John George Adair facts for kids
John George Adair (born March 3, 1823 – died May 4, 1885) was a successful businessman and landowner. He was born in County Laois, Ireland, and was known for helping to start the famous JA Ranch in the Texas Panhandle. People sometimes called him Jack Adair.
Adair first made his money in Ireland. He bought large estates that were struggling after the Irish potato famine.
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Adair's Life and Business
Moving to America
In 1866, John George Adair visited the United States for the first time. He then started a business in New York City. This business helped British people lend money in America. They could get higher interest rates there than in Britain.
Starting the JA Ranch
Adair teamed up with a business partner named Charles Goodnight. Together, they created the JA Ranch in 1877. This was the very first cattle ranch in the Texas Panhandle. It was located in the beautiful Palo Duro Canyon area.
Family Life
In 1867, Adair met Mrs. Cornelia Wadsworth Ritchie at a special event. They got married two years later in 1869.
Where He is Buried
John George Adair is buried at Rathdaire Protestant Parish Church in Ballybrittas, Ireland.
The "Black Jack Adair" Nickname
John George Adair is also known for a difficult event in Derryveagh, County Donegal, Ireland. During a time of famine in 1861, he was involved in the removal of 47 families from their homes.
The Derryveagh Evictions
These events began in April 1861. Overnight, 244 people, including men, women, and children, were asked to leave their homes. They were left with nowhere to go and had to search for shelter. These events became known as the "Derryveagh Evictions." This action cleared about 11,600 acres of land near what is now Glenveagh National Park. Because of this, Adair earned the nickname "Black Jack Adair."
Some people said that "more than 150 screaming children and their parents were ordered off the property." It has been suggested that Adair wanted to make the land around his castle look nicer and improve its views.
The poet William Allingham from Donegal was inspired by these events. He wrote a poem called The Eviction about what happened.
