McAdams
McAdams is a historical, unincorporated rural community in
eastern Walker County, Texas, that has largely faded into obscurity,
with only a cemetery remaining as its primary remnant. Established in
the mid-19th century, it was centered around the homestead of John
McAdams Jr. (also referred to as John McAdams III in some genealogical
records), a veteran of the Texas Revolution. The settlement served as a
hub for local farming, education, and religious activities, featuring a
post office, church, school, stores, and mills. It reflects typical
pioneer development in East Texas, with ties to early Methodist
settlers and figures like Sam Houston. By the 20th century, the
community declined due to economic shifts and urbanization, and it is
no longer populated or active.
Location and Geography:
McAdams is situated on Farm-to-Market Road
1696, approximately 14 miles northwest of Huntsville, the Walker County
seat. Coordinates for the McAdams Cemetery, the site's main landmark,
are approximately 30.827°N, 95.681°W. The area is part of the Piney
Woods region of East Texas, characterized by rolling hills, pine
forests, and rural farmland. It lies in the Richard Bankhead Survey,
near historical communities like Phelps and Shepherd's Valley. Access
is via FM 1696, with the cemetery located on the south side of the
road, adjacent to reunion grounds and a chapel.
History:
The McAdams family traces its Texas roots to the early 1830s,
when Rev. John McAdams Sr., a Methodist minister from Tennessee,
migrated with his family to the Nacogdoches area in Shelby
Municipality, influenced by colonization efforts under Stephen F.
Austin. Despite Mexico's Catholic requirements, they participated in
early Methodist activities. John McAdams Jr. (born 1815 in Maury
County, Tennessee) joined the Texas Revolution in 1836, serving with
the St. Augustine Volunteers under Captain Bradley, though he arrived
too late for the Battle of San Jacinto. He was a friend of Sam Houston,
who frequently visited the family home.
In 1838, after marrying Hester White in Sabine or Shelby County, John
McAdams Jr. settled in what became Walker County, purchasing 1,042
acres in 1844 from Daniel Guerrant and Green Spillers. The family
endured hardships, including a raid by cattle rustlers that killed
Hester's brothers and depleted their possessions. They built a large
double log house, farmed cotton, corn, potatoes, and livestock, and
owned up to 10,000 acres and 2,000 cattle. McAdams employed enslaved
labor and provided homes for 29 orphan children. He donated lumber for
local schools, including one near his homestead and another at Liberty
Springs.
(Note concerning Hester White's brothers: The statement
concerning the death of her brothers seems to be conflated, or she had
more brothers than historically recorded, as her brothers Headley
Coburn White (b. 1815, d. 1884 in McMullen County, TX; lived to age 69,
served in the Confederate Army, and died of natural causes), Henry E.
White (b. 1819; survived to adulthood, with descendants in Texas),
Elijah White (b. 1822, d. 1886 in Milam County, TX; lived to age 64),
Joseph White (b. 1824, d. 1913 in Milam County, TX; lived to age 88),
Sanders White (b. 1830, d. 1915 in Leon County, TX; lived to age 85)
The misleading information is posted on
https://www.geni.com/people/John-McAdams-III/6000000022190513290).
The community developed around the McAdams homestead, supporting a
Baptist church, school, gristmill, gin, and general store by 1896. A
post office was established in 1872 with James E. Shelburne as
postmaster, discontinued in 1880, reopened in 1894 (or 1888 per some
records) with Mary Frances McAdams (John's second wife) as
postmistress, and closed permanently in 1907 (or 1917). By 1914, the
settlement had two cotton gins and three general stores. Population
estimates include 15-25 in 1896, 60 in 1914, 50 from the 1920s to
1940s, 25 in the 1960s, 27 in 1988, and 25 in 2000. The area declined
in the 20th century; by 1936, only a schoolhouse, church, and cemetery
remained, and by 1990, just the cemetery.
Family lore includes dramatic elements, such as John McAdams Sr.'s
daughter Elizabeth's unintended bigamy after believing her husband
George Gillaspy died in the Revolution, resolved through a dream and
reunion. The family contributed to local history, with reunions like
the 1935 gathering of over 250 descendants at the homestead. A 1985
book, "The McAdams Family of Walker County, Texas," documents their
legacy. Slave narratives mention a James McAdams (possibly related)
owning enslaved people in the area.
Cemetery:
McAdams Cemetery, also known as McAdams Family Cemetery, is
the enduring feature of the settlement, located on FM 1696. It began in
1849 with the burial of Hester White McAdams under a hickory tree on
the family property. John McAdams Jr. designated five acres for the
cemetery in the Richard Bankhead Survey. It expanded through purchases
and donations, reaching 11.22 acres by 1961. The site includes graves
of family members, neighbors, friends, and former enslaved individuals,
with over 900 interments recorded. It is maintained by the McAdams
Cemetery Association, formed in 1943, which also acquired adjacent
reunion grounds (3.5 acres) and built the McAdams Chapel in 1976
(rebuilt after a 2002 fire). A Texas Historical Marker (No. 8459) was
erected in 1976, and another undertold history marker recognizes the
African American section. The cemetery remains active for burials and
hosts annual reunions.
