Dr. William Dixon Lair: Texas Senator 1881

Dr. William Dixon Liar was born 12 May 1814 in Russell, KY to William Bradford Lair (1776-1873) & Elizabeth Graham (1780-1866).

Dr. William Lair married first 29 Sep 1836, in Russell, KY. Mariah D. Haynes (1818-1842).

They had the following children:

Tullus Cicero Lair 1838-1920

Galen Hoppocrates Lair 1840-1896

The Doc married second: (my line) 23 Jul 1845 in Russell, KY to Narcissus B. Barger (1825-1858) They had the following children:

Theodosia Burr Lair 1846-1894

Lycurgus Cincinnatus Lair 1848-1912

William Plutarch Lair 1850-1929

Maria Narcissus Lair 1852-1937

Elizabeth Verlinda Lair 1855-1863

John Barger Lair 1858-1916 (My line)

The Doc then married a third time 17 Apr 1860 in Collin, TX to Sallie Jane McWhorter (1836-1909), they did not have any children.

I found this newspaper article:

He was converted when about 17 years of age. He was baptized into the fellowship of the Mt. Vernon Baptist church, in Kentucky, in 1831 by Elder William Bailey. He was licensed to preach when about 26 years old, but when the church called for his ordination, William Lair declined to be ordained, and he continued his chosen profession, that of a physician.

In Kentucky, Dr. Lair organized the first Sabbath school in the Mt. Vernon church, and as superintendent he traveled five miles each Sabbath to act in that capacity.

He served one term in the Legislature of Kentucky, and in 1857, he immigrated to Texas and settled in Grayson County, from where he moved to Collin County in 1858. He immediately united with Friendship church. Dr. Lair served as moderator of the Sister Grove association for a number of years, and in 1886, he presided at the organization of the Collin County Baptist Association in McKinney.

Dr. Lair practiced medicine in Collin and adjoining counties and served two terms in the state Senate of Texas. He was a power for truth and a guiding influence in the growth of Friendship church. When he fell asleep on June 3, 1887, his friends paid to his memory the following tribute:

"In personal appearance, he was grand, dignified and commanding, and with a heart so warm and tender, and a disposition so affable and genial, that to see him was to admire him;; to know him was to love him. And yet no man moved the truth and right better, or contended more earnestly therefor. A lion in courage for right and yet gentle among his associates; amiable and kind, he was ever ready to hear all, sympathize with all, and unite all.

Was there a sick bed in the community, whether called as physician or moved by his own volition, he was the first to be present. He was the last to leave. When the cry of anguish reached his ear, he never failed to respond. "Twas to him humanity's wail, and his great heart was full of sympathy and love. He wept with those who wept; and rejoiced with those who rejoiced.

In him were happily blended all the amenities and all the courtesies of life. Possessed of all these lovely qualities, he was loved and venerated by his brethren."

Weekly Democrat Gazette, October 14, 1940

Collin county, Texas History, Anna Baptist Church Records; 

https://www.collincountyhistory.com/anna-baptist-church.html

Lair Cemetery Marker image. 

Photographed by James Hulse, September 3, 2026

1. Lair Cemetery Marker

Inscription. Click to hear the inscription.  

In the 1850s, North Texas attracted settlers from border states like Kentucky with the promise of inexpensive land for farming and stock raising. One such man was Dr. William Dixon Lair (1814-1887), a pioneer physician, former Kentucky state legislator, and devout Baptist lay preacher and regional leader in the denomination. In 1857, he briefly settled in Grayson County. After the death of his second wife in 1858, he and his eight children moved to Collin County. In 1860, he married his third wife, Sallie Jane McWhorter (1836-1909), and he established a farm in the area that would become Anna. Dr. Lair traveled by horseback to see patients in northern Collin County, southern Grayson County and western Fannin County. He was also a senator in the Texas Legislature, first in 1863 and again from 1879-1883.

In 1863, Dr. Lair purchased land in two adjoining surveys from his new wife’s distant cousin, J.C. Portman, who had purchased it from Christopher Riffe, Portman’s brother-in-law, in 1859. Although no graves are mentioned on the deeds, a small graveyard started in 1855 with the death of a young child, John C. Riffe.

Lair Cemetery Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 3, 2026

2. Lair Cemetery Marker

The view of the entrance to the cemetery from the street.

 By the time Dr. Lair purchased the property, there were four graves, including his daughter who had died a few months earlier. Burials of members of the Lair and Riffe families and their descendants continued with 26 having been buried by 1910. Today, there are 29 known graves, including four known veterans’ graves: three Confederate soldiers and one Union soldier. The last person to be buried in Lair Cemetery was William Brown (1906-1968). Some monuments and gravestones have suffered damage in recent years, but restoration work has been undertaken. Today, Lair Cemetery serves as a reminder of early settlers and the lives and history they witnessed.

Historic Texas Cemetery

 

Erected 2021 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 23603.)

 

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.

 

Location. 33° 20.463′ N, 96° 34.136′ W. Marker is in Anna, Texas, in Collin County. It is on S Ferguson Pkwy (County Road 367) 0.1 miles south of W White Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address:

Lair Cemetery image. Click for full size.

