John R. Heartsill moved to Texas from Blount County, Tennessee and became a druggist in Marshall, where James H. Starr also moved in 1870 after forming the James H. Starr and Son land and banking agency (one of the first in Texas). He was also an active member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South (now the Southern Methodist Church).
The John R. Heartsill Diaries and Memoranda, 1848-1872, were created during the last few months of Heartsill’s life in Tennessee and his first years in Texas. The diaries are a subjective and religious account of his daily activities, giving special attention to the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA), the Methodist Episcopal Church, South; and the building of the Southern Pacific Railroad.
The collection also includes genealogical registers for several generations, comments on education, business, Reconstruction, and local matters.
This collection is open for research use.
John R. Heartsill Diaries and Memoranda, 1848-1872, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, University of Texas at Austin.
James H. Starr Papers, 1796-1905
Basic processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with funds from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC) for the Briscoe Center’s