Two Revolutionary War Soldiers Honored

By Mike Steely

Senior Writer

steelym@knoxfocus.com

Two American Revolutionary soldiers were honored recently in a service, held by the Tennessee Society of the Sons of the American Revolution’s Stephen Holston Chapter, at their grave sites in Fountain City.

The September 28 Patriot Grave Marking Ceremony was at the Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home and Lynnhurst Cemetery at 2300 Adair Drive and  Mark DeNicola, vice president of the organization, emceed. Rev. Greg Banther gave the invocation and the national colors were presented by the chapter’s color guard.

About two dozen people attended and listened to the special proclamation read by Knox County Mayor Glenn Jacobs.

Tributes to John Adair and Edward Smith were delivered by Robin Green and Timothy Dale. Chapter president Joel Davenport oversaw the presentation of wreaths by the color guard which also gave a musket salute. Following the service, a reception was held by the Sons of the American Revolution and a benediction was given by Sherrell Greene.

John Adair was one of the first settlers in the region where he settled on 640 acres granted in 1788 for his military service. He built a fortified cabin just off what is now the North Broadway. Adair became the supplier of arms for soldiers and travelers across the Cumberland Plateau and supplied John Sevier’s forces with funds. He was a delegate that created the state of Tennessee.

Edward Smith served in Virginia and was captured by the British forces and was counted in the 1830 census of Knox County. Smith died in 1848 and his family is buried in the Smithwood Cemetery. His grave is only a few feet from Adair’s tombstone beneath the Adair Oak. Mayor Jacobs noted in his proclamation that Smith was present in Yorktown for the surrender of British forces to General George Washington.