Legislator Details
Number of sessions served 6
Gender: Male
Age at election: 45
Vital Records Information:
Birth
Date: 1/1/1815
City: near Glasgow
County:
Country: Scotland
Death
Date: 5/19/1895
City: Detroit, MI
County: Wayne County, MI
Country: US
Type of Burial:
Burial
Date:
City:
County:
Country:
Cemetery:
Marital Information:
never married
Number of Children: 0
Background
Religion: Presbyterian
Military Service:
Occupation: carpenter; gardener/horticulturalist; businessman
Race: Caucasian or White
Education:
Biographical Sketch:
His father was Thomas Adair, a carpenter. William emigrated to US and settled in Detroit in 1834. He worked for many years as a carpenter and joiner before becoming a horticulturalist. Member of the fire dept. elected president of the volunteers in 1859; served as president of the St. Andrews Society and of the Detroit Mechanics Society. He served 2 terms as president of the board of eduction; first elected to the board in 1890.
He was a member of Olive Branch, IOOF and Zion lodge, F. & A.M. he was a founding member of the Central Presbyterian church in Detroit.
Notable Facts:
Exact date of birth not known. Death certificate says born 1812.
He died of cancer.
Sessions Served:
Committees Served On: State Affairs , State House of Correction, State Prison , Roads and Bridges
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District Description: Wards 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10 of the City of Detroit in Wayne County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed
Committees Served On: Appropriations and Finance, Roads and Bridges , Asylum for Insane, Supplies and Miscellaneous Expenses of the Senate
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District Description: City of Detroit wards 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10; twps of Greenfield. Hamtramck and Grosse Point in Wayne County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Committees Served On: Claims, State Library , Fisheries
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District Description: City of Detroit wards 2, 3, 4, 7 and 10; townships of Greenfield, Hamtramck and Grosse Point in Wayne County
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed
Committees Served On: Asylum for Deaf, Dumb and Blind, Finance
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
District Description: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 7th and 10th Wards of the city of Detroit, and the townships of Greenfield, Hamtramck, and Grosse Point, in the county of Wayne
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Departed
Committees Served On: Finance , State Prison
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Committees Served On: Manufactures, Expiring Laws
City of Residence: Detroit
County of Residence Wayne
Reason for Leaving Office: N/A
End of Term Status: Re-elected
Bibliography:
Carlisle p.461-62; PionColl 26:499-500; MIBiog 1:7; PolGryd; DFP 5/20/1895 p.1, includes sketch; Manual 1865 p.162
