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Place Names in Adair County: families memorialized Place Names - How communities got their names By Michael C. Watson Adair County Genealogical Society Family names are memorialized in communities throughout Adair County: Absher community and post office for Rev. William Henry Harrison Absher. The community and existing church were known as Egypt at least in the 1840s and 1850s well before the post office was created. Bliss was a post office and community in the 1890s. It was named for Professor James L. Bliss--or Mrs. Bliss, nee Nannie Frances Shephard--who operated a school locally in the Turk community. Breeding community and post office were named for George Breeding, a Revolutionary veteran and ancestor of most of that name in the area. The post office was originally Breeding's, but was changed to "clean up" the record according to new postal rules. Holmes community and post office were named for Silas Holmes. Holmes Bend derives it's name in the same manner. Keltner community and post office were named for the early Keltner settlers of the area. Knifley was established as a community, with school and church, after the migration of the early Knifley ancestors into northern Adair. Rudolph Neat was another early settler of northern Adair. His name is preserved in Neatsville today. However, the post offices and communities of the area were also once known as Neatsburg as well. Pellyton community and post office came from the early Pelley family settling in Adair. Some began to drop the second "e" while others retained it. The community and post office carried the "Pelly" spelling. Other family names that were also post offices were: Cape, Coleman, Craycraft, Cundiff, Dillingham, Dulworth, Gadberry, Garlin, Gifford, Gradyville, Hogard, Hovious, Kemp, Kerns, Matney, McGaha, Millersville, Nell, Parson, Perryman, Pickett, Purdy, Rexroat, Roy, Sparksville, Stotts, Tarter, Turk, Watson. Wives, daughters, girlfriends, and other individuals also lent their names to post offices: Basil, Christine, Edith, Ella, Elroy, Eunice, Pyrus, Toria, Tyler, Vester, Victoria, Weed. Christine was named for the daughter of Dr. L.C. Nell, of Gradyville. Weed was named for Weeden Yates, early postmaster at that location. Gentry's Mill derived its name from the Mill there. A post office operated for many years, and existing community is there. Milltown was named for the Mill there. The originators of the mill were the Townsends and the community was once Townsendville. Tampico-on-the-Pike was named for the Mexican-American War Battle at Tampico. In time the name became Coburg. The post office, which bore both names over time, located in local general stores, often changed county from Adair to Taylor and back again. Fairplay post office started life as Fair Play. It was said because one would be treated fairly in that community. Chance post office was established after repeated attempts by Henry Bardin. Rejected several times, on his last try the hopeful man wanted to take a "Chance" on it one more time, and Chance it became. Sano area of the county once had a post office of the same name. There was also a Santo post office, established in 1894, discontinued in 1898. The office was reestablished in 1902 with an altered spelling--Sano. Cyclone School in the Hutchinson community, came by the name as the result of an argument. When the school was to be named, the community came together. In the dusty road two men could not agree and began fighting. A little boy who observed is reputed to have said, "Looks like a cyclone." Thus the name was settled upon. Yellow Hammer School may have been named for an African-American of the community who was a well-known ginseng hunter, Bob Willis, resident of the Zion Community. This is part of Mike Watson's "Place Names in Adair County" presentation at the Adair County Genealogy and History Research Center next door to the Adair County Public Library, 307 Greensburg Street. It is open weekdays from 9amCT to 5pmCT, and on Saturdays from 8amCT to NoonCT. Email: adairgenealogy@gmail.com or phone 270-380-1024. This story was posted on 2026-04-01 11:33:07
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Have comments or corrections for this story? Use our contact form and let us know. More articles from topic Mike Watson - History:
Place Names - How streams got their names Place Names - Adair County, Kentucky Adair Heritage Association will meet March 10 Downtown Walking Tour on March 21 Snow-Go once again... New Year's Superstitions Ghost tales from old Adair County Upcoming programs from the Adair Co. Genealogical Society A few adverts from the 1963 Adair County High yearbook It's beginning to feel a lot like... the end of summer vacation View even more articles in topic Mike Watson - History |
 
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