Families of Early Settlers Still Here

 
Many of the families listed in Palestine city directories before the turn of the century still are represented by residents here today.

This has been a factor in Palestine's stability over the long pull -- continuity of loyalty to their hometown by descendants of early settlers.

The 1898 - 99 Palestine City Directory was compiled by a Houston firm and printed in Palestine by Williams Printing House.

The name listings began with B. Abernathy, bartender, Buckhorn Saloon (located on Front (Spring) Street, and closed with H. Zincke, I&GN carpenter, 528 Louisiana Street.

Ewing and Deming were publishing the Palestine Advocate at 612 Spring. A. B. Bailey, furniture dealer at 102 Main lived at 126 Crawford. The Daily Press at 162 Avenue A was published by W. M. and H. V. Hamilton.

The 1902 - 03 Palestine City Directory was published by Hodge-Pearson Publishing, 203 Line Street, Palestine -- a "blueback book with web-cloth attachment to hang it on the wall.

Whereas the 1898 population of Palestine "by actual count" was listed at 10,529, the 1902 population was stated as 11,970, "derived from an indefallable system of computation."

The Daffy Herald, the Daily Visitor, the Daffy News, the Weekly Herald and a monthly, Faithful Words, then were being pulished in Palestine.

The city tax rate, "lower than nine-tenths of Texas cities," was 90 cents on $100 valuation on taxable values of $4,045,930, and the city's bonded debt was $102,000.

First name in the 1902 listings was M. Abram, railroad machinist, 17 DeBard, and the last name was still H. Zincke.

Spindletop had touched off side oil search in Texas. John Nemer of Sawyer & Nemer produce, was drilling shallow wells (in collaboration with the late M. A. Davey, St., geologist from Beaumont) at Jarvis and selling the heavy oil to an Eastern firm to be made into a healing ichtyol ointment.

Sam Rollins operated a draying business. Ed Watkins' Lunch Counter specialized in hot chili, with choice meats, game and fish in season. W. E. Swift, the Book Man, was advertising fishing tackle, other sporting goods, guns and ammunition. W. H. Nance was selling tombstones, flagstone and builders' stone on Avenue A.

Watkins Studio displayed its prize picture of the San Antonio Photographic Convention, 1902, showing a gentleman in close- cropped whiskers and pince- nez with three pretty girls in long curls and white lace- trimmed gowns.

Firms advertising in the 1898-99 directory included: Attorneys Thomas B. Greenwood & Son, Albert G. Greenwood, Gardner & Gardner, Gould & Ewing; W. H. Gohlman, physician; T. M. Haynes and Hearne & Moore, drugs; Hodges Dry Goods Company; International Business College; Huff & Keady, tailors; George J. Jordan, cigar manufacturer; John A. Kelly, blacksmith.

Also, P. A. Kolstad and Brother, jewelers; W. M. Lacy & Brother, grocers; S. Maier, wholesale cigars; Miss Bella Maymon, millinery; Mechanics Building & Loan Association; H. L. Miller, dye words; Palestine Steam Laundry; N.R. Royall, banker; First National Bank; Sawyer & Nemer; Palestine Electric Company; Silliman Hardware & Grocery Company; Syrian American Fruit Company; Pacific Express Company.

And, New England Bakery; William and G. D. Broyles, lumber; G. W. Burkitt, contractor; Max Davidson, commission; F. L. Davis, dentist; Louis Durr & Sons, stationers; P. B. Ezell, livery; Thomas E. Hall, livery; Mistrot Brothers & Company, dry goods.

J. W. Ozment, insurance and real estate, advertised his business dated back to 1865.

In 1902, the Daily Herald was 10 cents a week delivered by carrier.

 
Hotel Toast Of Town

Pearlstone, president; Dr. C.S. Bratton, vice president, and A.C. Green, secretary. The directors are Hyman Pearlstone, Dr. C.S. Bratton, Dr. J.C. Silliman, T.M. Campbell, Tucker Royall, A.C. Green, G.H. Turner, Dr. H.R. Link, W.C. Campbell J.E. Angly, G.E. Dilley and J.E. Copeland.

Following is a list of the stockholders of the Redlands: J.E. Angly, L.F. Bailey, George M. Belcher, J.G. Booth, A.L. Bowers, C.S. Bratton, J.F. Brook, R.N. Bush, T.M. Campbell, T.M. Campbell, Jr., P.W. Brown, Wm. Broyles, G.D. Broyles, W.C. Campbell, Adam Cone, J.E. Copeland, A.M. Cohen, Mrs. J.W. Cunningham, Leo Davidson, G.E. Dilley, J.C. Duncan, H.S. Davenport, F.H. Eilenberger, P.B. Ezell, A. Farris, G.P. Fenton, W.B. Flanagan, E. Fore, W.F. Morris, J.J. Murphy, H.I. Myers, Wm. L. Welborn, George Pessoney, E.B. Parsons, Hyman Pearlstone, J.H. Pearlstone, H.T. Phelps, J.B. Rountree, Tucker Royall, B.H. Gardner, Lucius Gooch, J.H. Grant, A.C. Green, A.G. Greenwood, T.B. Greenwood, J.M. Henry, Mrs. A.B. Hodges, D.M. Hedges, J.D. Hamilton, F. Hufsmith, P.H. Hughes, W.G. Jameson, Newell Kane, C.M. Kay. P.A. Kolstad, J.S, Kolstad, Dan LaRoe, E.W. Link, H.R. Link, C.S. Maffitt, Sol Maier, J.W. McCaffrey, E.H. McCain, H.W. McMahan, W.S. Price, C.F. McWhorter, W. Mitchell, T.P. Moore, Mrs. Annie Royall, Herman Schmidt, George Schmidt, J.B. Silliman, J.C. Silliman, J.D. Smullen, E.S. Swarm, W.E. Swift, S.A. Taylor, J.S. Temple, G.H. Turner, V.D. Wilson, F.M. Wilkerson.

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