James Postell Douglas

He is regarded as the founder of the Cotton Belt Route, a major railroad system connecting Texas and Arkansas north to St. Louis, Missouri.

After his father died in 1854, Douglas supported the family by working as a school principal while reading law.

Douglas owned farms and canneries around Tyler (as well as possibly the first peach orchard in East Texas) and was interested in finding better outlets for his produce.

The Texas and St. Louis was to extend the Tyler Tap to Texarkana to connect more directly to eastern markets.

The company shortened the task by purchasing an existing horsecar line which had track running to Rusk, Texas.

[2] In 1889 Douglas and some associates organized a smaller scale enterprise - the Tyler Street Railroad Company.

[4] In 1952 she was presented with a special 75 year service pin by the president of the Cotton Belt Route, in memory of her husband's part in the founding of the line.