When this family first came to Emporia, the name was "Adair," but it was changed to "O'Dair."

**********************************************
The Emporia Gazette, 11 Sep 1906, Tuesday

Joe O'Dair, who gained fame if not fortune, as the leader and manager of Emporia's justly celebrated and popular Colored Ladies' brass band, and later as the proprietor of a restaurant on lower Commercial street, is visiting in town. Joe is now the private cook on the car of Superintendent Barnes, of the Southern Kansas division of the Santa Fe. Joe says he has to cook most of the time for four or five men, for which he gets $40 a month.

**********************************************
The Emporia Gazette, 31 Dec 1940, Tuesday

Mrs. Ellen Burton, 105 State, a Gold Star mother and the only colored member of the American Legion Auxiliary, will entertain her 95 year old sister, Mrs. Carrie Stepter, of Pacific Grove, Calif., and her two brothers, Joseph O'Dair and Harry O'Dair on New Year's day at their first reunion in more than 20 years. The four are the only living members of a family of 11 children who were among early day Emporians. Joseph O'Dair, who is 90 years old, lives with Mrs. Burton. He was employed by the Santa Fe as a cook for many years and in the 80's and 90's, he managed a colored orchestra. Harry O'Dair lives in Parsons and is 65 years old. Mrs. Stepter, the oldest of the family, made the trip to Emporia by herself. Mrs. Burton, who is 83 years old, lost two sons in wars. One was killed in the World war and another died in the Spanish American war.

**********************************************
The Emporia Gazette, 16 Apr 1941, Wed

JOSEPH O'DAIR DEAD

Joseph B. O'Dair, colored, who lived at 105 State, died in the Newman Memorial County Hospital this morning at 3:30 o'clock. He was 90 years old.

Funeral arrangements have not been made.

Joseph O'Dair was born March 1, 1851, at Little Rock, Ark., the son of the late Henry and Dicy O'Dair. He came to Emporia in 1863 and later was married to Eliza Johnson at Chanute. Mrs. O'Dair preceded him in death.

Mr. O'Dair is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Ellen Burton, 105 State, and Mrs. Carrie Stepter, Pacific Grove, Calif.; a brother, Harry O'Dair, Parsons; two nieces, Mrs. Lettie Johnson, Kansas City, Mo., and Helen Comegys, who lives in Maryland; five nephews, Lee Burton and Dave Burton, Emporia; Grant Burton, Topeka; Alonzo Burton, Wichita; and Ulysses Burton, Florence.

Mr. O'Dair was a member of the Mount Olive A.M.E. church.

**********************************************
The Emporia Gazette, 25 Apr 1941, Friday

THE O'DAIR FUNERAL

Funeral services for Joseph O'Dair, colored, who died April 16th, were held Thursday afternoon at the Mount Olive A.M.E. church. Rev. H. M. Davis, former Emporia pastor, now of Springfield, Mo., conducted the services, assisted by Rev. D. St. Clair, pastor of the St. James Baptist church. The A.M.E. choir, with Mrs. Ralph Armstead as soloist sang, accompanied by Mrs. Lillie Mae Shelton.

Pallbearers were Robert J. Mack, Frank Tyler, W. J. Smith, J. A. Helm, A. C. Helm and Frank Taylor, sr. Burial was in Maplewood cemetery.

Out-of-town relatives and friends who attended the services were: Mr. and Mrs. Harry O'Dair, Parsons; Mr. and Mrs. M. W. Johnson, Kansas City, Mo.; U. G. Burton, Florence; Lonnie Burton, Wichita; Mrs. George Rodgers and Mrs. Clarence Riddley, Strong City; Mrs. Ida Jones and son Billy, Miss Margaret Alice Parks, Miss Joe Anna Pennell, and Miss Ruth Rodgers, Lawrence; Grant Burton, Topeka, and Mr. Glass, Parsons.

**********************************************
Joseph Odair in the Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925

Name: Joseph Odair
Census Date: 1 Mar 1885
Residence County: Lyon
Residence State: Kansas
Locality: Ivy
Birth Place: Arkansas
Marital Status: Married
Gender: Male
Age: 28
Birth Year: abt 1857
Race: Mulatto
Household Member(s): Name, Age
Joseph Odair 28
Mollie Odair 20
Georgie Odair 5

**********************************************
Joseph B O'Dair in the 1900 United States Federal Census

Name: Joseph B O'Dair [Joseph B Odair]
Age: 46
Birth Date: Mar 1854
Birthplace: Arkansas
Home in 1900: Emporia Ward 1, Lyon, Kansas
Race: Black
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Married
Spouse's Name: Mollie F O'Dair
Marriage Year: 1880
Years Married: 20
Father's Birthplace: United States
Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina
Occupation: View on Image
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name, Age
Joseph B O'Dair 46
Mollie F O'Dair 35

**********************************************
J B Odair in the Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925

Name: J B Odair
Census Date: 1 Mar 1905
Residence County: Neosho
Residence State: Kansas
Locality: Chanute
Birth Place: Arkansas
Family Number: 312
Gender: Male
Age: 53
Birth Year: abt 1852
Household Member(s): Name, Age
J B Odair 53
Mollie Odair 40

**********************************************
Joseph B Odair in the 1910 United States Federal Census

Name: Joseph B Odair
Age in 1910: 55
Birth Year: abt 1855
Birthplace: Arkansas
Home in 1910: Chanute Ward 1, Neosho, Kansas
Street: East Main Street
House Number: 604 1/2
Race: Mulatto
Gender: Male
Relation to Head of House: Head
Marital Status: Widowed
Father's Birthplace: Oklahoma
Mother's Birthplace: North Carolina
Native Tongue: English
Occupation: Cook
Industry: Private Car
Employer, Employee or Other: Wage Earner
Home Owned or Rented: Rent
Farm or House: House
Able to Read: Yes
Able to Write: Yes
Out of Work: N
Number of weeks out of work: 0
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name, Age
Joseph B Odair 55

**********************************************
J B Odair in the Kansas State Census Collection, 1855-1925

Name: J B Odair
Census Date: 1925
Residence County: Neosho
Residence State: Kansas
Locality: Chanute
Birth Place: Arkansas
Family Number: 382
Marital Status: Married
Gender: Male
Age: 70
Birth Year: abt 1855
Race: Black
Relation: Head
Spouse's Name: Eliza Odair
Household Member(s): Name, Age
J B Odair 70
Eliza Odair 56
Joe Morris 80

**********************************************