b. 12 October 1836, d. 11 October 1885
Birth | 12 Oct 1836 | William Graham McCamant was born on 12 Oct 1836 in Oldtown, Grayson County, Virginia.1,4 |
Marriage | 22 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. |
Occupation | circa 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-1870 | 25 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-1880 | 12 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 |
Death | 11 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 |
Land | 1896 | 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 |