Discription of Athens by Dr. P S Bethell 1859

Trinity Advocate
Palestine, Anderson Co., Texas
Feb. 2, 1859 ATHENS, HENDERSON COUNTY. --

We are indebted to our esteemed friend,
Dr. P. S. Bethel, of Athens, for the
following pithy description of this flourishing
county site of our neighboring county, of
Henderson, and its surroundings. The
Dr. says. "The town of Athens is situated upon an
elevated plain, with the advantages of as
good freestone water as can be found
anywhere in Texas, and as good society
as can be found in any new country.
Preaching every Sabbath by all the different
orthodox denominations. We have a fine
respectable Masonic Lodge room the
Chapter Degrees are conferred. Our
town is rapidly improving, good houses
are daily going up, and what is still more
gratifying, Churches are being built. We
have five physicians, one good Drug
Store well supplied, but the town and
county are so healthy that physicians are
doing but little. We have five lawyers,
all respectable gentlemen; five Dry
Goods stores, all doing well; two
groceries, one a Family Grocery, to
a considerable extent which supplies
the wants of the surround country,
each kept in an orderly, gentlemanly
manner. Our county is rapidly increasing
in population and wealth; quite a number
of emigrants from the States have recently
settled in our county, who are of the best
order of society. In short, there is not
county in Eastern Texas, that seems to
me to be improving more rapidly than
Henderson. Invitation is given to any
and all who may wish, to patronize
our schools, for we regard them as
schools of the first order."
Yours Respectfully,
P. S. BETHELL.
(P. stands for Ponton)

Old Newspaper Articles of Henderson County

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