Founded in 1845 as a steamboat port at the entryway to western markets from the Red River, Jefferson was a thriving center of trade until the steamboat traffic dried up in the 1870s. During its heyday, the town monopolized the shipping of cotton from all points west for 150 miles. Jefferson was the unofficial capital of East Texas, but it was also typical of boom towns in general. For this topical examination of a frontier town, Bagur draws from many government documents, but also from newspaper ads and plats. These sources provide intimate details of the lives of the early citizens of Jefferson, Texas. Their story is of interest to both local and state historians as well as to the many readers interested in capturing the flavor of life in old-time East Texas. “Astoundingly complete and a model for local history research, with appeal far beyond readers who have specific interests in Jefferson.”—Fred Tarpley, author of Jefferson: Riverport to the Southwest

Inventory of records of Marion County housed in the Marion County Courthouse as of 1936. Begins with a historical sketch of the county along with information on the housing, care, and accessibility of the records. Describes the records of the Commissioners Court, County Clerk as Recorder, District Court, County Court, Justices of the Peace, Sheriff, Constable, Tax Assessor-Collector, Board of Equalization, County Treasurer, County Board of School Trustees, County School Superintendent, and County Surveyor, along with selected records of the city of Jefferson. References constitutional provisions, declarations, and ordinances of constitutional conventions, and laws specifically applicable to Marion County. Includes a bibliography as well as chronological and subject and entry indexes.