Husband of Josie Helm Burton.
Father of Howard G. Burton.

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.