Margaret Annaliza McAdams

Margaret Annaliza McAdams — called Tommie all her life — was born on May 27, 1870, in the McAdams Community, Walker County, Texas. She was the daughter of John McAdams Jr. and Mary Frances Bankhead.¹

Marriage to Thomas Jefferson Thompson

When she was nineteen, Tommie married Thomas Jefferson Thompson, son of G. Cumberland Thompson and Arena Thompson of Mustang Prairie, Grimes County. Thomas Jefferson, called Jeff, died in 1899, leaving his young wife with five small children.¹

Tommie continued to live on their farm and, with the help of her widowed mother, made a living by farming and keeping a country store in one room of her home. She had strong traits of character and was considered a good businesswoman. She could talk about the price of cotton and cabbage with more enthusiasm than she showed for domestic duties.¹

Marriage to Reese Barron

In 1906, Tommie married Reese O. Barron, a local farmer and widower with seven children: Jewel, Grace, Rhett, Reese, Jim, Kate, and Bill. Local folklore held that a neighbor, watching from the window as the funeral entourage left the first Mrs. Barron’s home, prophetically remarked: “Tommie Thompson.” She was no seer but simply predicted that Reese Barron and Tommie Thompson would be drawn together by their mutual problems — and besides, there were probably no other eligibles their age in the community.¹

Tommie and her daughter Ethel gave birth to babies the same day: June 29, 1907. Reta Orene Barron and R.E. Morris shared the same birthday until Reta’s death about four years later. Other children born to Tommie and Reese were John Frank and Darrell.¹

Cameron County

About 1920, Tommie, her husband, and their sons moved from Walker County to Cameron County, near Los Indios, a small townsite. There they operated large-scale farming interests until their sons were old enough to take over.¹

Tommie died in February 1946, and Mr. Barron several years later.¹