McAdams Cemetery
Walker County, Walker County, Texas
Marker Inscription
John McAdams (1815-1892), a veteran of the Texas Revolution, came to what is now Walker County with his wife, Hester (White), about 1840. McAdams became a rancher, planter, and land speculator and later owned and operated a family cotton gin and sawmill. The community that grew up around his landholdings was named McAdams. The cemetery at this site was established in 1849 with the burial of Hester McAdams. The second burial, which took place soon thereafter, was that of John McAdams' sister, Polly McAdams Price. Others interred here include John McAdams; his second wife, Mary Frances (Bankhead) (d. 1905); and many friends, relatives, and neighbors of the family. In addition, McAdams set aside a special section for the burial of his slaves. Upon McAdams' death in 1892, five acres of his estate were reserved for the cemetery. Additional gifts of land have increased the acreage to nearly thirteen acres. Since 1937, the graves have been maintained by the McAdams Cemetery Association. This historic cemetery stands as a reminder of the contributions of an early Walker County family.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
John McAdams, a veteran of the Texas Revolution, brought his family to what became Walker County around 1840 and built a life as a rancher, planter, and mill owner; the community that grew around his land took his name. The cemetery began in 1849 with the burial of his first wife, Hester, and grew over generations to hold family, neighbors, and a separate section McAdams set aside for the people he enslaved. Maintained since 1937 by a cemetery association, it now spans nearly thirteen acres.
Why it matters
The burial ground preserves both the story of an early Texas settler family and the enslaved people whose labor built their world.
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Related people
- · John McAdams
- · Hester White McAdams
Themes & tags
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