Notable Burial
Details
Hester White McAdams (d. 1849)
First wife of John McAdams Jr.; first burial, under a hickory tree; marked the cemetery's start.
John McAdams Jr. (1815–1892)
Founder of the settlement; Texas Revolution veteran; buried with second wife Mary Frances Bankhead McAdams (d. 1905).
Rev. John McAdams Sr. (d. 1857)
Methodist minister and family patriarch; early Texas settler.
George Gillaspy (d. 1849/1850)
Husband of Elizabeth McAdams; participated in Texas Revolution
(disputed San Jacinto role); grave location uncertain but likely in
Walker County.
Multiple enslaved individuals
Buried in a designated African American section; recognized by a 2018 historical marker for untold stories.
Distinction from Other Sites:
McAdams in Walker County should not be
confused with other Texas places named McAdams (e.g., in Liberty
County) or unrelated McAdams family branches elsewhere. Nearby
historical sites include Shepherd's Valley and Phelps, but they are
distinct communities.
Demographics and Modern Status:
As a defunct community, McAdams has no
current population. The last estimates were 25 in 2000. Walker County
overall had a 2020 population of 76,400, with Huntsville as the main
center. The site is rural and unincorporated, primarily serving as a
historical and genealogical resource. The cemetery and chapel attract
visitors for family reunions, research, and maintenance events, but
there are no active businesses, schools, or infrastructure beyond
these.
Sources and Further Reading: Information draws from historical records,
family accounts, and county surveys. For more, consult the Texas State
Historical Association's Handbook of Texas, the McAdams Cemetery
Association, or books like "The McAdams Family of Walker County, Texas"
(1985) and "Life History of John McAdams Sr. and Jr." (1935).
John McAdams, Jr. (also referred to as John McAdams III in some genealogical records)
John McAdams, Jr. was born on July 8, 1815, in Maury County, Tennessee.
He was the son of Rev. John McAdams Sr. and Martha Rogers McAdams. The
family initially moved to Texas in 1830, settling in the Shelby
municipality (encompassing parts of modern Shelby, Harrison, Marion,
Upshur, and Panola counties), but returned to Tennessee in 1833 due to
threats from Native Americans and outlaws in the "neutral ground"
region. John Jr. returned to Texas in 1836 as a volunteer in the Texas
Revolution, arriving after the Battle of San Jacinto. He served for
three months in the regular Texas army during the summer and fall of
1836.
In 1838, he married Hester White in Sabine or Shelby County, Texas.
Around 1840, the couple settled in Walker County, Texas, where John
became a prominent rancher, planter, and land speculator. In 1844, he
purchased 1,042 acres from Daniel Guerrant and Green Spillers (along
with their wives) in Walker County. He eventually owned over 10,000
acres and 2,000 head of cattle, operating a family cotton gin and
sawmill. His home served as a hub for the McAdams community, which
included a church, school, post office (opened in 1888), and stores.
Sam Houston was a frequent visitor at his home, as he was a friend of
John's father.
John owned enslaved people who worked his cotton, corn, and potato
fields and managed livestock. He donated lumber for local schools and
provided a home for 29 orphan children. After Hester's death in 1849,
he established McAdams Cemetery on his land, which grew to 11.22 acres
and includes a chapel. He remarried Mary Frances Bankhead in 1849 (some
records say 1851) in Walker County. John died on September 11, 1892, at
age 77, and is buried in McAdams Cemetery. His headstone reads:
"Farewell, my wife and children all From you a father, Christ doth
call. Mourn not for me -- it is vain -- To call me to your sight
again."
Children with Hester White:Mary Jane McAdams (b. July 1840)
William Francis McAdams (b. February 8, 1842; d. July 11, 1916)
John Robert McAdams (b. March 25, 1844; d. March 15, 1907)
Hiram Augustus McAdams (b. September 8, 1845; d. December 28, 1935)
James Rodgers McAdams (b. December 22, 1847; d. January 25, 1924)
Children with Mary Frances Bankhead:Frances McAdams
Hester McAdams
George McAdams
Carrie McAdams
Docia McAdams
Tom McAdams
Mattie McAdams
A 1935 family reunion noted 439 living descendants and 94 deceased from both marriages.
John McAdams Sr.
Rev. John McAdams Sr. was born in 1779 and died in 1850. He was a
Methodist minister married to Martha Rogers (b. 1785; d. 1852). They
had multiple children, including John Jr. and a daughter, Mary McAdams
Price. The family migrated from Maury County, Tennessee, to Texas in
1830 but returned to Tennessee in 1833 due to dangers from Native
Americans and raiders. John Sr. was a friend of Sam Houston. He is
buried alongside his wife.
Hester White McAdams
Hester White was born on June 10, 1818, in Perry County, Tennessee, and
died on January 16, 1849, in Walker County, Texas, at age 30. She was
the daughter of Robert White, whose family originated from Anson
County, North Carolina, moved to Perry County, Alabama, and then to
Texas. Hester married John McAdams Jr. on August 12, 1838, in Sabine
County, Texas. They settled in Walker County around 1840 for safety
from Native American threats. She requested burial under a hickory
tree, marking the first grave in McAdams Cemetery.
