Robert Adams was the son of a planter and originally from Georgia in an area near the Oconee River. In May of 1945 he married Rebecca Adams, the daughter of nearby plantation owner Hamblin Bass. The couple had their first son in 1846, after which Robert left the family in the care of Rebecca's parents and began studying to become a doctor. He completed his studies in 1848, and the couple lived in Eatonton, GA for close to 10 years before deciding to move to Texas.
Hamblin Bass had previously moved to what is now the Columbia area of Texas when he purchased the Waldeck Plantation. Robert and Rebecca packed up their family, and left behind a real estate business and his medical practice and began the journey to Texas. After giving birth to a seventh child during the journey in Mobile, AL the family made it to Texas and lived for the first year at the Waldeck Plantation. In 1860 the family purchased the Huckaby Plantation in Freestone County which is near the town of Fairfield. The main crops grown at Huckaby were corn and cotton.
Robert Adams served with his eldest son, also named Robert, in the Confederate Army during the Civil War. Once the war was over the family then moved to Houston and Rebecca became very ill and moved back to Waldeck for a time period. As her health continued to decline the family then moved back to Freestone county.
From the guide to the Robert Adams Collection MA09-4., 1837-1948, (Texas/Dallas History & Archives, Dallas Public Library)