Photographed by James Hulse, September 3, 2026

3. Lair Cemetery

 1114 Co Rd 367, Anna TX 75409, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Prairies & Lakes Region and in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metropolitan Area. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Public Education in Anna (approx. 1.2 miles away); First Christian Church of Anna (approx. 1.3 miles away); Anna Depot (approx. 1.3 miles away); Coffman Cemetery (approx. 1.3 miles away); Anna Train Depot (approx. 1.3 miles away); A. Sherley & Bro. Hardware Store (approx. 1.3 miles away); Corner Post of Uncle Charlie Wysong's Blacksmith Shop (approx. 2.1 miles away); Highland Cemetery (approx. 2.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Anna.

 

More about this marker. The marker’s dedication date is October 26, 2024

 

 

Credits. This page was last revised on September 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 3, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 10 times since then. Photos:   1, 2, 3. submitted on September 4, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.

W. D. Lair

DR. W. D. LAIR PIONEER COLLIN PHYSICIAN AND STATE SENATOR

Daily Courier Gazette, 1936

From Daily Courier-Gazette May 3, 1929

Born: May 1, 1814

Died: June 8, 1887

A noted character in the early settlement of North Collin and a most important factor as a citizen, pioneer physician and a supporter of every uplifting movement for society, was Dr. W. D. Lair, who came to the county in 1857 and died in 1887. He practiced medicine in the old Mantua and Anna sections traveling horseback over a wide area of territory. In addition to his practice, he preached some and twice served his district in the State Senate as lawmaker in the upper chamber of the Texas law-making body.

Born in Kentucky.

William Dixon Lair was born May 12, 1814, in Russell County, Kentucky, where he was reared and educated. he professed religion at the early age of 12 and was united with the Baptist Church. He was licensed to preach in 1840. When the church called for his ordination, he refused to submit on account of lung affection and continued in his chosen profession in the practice of medicine. He organized the first Sunday School at Mt. Vernon Church in Kentucky and was elected its superintendent. In order to attend he rode five miles every Sunday to its services.

Also, in Kentucky Legislature.

He was a man of pronounced convictions, and natural leadership. These qualities led to his election as a member of the State Legislature of his native state. However, in 1857 he decided to leaved Kentucky and emigrate to Texas. He settled near old Mantua between that pioneer town and where the town of Van Alstyne now stands. The next year in 1858, he moved to a farm 1 ½ miles west of where the town of Anna now stands and established his homestead and reared his family and where he later died. He immediately united with the Friendship church, that was later called "Old Highland." He was chosen moderator of the Sister Grove [Baptist] Association, in which important capacity he served the association for a number of years. He was also chosen moderator and presided at the organization of the Collin County Baptist Association which met in the Baptist Church in McKinney in 1876. He continued to serve the Collin County Baptist Association thereafter as long as he lived.

As Practitioner.

Dr. Lair in the meantime pursued the practice of medicine in an active way with such success that his practice grew and he was called to serve patients throughout North Collin, Southern Grayson and in a portion of Fannin County. He went about doing good, healing the sick, restoring the broken health, cheering the discouraged and despondent, supporting the spirit of the gospel and encouraging the people among whom he practiced turning to the support of the church and respond to the call of spiritual salvation and redemption. His influence was manifest in every good work, and in many helpful needs professionally and otherwise throughout a wide scope of territory during his busy lifetime of practice and professional service.

Elected to Senate.

He was twice elected to the upper house of the Texas Legislature and served as State Senator with distinction to himself and credit to his district and state. his first term was from 1863 to 1865, during Gov. Murray's administration. His second term was served almost twenty years later from 1881 to 1883 under Gov. Roberts' administration. he made a conscientious public servant and a capable lawmaker. In personal appearance he was dignified and commanding in physique and personality. In this position he was affable, genial and of a winning social turn. To see him and to come within the circle of his acquaintance was to admire him. To know him, was to love him. He loved the truth and right, as was fearless in expressing his convictions and was a valiant champion for every uplifting influence. He was a lion in courage for the right, and yet amiable as a lamb among his associates and the general public. He was every ready to hear the call of distress and to lend a sympathizing heart and a helping hand to a needy brother.

A Hospitable Home.

Dr. Lair was a gentleman of the old Southern type, who was born and reared a courteous considerate gentleman whose hospitality knew no bounds in his home. He never turned away the hungry, the needy and the stranger from his gate, but took them in, fed and housed them, ministered to their needs and sent them away happy and always more inspirited and inspired to pursue with renewed energy their wearied footsteps along life's journey.

Married Three Times. Many Descendants.

Dr. Lair lived a useful, honored life of service to his fellow man as a physician, citizen, lawmaker and public servant. He left numerous descendants and many of them are still living in North Collin and other portions of the state. These descendants have followed his example on living honored, worthy lives.

 

Maud Ward Lafferty with William Bedford Lair & Andrew Lair

Book written by Maud Lafferty: 

BACKGROUND OF THE LAIR FAMILY

1738 - 1958

BY

MAUDE WARD LAFFERTY

HELEN LAFFERTY NISBET

Lexington, Kentucky

1958

Introduction. Maude Ward Lafferty's and Helen Lafferty Nesbit's essay on the Lair family provides a fascinating history of the origins of Bourbon County, Kentucky. Because of its historical value, I have included the complete history. Researchers of the Lair family will find this an invaluable resource in tracing their family roots. Hopefully, this history will also prove interesting to family researchers whose ancestors are closely linked to the Lairs. 

I love these stories so much. Dr. William Dixon Lair was the father-in-law of my 6th cousin 2x removed.

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