John Adams may have been a member of the 1853 Hagans-Cockrill wagon train.

It appears that this individual is also listed in 1852 California Census (recorded on 13 August 1852), as John Adams, a 25 year old farmer born in Missouri. Listed right after is a Holly Adams, age 15 and born in Arkansas. Perhaps he was a member of the James A. Cockrill 1851 wagon train instead?

Right before this listing is Charles and Nancy Hudspeth, and Charles' two brothers, John and James.

In the 1860 Census listing for Cloverdale there is a 50 year old J. Adams listed along with a M. Adams (M, a. 25, bp. MO); A. E. Adams (F, a. 9, bp. MO); Henry Adams (a. 7, bp. MO); M. J. Adams (F, a. 4, bp. CA); and R. Adams (F, a. 1, bp CA). Dates of the children do not quite match up though and this is probably not ours.

John Adams shows up on a list of the earliest farmers (right before James and Charles Hudspeth) in the township of Santa Rosa (from the History of Sonoma County, California, by Ernest L. Finley, p. 215).

From a short biographical sketch of John Adams was written by an associate of Jeanne Miller's:

His first trip to California was in 1850. His sister-in-law, Virginia Hudspeth, was married to William Reynolds whose family came with the 1853 party. In 1852, he went by steamer to New Orleans, and since Hagans, Beaver and several members of the 1849 group went back via Nicaragua, it would be a reasonable guess that that was the way he went. Presumption is that it would have been via a sailing vessel. Also in the party was Martha Adams, who also went by the name of Martha Jose. It is a probability that Martha Adams was a sister who came along with the 1853 Party [it is more likely that she had been married to a cousin of John Adams] -- her children were born later, not on the 1853 train.

Arrived with stock in the fall of 1853. Settled in Sonoma County, west of Santa Rosa, stayed for two years, and in 1855 moved to the head of Mark West Creek. At approximately the same time, William Boyd Hagans and William A. Hagans were located at the same place.