Adair County Genealogical Society

09/16/2026

Adair County Genealogical Society 2026 Meeting Schedule and Associated Historical/Genealogical Events in the County:

October 5: Annual Business Meeting—5:30pm CT—Beginning 20th year of Silent City: Dining with the Dead in the City Cemetery; tour of cemetery with Mike Watson and Dave Thomas, general history of the cemetery—Business meeting precedes meal there; pot luck. Everyone invited.

October 9-10: Columbia’s Downtown Days & Genealogy Homecoming; Photography contest, & more

October 9: Col. William Casey portrayed by Richard Phelps—A part of the Adair County Homecoming 2026—Friday, October 9, 1pm CT at the Research Center.

October 9: Tebbs Bend Night Ride—Ticketed event at Tebbs Bend, Taylor Co., beginning at 5pm ET/4pm CT

October 12: Silent City Program at Columbia City Cemetery; meet at Research Center at 5pm to walk to cemetery.

October 19: Scavenger Hunt in the City Cemetery, week three of 20th anniversary of Silent City; meet at Research Center 5::30 CT.

October 23: “Shot, Stabbed, Hanged & More on the Public Square,” Season 4, 7pm, CT

October 26: Silent City video presentation—video made on the occasion of the 10th anniversary of Silent City—to be screened at the Adair Research Center, 5:30pm CT.

09/14/2026

October is the 20th anniversary of Silent City programming. ACGS will be hosting four programs--one each Monday evening in October--in celebration of this anniversary and to bring together those who love local and family history. This is America250! and Adair County Genealogical Society's 40th year as well.

Monday the 5th is "Dining with the Dead" at the Columbia Cemetery, the same location of the Silent City programs and Lanterns & Tombstones Tours.

This will be a pot-luck "bean soup" dinner, set up on the cemetery drive, on the main loop near the "big blue barn".

Those who bring food please arrive by 5pm so we can set up for the event which will begin at 5:30 p.m., CT.

There will be soups, chili, bbq, soup beans, and the fixings that go along with those items. As well as desserts. Water, Tea, and Lemonade will be provided.

Serving tables will be on site; bring your chair and enjoy this time of fellowship much as our ancestors would have when reunions, singings, and cemetery working days were the norm.

Dave Thomas and Mike Watson will speak about the cemetery's history and a few of the permanent inhabitants.

We invite you to bring a dish and be a part of our history!

Parking at the Justice Center parking area and/or the Farmer's Market parking log. Walk up the drive between the Justice Center and Fire Department--the same route we take to Silent City from the Research Center and on Lanterns & Tombstones Tours.

If the weather is foul, do not despair, we will convene at the History Center, 307 Greensburg Street, and proceed just the same.

More info: 270.380.1024; [email protected]

09/14/2026

The Jane Lampton Chapter, NSDAR collaborated with Lindsey Wilson University Katie Murrell Library to compile a Constitution Week Display. Pictured left to right are DAR members Valerie Adams and Anita Dial and Librarian Assistant Allison Rea.

Did you know Miss Katie Murrell was. regent of the Jane Lampton Chapter DAR? She was and it was from 1948-1950.

The DAR promotes historical education annually during Constitution Week, September 17-24. This year’s observance marks the 239th anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution on September 17, 1787.

Constitution week was petitioned by the DAR in 1955 and signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956. The public is invited to attend the planned activities. Constitution Week info will be on display in libraries and at the Adair County Genealogy and History Research Center.

Tuesday-Proclamation Signing with Mayor Pam Hoots at the Research Center, 307 Greensburg St. 10:00am

Thursday - 3 pm Constitution Round table discussion at LWU Katie Murrell Library Clark Reading Room. Professors of history, political science, and criminal justice will discuss the U. S. Constitution.

4 pm Ringing of the Bell Ceremony at the LWU Victory Bell behind the Administration Bldg.

DAR members will distribute copies of the U. S. Constitution, 250th American Anniversary Flag Pins and American Flags. Representatives from the DAR and LWU will speak and students will “ring the bell” celebrating the signing of the U.S. Constitution

4-5 pm Get out the Vote Informationtable near the Victory Bell. LWU students can learn how they register to vote and where they vote.

All Times Are Central.

More photos to come at the events.

09/12/2026

09/11/2026

Greetings from the Adair County Genealogical Society in our 40th anniversary year!

To commemorate this anniversary, the ACGS is offering an America250! - Adair Genealogical Society40! tee-shirt for members and friends who would like to sport some local pride for the upcoming historic events.

Come by the Research Center to see examples. Supplies are limited, but if there is enough interest, we will have another batch printed. Sizes: Youth up through XXL adult. Miss Hemi modeling a youth size recently!

Also, we have in stock once more the ever popular book bags in a variety of colors. So if you have one that is about a dozen years old, dirty and worn, come get a fresh, new one!

09/09/2026

From Our History — Rev. Thomas Jefferson Winfrey

As we continue uncovering the history of Burkesville First Methodist Church, we are learning more about the remarkable people who helped shape our congregation.

Rev. Thomas Jefferson Winfrey (1845–1905) was one of our early pastors, serving the Burkesville Methodist congregation around 1890–1892.

But Rev. Winfrey’s story began long before he came to Burkesville.

Born August 10, 1845, Winfrey served during the Civil War as a private in Company H of the 3rd Kentucky Infantry. An 1885 newspaper account identifies him as a Civil War veteran and shows him helping organize an association of Union veterans in Russell County.

His service didn’t end with the war. Winfrey became a Methodist minister and was also active in the civic life of Russell County. Contemporary newspaper records tell us that he served as Russell County Jailer, held other public positions, and was a candidate for Russell County Judge.

On August 2, 1905, Rev. Winfrey died suddenly at Jamestown, just eight days before his 60th birthday. A newspaper notice reported that he left behind a wife and several children.

His grave marker still remembers both his name and his Civil War service:

THOMAS J. WINFREY
PVT CO H 3 KY INF
CIVIL WAR
1845–1905

More than 130 years after Rev. Winfrey preached in Burkesville, the congregation he once served is still here—worshiping, serving, and sharing the Gospel.

We are grateful for those who came before us and look forward to sharing more of their stories as we continue researching the history of Burkesville First Methodist Church.

Their names deserve to be remembered. Their stories are part of our story.

09/07/2026

The final Lanterns & Tombstones Tour for the season was last Friday night. And it was on FIRE! I mean, it was HOT! But more than two dozen intrepid above-ground citizens came out to hear Dave and Mike tell about the citizens of this storied place. Thanks for all those who came out this--our fifth--year and especially to those who come despite the weather conditions at the time!! Bigger and better next year!