Born in Tennessee, Sylvester Adams came to Texas with his father as a youth. A firm believer in the Confederate cause, he served at Galveston during the Civil War. He helped organize Runnels County and was its first county judge from 1880 to 1884, then served again from 1886 to 1888. During the 1886 to 1887 drought, he helped plan aid for the county, though many residents proudly refused to accept “charity” relief. He was a Democrat and a Baptist, and he had three sons and three daughters.