John Randolph Hearne, son of Texas pioneers Columbus Calamicus Hearne and wife Mary Ellen Gilmer, was born July 15, 1854 in Wheelock, Robinson County, TX. Educated in the schools of his native county, he later attended Washington and Lee University in Lexington, VA. He returned to Texas in 1871, soon thereafter moving to Palestine, first engaging in the drug business which he followed for many years. Later he sold this business and moved to Dallas, becoming a very successful businessman. The first electric lights in Dallas were installed in his business downtown. Mr. Hearne later sold this business and moved back to Palestine where he was engaged in the hardware business, and at the time of his death was head of the Palestine Hardware Co. Mr. Hearne invested quite extensively in real estate in Palestine. A prominent businessman, he was instrumental in helping to organize the Palestine National Bank, which later merged with one of the existing banks and he was elected Vice-President of this bank. He was President of the Palestine Board of Trade, and also President of the Royall National Bank. He was Mayor of Palestine from 1907 to 1909 and during his administration Oak Street and Avenue …

Photo of Nathanial W. Blackshear driving a buggy with an unidentified man sitting next to him and another unidentified man standing beside the horse. On the back of the photograph is the following: "In this 'gig' he eloped with "Mamie" Rollins, my mother. on Midnight May 18, 1892 - married at 3 a.m. May 19, 1892 by Presbyterian Minister Dr. Crozier, Palestine Tex. with Zula Quark(?) as bridesmaid and in Zula's clothing, because her mother had taken away her clothing and locked her in her room. So Mamie got out of her window in her night gown wrapped in the counterpayne"

Photograph of the first Centenary Methodist Church. It was built around 1884 and was in use until sometime around 1910, when a new building was constructed at 422 S. Magnolia.

Photo of Main Street, Elkhart Texas. This whole town burned at one point and when it was rebuilt, all the main buildings were made of brick.

This building was the home of the Young Mens Business Association, which later became the Palestine Chamber of Commerce. It was located on Spring Street (once known as Front Street) in the "new town" section of Palestine, which was along the railroad tracks. This picture was probably taken in the early 1900's.

Photo of Main Street, Elkhart Texas. This whole town burned at one point and when it was rebuilt, all the main buildings were made of brick.

Text includes information on history, climate, physiography and geology, soils, agricultural methods, and agricultural conditions. Accompanied by soil map.

Map displays soil types along with creeks, lakes, sloughs, rivers, towns, roads, and railroads. Includes legend and soil profiles.

Photo on top half of the pictures is of the Second Ward School - Palestine, Texas. Bottom half is the students that attended class there.

Photo of an unidentified man in a wagon in front of a farm house somewhere in Anderson County.

This building housed the Palestine Ice, Fuel and Gin Company, It was located on the corner of Spring and Houston Streets in Palestine.

Photo of an unidentified womantaken at Terry's Studio, Palestine, Tex.

Copy negative of the front of a two-story house located at 416 S. Royall in Palestine, Texas. There are people on the porch and in the front yard.

Photo of the Derden house, which was located on US 287 North towards the community of Bethel. This house is no longer there. The Gus Engling Wildlife Preserve is where it once stood.

Photo on the bottom half are students that attended the Second Ward School in Palestine. Some of their names are as follows: Evelyn Brown Carrie Parker Hensley Black Elise Jackson Annie Davis Willis Watkins Lelia Dublin Louie Hassell Mary Dunlap Alice McNaughton Iris Waters Claude Williams John G. Winston The photo on the top half of the photo is the actual school.

Photo of an unidentified church in Palestine.

This is a photograph of the second Anderson County Jail. The jail was built on the southwest corner of the courthouse square in 1879-80. It was, at the time, the most architecturally advanced building on the square of Palestine. Its clock tower, rising one floor beyond the two-story sheriff’s office and jail, could be seen all the way to New Town, the part of town near the railroad depot. The jail was used until 1931, when it was considered inadequate for county needs. It was torn down and a more modern structure built, the three-story white brick building that now stands on the site.

Photo of the St. Phillips Episcopal church, which was built c. 1870 on the corner of Crawford and Sycamore Streets in Palestine. It was moved across Sycamore Street about 1909, which is where it sits today.

First Presbyterian Church - Avenue A

John H. Reagan served in many political roles during his lifetime, including: Probate Judge in Henderson County Texas from 1846 - 1847, Representative in the Texas Legislature from 1847-1848, District Judge in Texas from 1852-1857, U.S. Congressman from Texas from 1857-1861, Representative from the Texas Provisional Congress Confederate States of America in 1861, Postmaster General of the Confederacy from 1861-1865, Secretary of the Treasury of the Confederacy in 1865, Delegate to the Convention Framing the Constitution of Texas in 1874-75, once again as U.S. Congressman from Texas from 1875-1887, Senator from Texas in the U.S. Congress from 1887-1891, and last but not least, Chairman of the Railroad Commission in Texas from 1891-1902. He was also among the original commissioners that organized the Texas State Historical Association. He died in March 1905 in Anderson County Texas and is buried in the East Hill section of the Palestine City Cemetery. The certificate is one of the certificates he issued while serving as Postmaster General of the Confederacy. It assigns John Caudle as Postmaster of the Union Mills Post Office, located in Havanna County, Virginia.

Decorated interior of the First Presbyterian Church in Palestine.

Photo of the Congregational Church in Palestine, Texas.

Photo of the interior of the First Presbyterian Church decorated for a wedding.

Decorated interior of the St. Philips Episcopal Church in Palestine.