If you live in the area, you are familiar with the Adaire family. The Adaire’s gave an amazing gift on Christmas of 1858. Their evening was rocked by a knock on the door asking if they would be willing to shelter 11 fugitive slaves that John Brown had liberated in Missouri. They were cold and hungry and needed shelter. Reverend Adaire was aware of the consequences if they were caught. If Proslavery guerillas found them sheltering the fugitive slaves, Reverend Adair would most certainly be shot or hung. He turned to his wife and stated that they had the moral duty to shelter the slaves and asked her thoughts. His wife, Florella, firmly stated “I cannot turn them away.” They took them in, gave them clothing and hot food and enjoyed an evening of fellowship, giving them the warmth of freedom from slavery as a Christmas Gift. They spent Christmas day with the fugitive slaves, sending them on their way to the next station on the Underground Railroad as the sun set on Christmas Day. They and the other Abolitionists, founders of Osawatomie, had the courage to risk and sometimes gave their lives, for the Christian faith and Abolitionist beliefs.
Thank you to the Site Administrator of the John Brown Museum and State Historic Site, Grady Atwater, for that incredible story.
