Adamsville Texas, formerly Townsen Mills, Texas. (original) (raw)

Adamsville Store
Click on photo for large image

History in a Pecan Shell

Settlement was around 1856 with ranching as the main economy. In 1872 a mill was built near the juncture of Mill Creek and the Lampasas River. This mill was two miles SE of present-day Adamsville. Originally a water-powered sawmill, stones for grinding meal were added shortly thereafter.

The community supported one store and when a second one opened closer to the mills 1876, it contained a post office. It was named after early settler and postmaster Perry Townsen.

As Townsen Mills, Texas, it was a base camp for the surveying crews that performed their work in what was often hostile Indian territory.

Perry Townsen was killed in an accident on New Year�s Day in 1891 and the post office was moved to the town�s first store � run by John Adams. A change of name was requested and granted and from then on, the community was called Adamsville.

The mill building was dismantled and moved to Hamilton County but other mills had opened by this time.

From the 1880s through the early 1930s, the town reported a population between 75 to 100. In 1933 it plummeted to only 10 residents. By the early 1970s it had crawled back to 28 and for the 2000 census it rose to 41.

See
Townsen Mills/ Adamsville Vintage Photos ›

Adamsville Landmarks, historical markers › photo gallery

Family Photos of the original Townsen Mill

"These photos might be of interest to Texas Escapes. My husband is Steven Dallas Johnson and is the great great grandson of Jasper Townsen, the original builder of the mill in Townsen Mills and then Adamsville. He is related through Bessie Ann Townsen Harmon..... Best of luck to you in preserving our Texas history." - Anita Gerbsch Johnson, March 06, 2015

Back side of above Adamsville Store photo

Back side of the above Townsen Mill photo

Back side of the above Townsen Saw Mill photo

Historical Marker:

Townsen's Mill

Built on Mill Branch in 1872, Perry and Jasper Townsen's steam mill cut "rawhide" lumber and ground wheat and corn. Post office established 1881 moved in 1891 to Adamsville store of John Adams and The Rev. McCall Smith. Mr. Smith built, and was pastor of, earliest Presbyterian church there.

Townsen's Mill historical marker 2 miles SE of Adamsville
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, March 2008

Adamsville, Texas Landmarks

United Presbyterian Church of Adamsville
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, March 2008

United Presbyterian Church historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, March 2008

Patterson House historical marker
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, March 2008

Lampasas County 1907 postal map showing Adamsville
Modification of Texas General Land Office 1920s map

Texas Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history and vintage/historic photos, please contact us.