William Graham McCamant1

b. 12 October 1836, d. 11 October 1885
FatherSamuel McCamant2,3 b. 21 Jun 1798, d. 5 Dec 1866
MotherMatilda Dickenson2,3 b. 24 Dec 1808, d. 24 Dec 1851
Birth12 Oct 1836 William Graham McCamant was born on 12 Oct 1836 in Oldtown, Grayson County, Virginia.1,4 
Marriage22 Oct 1861 He married Susan Wells Sanders Gardner, daughter of Jeremiah Caleb Gardner and Margaret Montgomery Edmiston, on 22 Oct 1861 in Hunt County, Texas.5,6 
  William's brother Alexander was married to Susan's sister Sallie, and William's brother John was married to Susan's sister India. 
Occupationcirca 1862 In the early 1860s William and his brother Alexander moved their families southwest to the area that would become Hood County in 1866 and established a tannery business. They also farmed and raised livestock.7 
Cens-187025 Sep 1870  The 1870 census enumeration recorded them farming in Hood County. William owned land valued at $500 and personal property worth the same amount. Also enumerated was Mary [or Marg?], age 6, Susan, age 3, Julia, age 15 and Wm Grabrill, age 55.8 
  The children's names on this census are a bit problematic. Where was Iola, born in 1863? And who was the 15 year old Julia? Was the 6 year old Margaret? And what happened to Susan, age 3, who does not appear on the 1880 enumeration? 
Occupation  William spent several terms as the county surveyor for Hood County. When Somervell County was created from Hood County in 1875 he became the surveyor for the new county and was responsible for laying out the town site of Glen Rose, the county seat.9 
Residence  In 1871 William purchased land in the southern part of the county [just west of where Glen Rose would be] and began to build a rock house. It had 18 inch thick walls which were put together with sand and lime. The lime was prepared in a lime kiln on the property. There were also heavy oak beams and pine doors which are still in use today.9 
Cens-188012 Jun 1880 The 1880 census, reflecting the creation of the new county, enumerated William and Susan farming in Somervell County with three children, Iola (17), Margie (15) and Thomas (8). Walter Gardner [Susan's younger brother who had lost an arm in the Civil War] was living with the family and helping on the farm.10 
Death11 Oct 1885 William died on 11 Oct 1885 in Glen Rose, Somervell County, Texas, at age 48.1,4 
Burial He was buried in the old family cemetery on their land in Somervell County, Texas.9 
Land1896  Following Susan's death the land and home were sold to George Lincoln Booker who added several rooms. The home is now known as the Booker house. It sits on a hill 2 miles west of Glen Rose on Highway 67. The state placed a Historical Medallion on the house in 1965.9 
  The old cemetery, which sat across current highway 67 from the home, was bull dozed and ruined some years ago.9 

Research Comment:

Local residents state that near the house there were also graves for 3 little Gardner children who died of yellow fever. There were no stones placed to mark the graves at the time the chlildren died, but the Bookers placed small cedar posts when they owned the home.11
It is possible the Gardner children were sons or daughters of Susan's younger brother Walter and his wife Callie. Walter lived with Susan and William prior to his marriage in Somervell County in 1888. It is certainly possible he and Callie also lived with Susan after their marriage, especially since Susan was widowed. However, the 1900 census lists Callie as the mother of 4 children, all of whom were living.

Susan's brother Caleb also lost 3 children before 1900 but at least 2 of those are known to be buried at Acton Cemetery. Or is it possible these "Gardner children" were actually children of Susan and William McCamant, but who were associated in people's memories, years later, with their mother's surname and not their father's? Note the presence of the 3 year old Susan on the 1870 census who does not appear in 1880. Unfortunately, with the loss of the McCamant Cemetery across the road from the old home, and with no specific information on the 3 children, it will probably be impossible to determine who is buried in either location.

Related Links and Images:

Susan and William married in Hunt County in 1861. Find the location on the Texas map. You can also locate Hood County and Somervell County.

Family

Susan Wells Sanders Gardner b. 3 Apr 1834, d. 28 Aug 1896
Children
Last Edited12 Dec 2013

Citations

  1. [S2945] Robert Gardner research, 2881 Pruneridge Ave., Santa Clara, California, 95051, email to: e-mail address.
  2. [S1644] Mary Taylor, "William Graham McCamant" in History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 372.
  3. [S124] David Trimble, Buchanan and Gillespie, p. 219; source not stated.
  4. [S3118] Membership application, Thomas Jefferson McCamant, number 75002/914 (national/state), Texas Society of the Sons of the American Revolution. Database with images. (Ancestry.com : viewed March 2013). Application dated 30 Nov. 1951 at El Paso, Texas based on service of ancestor James McCamant (provides date of birth and death).
  5. [S1731] Hunt County, Texas Marriages 1846-1911 (Greenville, Texas: Hunt Co. Genealogical Society, 1987), p. 300. William G. McCamant and Susan W. Gardner, 22 Oct. 1861, citing Marriage Record A:107.
  6. [S1644] Mary Taylor, "William Graham McCamant" in History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 372. Source states William and Susan married 21 Oct. 1861 in Hunt Co., TX.
  7. [S1644] "McCamant Springs" in History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 53. Citing "Hood County History": Chapter 27.
  8. [S1645] W MCammet household, 1870 U.S. census, Hood Co., Texas, pop. sched., Granberry post office, p. 30 (original script), dwelling 258, family 258, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Jan. 2007, image 30 of 65. Enumeration includes: W. MCammet, 3_, farmer, owns real estate of $500, pers. prop same, b. VA; Susan, 26, b. VA; Marg, 6, b. TX; Susan, 3, b. TX; Julia, 15, b. TX; Wm Grabrill, 35, b. Ala.
  9. [S1644] Mary Taylor, "William Graham McCamant" in History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 373.
  10. [S1554] G. W. McCamant household, 1880 U.S. cens., Somervell Co., Texas, pop sched., Justice precinct 1, ED 146, page 351 C (stamped), dwelling 127, family 127, viewed online at Ancestry.com, Sept. 2005, image 15 of 25. Enumeration includes: G.W. McCamant, 40, marr, farmer, b. VA, father b. PA, mother b. VA; Susan W., 40, wife, b. VA, father b. NY, mother b. VA; Iola, dau, 17, b. TX, at school, parents b. VA; Margie, dau, 15, b. TX, at school, b. VA; Thomas, 8, son, b. TX, parents b. VA; Walter Gardner, 33, bros-in-law, works on farm, b. VA, father b. NY, mother b. VA.
  11. [S1644] "Booker Cemetery" in History and Families of Somvervell Co., Texas, 1875-2001, p. 64. Cited as: "Mrs. Tom Price stated in an article about Glen Rose..."