Background
After his father died in 1854, Douglas supported the family by working as a school principal while reading law.
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James Douglas
Edit Profilepolitician member of the Texas Senate
Career
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. In 1859 he purchased half-ownership in the Tyler Reporter newspaper (now the Tyler Courier-Times) and became its editors After the Civil War broke out, 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 1862. The battery was paroled in May 1865 in Mobile, Alabama and Douglas returned to Texas.
Douglas returned to being a newspaper editors 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. The Tyler branch of the Sons of Confederate Veterans is named in his honor.
