ANDERSON COUNTY - HISTORY - A. G. Burton Tells of Early History *************************************************************************** Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by Scott Fitzgerald – scottfitzgerald@tyler.net East Texas Genealogical Society, President 29 December 2004 *************************************************************************** Originally published in The Tracings, Volume 2, No. 1, Winter 1983 by the Anderson County Genealogical Society, copyright assigned to the East Texas Genealogical Society. From the Palestine (Texas) Press August 10, 1935 A. G. BURTON TELLS OF EARLY HISTORY Editor’s Note — A, G. BURTON, early Palestine resident, now living at 6907 Lakewood Boulevard, Dallas, writes the following account of the early history of Palestine, giving as he calls it, some of the most interesting highlights in the earlier days of the city: It has been almost a year since I wrote to the Herald, so I will write again and tell the Herald readers something of the early happenings of Anderson County. Anderson County was organized and named in 1845. The first court that was ever held in Anderson county was under the shade of the oak tree that stood on the place where the A. & P. new store now stands, on the northwest side of the square. When the first court house was built in Palestine, A. G. CANTLEY was county judge in the early days, and he had, I think, something like twenty sycamore trees set out in the court house yard, which soon grew into beautiful shade trees and were an ornament to the, town and court house and court yard. These were the first sycamore shade trees that were ever set out in Palestine. When Judge CANTLEY announced his candidacy for reelection for county judge he was defeated on the ground of his extravagance in having those shade trees put out. This goes to prove beyond any doubt that the fools were not all dead in an early day in Anderson County. I disremember the name of the man who was first mayor of Palestine. He was a carpetbagger, and an appointee of Edmond G. DAVIS, and sent there on us, and we had to swallow him. A Mr. HURBROUGH was the second mayor. The first city marshal that Palestine ever had was a negro named Irvine LACY, and I think was owned and raised by W. Y. LACY on his farm seven miles east of Palestine, on the Rusk road. The marshal disappeared from Palestine, and I never did learn what became of him. I don’t know whether he was bumped off or whether he left of his own accord. He used to carry a Winchester with him when he was on duty, and in the fall of 1872 he shot some white man and killed him, and if he was ever tried for it I never heard of it. Fred MILLS, a negro carpenter, was an a1derman for a time, and in later years Lewis COWAN, negro, was elected county treasurer. I think Lewis was elected on the Third Party Ticket and it was some tine after these other negroes had their reign. George WRIGHT was born two miles north of the court house, on what is now known as Judge GARDNER farm, He is the oldest Anderson county born person living today, and he celebrated his 90th birthday Thursday of this week, August 8th. He is the most remarkable man that I ever knew. He has been liveryman, contractor, merchant, cotton seed oil man and banker, twice elected mayor of the city, and I have never known but two men in my life who has as much energy as Mr. WRIGHT had. George WRIGHT, Jim OZMENT, John KIRKSEY and Ed DILIEY were four of the most progressive young men that ever lived in Palestine, and their places will never be filled. When Mr. WRIGHT and I are gone there will be no more persons to tell the present generation anything about the early happenings in Anderson County. We are the only two Palestine boys that are now living. There are several ladies living that were there when we were boys. I don’t know what you attribute Mr. WRIGHT’S and my longevity to, unless it was nondissipation. Neither of us was ever under the influence of whiskey in our lives, and neither of us ever used tobacco in any form. This may not be the cause, but I think it has helped us to get where we are. The present courthouse is the fourth courthouse that has been built in Palestine since 1845, I wish the present county judge and county commissioners would pass an order for thirty or thirty-five dollars and buy about twenty papershell pecan trees and put out over the yard. They are long-lived trees and will soon grow into pretty shade trees and have plenty of pecans on them. I have been a taxpayer in Anderson county for 61 years, but disposed of all my holdings two years ago, and I know I would be willing to pay my part of the tax if I was still a taxpayer to have these pecan trees put out. They would beautify the court house and be a nice resting place in the summer tine when the trees would be nice shade trees. Tell the county judge to think this over and act accordingly. The two rows of cedar trees that lead out from Mrs. AIEXANDER’S home on East Kolstad street were put out little switches in 1862. They have grown to be large cedar trees and have never had much attention paid them. The two magnolia trees in front of my old home place two blocks south of the court house were set out in 1875, very small trees. They have been well cared for, and will now measure 8 feet in circumference. I think the magnolia flower is the prettiest flower that ever bloomed, and when those two trees are in full bloom in the spring of the year they perfume that end of the tarn with the odor from the flowers. I don’t recommend them, though, for shade trees, as they am the filthiest shade tree that ever grew. Something drops from the magnolia tree every day in the year. I could write you much more but for fear your readers will get tired of reading I will ring off for this tine. If you think this is worth printing send me three copies of your paper to 6907 Lakewood Boulevard, Dallas, Texas. Yours, A. G. BURTON P. S. --When George WRIGHT and I are gone there will be no more persons living that can tell you of the early happenings in Anderson county. Our machinery is badly worn, from work, worry and age, and we will have to cross the Divide before very many more years. I am thankful that we have lived as long as we have, but feel satisfied that we cannot live a great while longer, as I can only judge the future by the past, and rarely ever any one lives to reach our age, A.G.B.