Her known siblings (children of Robert White) include:Lacy Griffith White (b. 1810; d. August 1870, Goliad, Texas)
Headley Coburn White (b. March 25, 1815; d. December 15, 1884)
Henry E. White (b. 1819)
Elijah White (b. February 15, 1822; d. February 19, 1886)
Joseph White (b. October 12, 1824; d. May 9, 1913)
Siletha White (b. 1826)
Sanders White (b. March 12, 1830; d. July 24, 1915)
James Wesley White (b. May 30, 1830; d. May 7, 1884)
Her ancestry traces back to Adam White (b. ~1627, Scotland; d. 1708,
Ireland), a Presbyterian minister, through a Scotch-Irish Covenanter
line in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Texas.
Daniel Guerrant
Daniel Boone Guerrant was born in 1821 in Franklin County, Tennessee,
and died on April 9, 1902, in Walker County, Texas. He immigrated to
Texas in 1837 and built a cabin in Walker County in 1844 (now preserved
at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum). He married Eady Elmira Bankhead
(sister of Mary Frances Bankhead McAdams) in 1848. In 1844, he and
Green Spillers (with their wives) sold 1,042 acres to John McAdams Jr.
and Hester White. He lived in Justice Precinct 2, Walker County, in
1880. His son, Daniel Lee Guerrant (b. 1864; d. 1942), married Anna
Jane Christian.
Green Spillers
George Washington Green L.F. Spillers was born on August 23, 1826, in
Illinois, and died on January 3, 1865, in Montgomery County, Texas. He
married Mary Elizabeth Bankhead (another sister of Mary Frances
Bankhead McAdams) around 1846. They had at least one son (John William
Spillers, b. 1847; d. 1923) and two daughters. In 1844, he co-sold land
with Daniel Guerrant to John McAdams Jr. He lived in Walker County in
1860. His family connections link him to the Bankhead siblings.
Mary Frances McAdams
Mary Frances "Frankie" Bankhead was born on July 17, 1834, and died on
May 23, 1905, in Walker County, Texas. She was the second wife of John
McAdams Jr., marrying him on November 14, 1849 (some records cite
1851). She served as postmistress of the McAdams post office from 1888.
Her siblings included Eady Elmira Bankhead (married Daniel Guerrant)
and Mary Elizabeth Bankhead (married Green Spillers). Their father was
Richard Bankhead (b. 1795; d. 1835). She is buried in McAdams Cemetery.
Note: Some genealogical records erroneously list her maiden name as
Guerrant, likely due to confusion with her sister's marriage.George
GillaspyLimited information is available on George Gillaspy in Texas
history. Genealogical searches suggest possible variants like George
Gillespie or Gillaspy, with individuals such as George Robert Gillaspy
(b. 1797; d. 1871) or George Gillaspie (b. 1912; d. 1989, Tatum,
Texas). No direct ties to the McAdams or White families were found in
primary sources, though the name appears in broader ancestry records
linked to the book "Hester White McAdams... and some ancestors and
descendants, including White, Guerrant, Daniel, Spillers, Gillespie,
etc." by Frances T. Ingmire. This implies George Gillaspy (or
Gillespie) may be an ancestor in the extended family tree, possibly
from earlier generations in North Carolina or Tennessee.
St. Augustine Volunteers under Captain Bradley in the Texas
RevolutionThe St. Augustine Volunteers, also known as the San Augustine
Cavalry, were commanded by Captain John M. Bradley. Bradley
participated in the 1835 Bexar campaign, where he was wounded. In 1836,
the company enlisted on April 30 and joined the Texas army on May 15 at
Fort Bend on the Brazos River. They marched to Victoria and were
discharged on July 28, 1836. Some members, like John Boling, served at
San Jacinto. The unit was part of the broader volunteer forces post-San
Jacinto, focusing on defense. John McAdams Jr. served in the regular
army during this period, though not explicitly confirmed in Bradley's
company.
McAdams was on the path of present Farm Road 1696 fourteen miles
northwest of Huntsville in eastern Walker County. It was probably named
for John McAdams, Jr., an early settler in the area, who served as a
member of the St. Augustine Volunteers under Captain Bradley in the
Texas revolutionary army. The McAdams home became the center of a rural
community, and the village soon supported a church and school. Sam Houston
is reported to have been a frequent visitor in the McAdams home. A
McAdams post office opened in 1888 with Mary Frances McAdams, second
wife of John McAdams, Jr., as postmistress. The Texas Gazetteer
estimated the 1896 population of McAdams to be near fifteen; in 1914
the community had a population of sixty, two cotton gins, and three
general stores. The post office closed in 1917. In 1936 a schoolhouse, a
church, and a cemetery remained. County maps of 1990 indicate only a
cemetery at the site.TSHA
Texas State Historical Association
https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/mcadams-tx
TEXAS HISTORICAL MARKERS
https://texashistoricalmarkers.weebly.com/mcadams-cemetery.html