Shiloh

Sides

Sloan (Henderson)

Smelzer (Rough Creek)

Smith, John Wesley Family

The Adams Cemetery was established in the early 1900’s by William Smith Adams when one of his sons, William Garland, “Pete,” became seriously ill and was expected not to live.  W. S., who was called “Uncle Billy” by those who knew him, went to the back acreage of his property and chose an area that would be a burial site for his family. W. G. “Pete” recovered from his illness, but the site was soon needed following the death on January 14^th, 1905 of Archie Adams, the young son of Matt and Eura Adams.  This was the first burial at the site that would become the Adams Cemetery.

This old cemetery began as did many others in San Saba County with an individual buried on family property and as more graves were placed near the first, a cemetery was gradually formed.

This cemetery, located on land once owned by the William Smith Adams family, is in a quiet and peaceful rural setting among the slopes and low rolling hills northwest of the town of Richland Springs. The original plot covered an area of a little less than one acre.  In 1986 Mr. Louis Crump, adjacent landowner to the north, gave an additional 80 feet by 208 ft. to the Cemetery Association to be used for a parking area.  The entire area (Original plot and Crump addition) is now surrounded by a four ft. high chain link fence.  A 12 ft. wide double gate at the southwest corner of the Crump Addition provides vehicle entrance into the cemetery enclosure.

Inside this tree shaded burial ground the randomly placed grave markers are of marble or granite and some of the older stones are of limestone and sandstone. Many of the graves are covered by concrete slabs and several graves have military footstones indicating the military service of the individual buried there.  Some burial plots have been reserved for future interments and headstones have been set for the time when they are needed.

The Adams Cemetery Association was formed about 1985.  A perpetual fund has been established to provide for long term care and upkeep for the cemetery. They also maintains a checking account to provide ready funds as needed.  The Association meets once each year for the purpose of conducting Association business.  The cemetery was designated a Historic Texas Cemetery at a ceremony on April 29, 2006.

(For more on the Adams Cemetery, its size, and location see Deed Records of San Saba County, Vol. 81, page 166 and Vol. 191, page 216.)

2.         THE WILLIAM S. ADAMS FAMILY:  William S. Adams was born March 29, 1850 in Crab Orchard, Kentucky.  On October 10, 1870, he married Lydia Carolina Kelly of Springfield, Missouri.  They moved to Texas in 1875 and settled in an area of rich farm land alongside a clear cold spring-fed stream called Richland Springs Creek; and there they raised a large family of twelve children:

1.         Della C.- born Sept. 2, 1871 in Missouri. She married W. B. Crane on Oct. 24, 1888.

2.         Lennie- born July 2, 1873 in Missouri. She married Mark D. Terry on Dec, 29, 1890.

3.         Arrah – born March 28, 1875 in Missouri. She married P. L. Page Dec. 12, 1890.

4.         Thomas Kelly – born Nov. 7, 1877 in Texas. He married Mollie Rose Hyde on Dec. 7, 1902.

5.         Matthew (Matt) – born Jan. 1, 1880 in Texas.  He married Eura Hagar Oct. 2, 1901.

6.         Bettie J. – born Feb. 10, 1882 in Texas.  She married L. A. Hall on Dec. 14, 1902.

7          Gertrude M. – born Nov. 5, 1883 in Texas.  She married W. T. Doran on Dec. 2, 1906.

8.         Elsie D. - born March 9, 1886 in Texas. She married P. D. Hyde on Dec. 24, 1902

9.         Nellie Kate – born Aug. 29, 1888 in Texas. She married Clarence a. Maxcey on May 15, 1905.

10.       John D. – born May 18 1891 in Texas.  He married Bessie Maxcey Oct. 20, 1907

11.       William Garland – born May 25, 1893 in Texas. He married Katie M. ___?__.

12.       Lockie W. – born August 7, 1897 in Texas.

Note:   (See Adams Family in San Saba County History, Vol. I, pp.5 and 7.  For photo of the Adams family see San Saba County History, Vol. II, p. 203.)