS Business Meeting—No program; 5pm Research Center

June 1-30: Research Center Displays: Jane Lampton Clemens & Mark Twain; Adair County Fairs & Dairy Days

June 5: Lanterns & Tombstones Tour, No. 3, Columbia City Cemetery, 7pm

June 9: Adair Heritage Association quarterly meeting, Research Center, 5pm

June 10: Jane Lampton Clemens Week Proclamation at Research Center, 11am

June 15-20: Jane Lampton Clemens Week in Columbia & Adair County [Her birthday is June 18]

June 15: Samuel L. Clemens Mural Unveiling, Monday at 11am, corner of Reed and Jamestown Streets

June 19-20: Mark Twain Storytelling Festival in Columbia and on LWU campus & John Field House

June 27 Saturday Session 3: Beginning Genealogy for Any Age, Mike Watson & Annita Dial, Research Center, noon-2pm, CT

July 1-31: Research Center Displays: America250! Revolutionary Veterans and More

July 3: Lanterns & Tombstones Tour, No. 4—Columbia Cemetery—Veterans, 7pm

July 4: Independence Day! Research Center closed.

July 6: ACGS: America 250! Jane Lampton Chapter, Daughters of American Revolution, present program on local veterans of the Revolution; 5pm, Research Center

July 18: Saturday Session 4: Grave Marker Cleaning, Annita Dial 6pm-8pm. [Rescheduled from April]

August 3: ACGS: Research Night at the Center—No program—Research and Fellowship

August 7: Lanterns & Tombstones Tour, No. 5—Mt. Carmel Cemetery, 7pm CT

September 4: Lanterns & Tombstones Tour, No. 6—Columbia City Cemetery, 7pm

September 7: No meeting—Labor Day. Research Center closed

06/02/2026

We have been able to acquire several copies of this wonderful booklet:

Pellyton & Barnett's Creek Veterans--Those Who Served with Honor, Sacrifice & Dignity, 2011, by Mary Ann Dean Blair, 32 pages, with photographs.

We have copies at the Adair Genealogy & History Research Center if anyone would like to add to their Adair County History Collection. $9. We can ship via USPS for postage of $3; shipping total $12.

06/02/2026

Lanterns & Tombstones Tours—June 5th 2026

Lanterns & Tombstones Cemetery Tour, coming Friday, June 5th at 7 pm CT.

The next installment of the Fifth Season of Columbia City Cemetery Walking Tour will take place Friday night, June 5.

Dave Thomas and Mike Watson will lead participants through various parts of the more than two century year old graveyard, pointing out bits of interesting lore along the way.

This is a walking tour through the historic cemetery and participants are encouraged to wear sturdy shoes, bring a jacket if it is cool, and your enthusiasm. Small flashlights will be provided to aid you in winding your way on the Tour.

The Tour will take place each month throughout the year—April through September, culminating with the annual Silent City Tour of 2026 in October. Each month the Tour and narration will be different from previous months.

There will be two “On-the-Road” Tours again this year—in May and August… May was at Free Union at Sano, and August will be at Mount Carmel.

There will be some specific information repeated each month for emphasis and to inform those who have not previously attended.

The Tour will form at the edge of the Judicial Center parking area at Merchant and Monroe Streets, and will proceed up the drive to the Historic Cemetery. We will return to the same location. Please do not park in the cemetery.

Hope to see you there!

For more information: [email protected]; or call the Research Center, 270-380-1024.

Mike Watson and Dave Thomas.

06/02/2026

The Adair County Genealogical Society's regular meeting will take place at the Genealogy & History ?Research Center on Monday, June 1, 2026 at 5pm.

This is a business and planning meeting for the second half of this year. Members and the public are invited to attend and be part of the process. No refreshments are planned.

307 Greensburg Street, Columbia, KY.