James Postell Douglas
Encyclopedia
James Postell Douglas was a soldier, politician, and businessman in the state of Texas.
Douglas' parents Alexander and Margaret Douglas moved their family from South Carolina to Talladega
, Alabama
in 1838 and then to Texas in 1847, settling in Tyler
in 1848. After his father died in 1854, Douglas supported the family by working as a school principal while reading law. In 1859 he purchased half-ownership in the Tyler Reporter newspaper (now the Tyler Courier-Times) and became its editor.
After the outbreak of the Civil War, Douglas helped raise a battery of artillery and became a first lieutenant. The only battery of Texas artillery to serve east of the Mississippi River, the First Texas Battery saw action throughout the war. Douglas was promoted to captain in July of 1862. The battery was paroled in May 1865 in Mobile
, Alabama
and Douglas returned to Texas.
Douglas returned to being a newspaper editor. In 1870 he was elected to the Texas Senate, where he was a strong opponent of Reconstruction.
Douglas organized the Tyler Tap, basis of the later Cotton Belt Railroad
, and served as its president. He was also involved with the founding of other railroads. Tyler also owned plantations, canneries, and possibly the first peach orchard in East Texas.
Douglas married twice and had a total of ten children. His second wife Alice Earle Smith survived him by many years, dying in 1955.
The Tyler branch of the Sons of Confederate Veterans
is named in his honor.
Douglas' parents Alexander and Margaret Douglas moved their family from South Carolina to Talladega
Talladega, Alabama
Talladega is a city in Talladega County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 15,143. The city is the county seat of Talladega County. Talladega is approximately 50 miles east of Birmingham, Alabama....
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
in 1838 and then to Texas in 1847, settling in Tyler
Tyler, Texas
Tyler is a city in and the county seat of Smith County, Texas, in the United States. It takes its name from President John Tyler . The city had a population of 109,000 in 2010, according to the United States Census Bureau...
in 1848. After his father died in 1854, Douglas supported the family by working as a school principal while reading law. In 1859 he purchased half-ownership in the Tyler Reporter newspaper (now the Tyler Courier-Times) and became its editor.
After the outbreak of the Civil War, Douglas helped raise a battery of artillery and became a first lieutenant. The only battery of Texas artillery to serve east of the Mississippi River, the First Texas Battery saw action throughout the war. Douglas was promoted to captain in July of 1862. The battery was paroled in May 1865 in Mobile
Mobile, Alabama
Mobile is the third most populous city in the Southern US state of Alabama and is the county seat of Mobile County. It is located on the Mobile River and the central Gulf Coast of the United States. The population within the city limits was 195,111 during the 2010 census. It is the largest...
, Alabama
Alabama
Alabama is a state located in the southeastern region of the United States. It is bordered by Tennessee to the north, Georgia to the east, Florida and the Gulf of Mexico to the south, and Mississippi to the west. Alabama ranks 30th in total land area and ranks second in the size of its inland...
and Douglas returned to Texas.
Douglas returned to being a newspaper editor. In 1870 he was elected to the Texas Senate, where he was a strong opponent of Reconstruction.
Douglas organized the Tyler Tap, basis of the later Cotton Belt Railroad
St. Louis Southwestern Railway
The St. Louis Southwestern Railway , known by its nickname of "The Cotton Belt Route" or simply Cotton Belt, was organized on January 15, 1891, although it had its origins in a series of short lines founded in Tyler, Texas, in 1870 that connected northeastern Texas to Arkansas and southeastern...
, and served as its president. He was also involved with the founding of other railroads. Tyler also owned plantations, canneries, and possibly the first peach orchard in East Texas.
Douglas married twice and had a total of ten children. His second wife Alice Earle Smith survived him by many years, dying in 1955.
The Tyler branch of the Sons of Confederate Veterans
Sons of Confederate Veterans
Sons of Confederate Veterans is an American national heritage organization with members in all fifty states and in almost a dozen countries in Europe, Australia and South America...
is named in his honor.