There is a thriving little town of 600 population, situated on the high prairie twelve miles east of Dallas City on the Texas & Pacific Railroad. It was established in 1872 as a railroad station. Being located in a rich prairie country it soon took rapid growth and developed into an attractive little town. The first settlers were Major Bradfield, the station agent, and J. J. Gallaher. Only a few scattering farms were in the country at that time; now the surrounding country is a perfect mat of farms, so to speak.

No town in the county possesses more enterprising citizens according to her population than Mesquite. She has at present the following business houses:

Knox and Kimbrough, general merchandise.
E. P. and J. P. Paschall, general merchandise.
G. M. Gross, druggist.
G. B. Gross, druggist.
J. D. Wesson, groceries.
J. C. Rugel, hardware and farm implements.
George W. Quinn, blacksmithing. M. C. Brownfield, blacksmithing. J. H. Casey, saloon.
J. F. Lynch, saloon.
G. H. Brown, saddlery and harness.
F. M. Moore, hotel and livery stable.
H. W. Bounds, photographer.
J. M. Ebrite, postmaster and dealer in confectionaries.
Ebrite & Walker, lumber dealers.

There is here printed a first-class weekly newspaper, edited by the talented Hon. R. S. Kimbrough, the present State senator from this district. It is wide-awake, enterprising and aggressive. In fact, it could not be otherwise, being edited by the bold and fearless senator.

This paper was established by Mr. Kimbrough, in 1882, and has a very extensive circulation not only in Dallas county, but also in other counties.

Besides Mr. Kimbrough, there is another citizen living at Mesquite who is well known for his ability in the legislative halls of Texas,-- Hon. J. C. Rugel. This gentleman served a term in the State Legislature and had a career of honor.

Four denominations worship regularly here, and each has a creditable church building, viz: The Baptist, Rev. Thomas Pinson, pastor; the Methodist, J. B. Adair, pastor; the Presbyterian, A. F. Stone, pastor; the Christian, ___ ___, pastor.

In addition to the church organizations there are the secret orders, which add much to the interest of the town, named: Science Lodge, No. 295, A. F. & A. M., S. B. Marshall, W. M.; J. C. Rugel, Secretary. Mesquite Lodge, No. 2996, K of H., G. B. Gross, dictator; J. C. Rugel, reporter.

The physicians are Drs. D. A. Paschall, John O'Callaghan, and W. C. Cullom.

The school at this place is the pride of the citizens. A commodious house is furnished, and able teachers are always employed. It is conducted about six months in each year.

There are two cotton gins in the community near the town, and each gin annually from 2,500 to 3,500 bales of cotton. This little town marketed last year 4,114 bales of cotton. It is also a first-class shipping place for small grain and cattle.

The town was incorporated in 1887, and the present city officers are:
J. E. Russell, mayor; W. H. Parker, marshal. Aldermen -- T. L. Paschall, R. S. Kimbrough, J. C. Rugel, G. D. Gross, J. D. Brunner. The following are the articles of incorporation incorporating the town of Mesquite, as appears on the Commissioner's Court minutes:

WHEREAS, on the 16th day of November, A. D. 1887, J. M. Knox and twenty-four other resident citizens of the village of Mesquite, in Dallas county, Texas, filed an application in the office of the county judge of said county asking that an election be held to determine whether or not the town situated upon the land hereinafter described, to wit: The town of Mesquite, Dallas county, Texas, should be incorporated under the general laws of the State of Texas with the following limits, to wit: Beginning at the southeast corner of the W. Lakey survey; thence west with said line to a point north and opposite the northeast corner of the S. D. Carver survey; thence south on D. S. Carver's east line to a point one hundred (100) yards south of the northwest corner of L. L. Thompson's tract; thence each to the west line of the J. R. Worrell survey; thence north with said line to the Texas & Pacific railroad; thence each to the Texas & Pacific railroad tank; thence north to a point in the John McDaniel survey and immediately east and opposite the southeast corner of the W. Lakey survey, thence west to place of beginning; and whereas, on said 16th day of November, 1887, an election was ordered by me for the above stated purposes; and R. S. Kimbrough was appointed presiding officer of same; and whereas, on December 3rd, 1887, said election was held in accordance with the statute in such case made and provided; and resulted in a majority of the qualified voters in said boundaries voting at said election, to wit: twenty-five voters in favor of incorporating said town of Mesquite and fourteen voters against. It is therefore ordered that the said town of Mesquite with the boundaries hereinbefore described be and the same is hereby incorporated under the provisions of Title No. 17, Chapter 2, of the Revised Statutes of the State of Texas; and it is further ordered that an election be held on Friday, December 23, 1887, in said town of Mesquite by the qualified voters residing within the limits thereof for the purpose of electing a mayor, a marshall and five aldermen for said town. R. S. Kimbrough is hereby appointed presiding officer of said election and is ordered to make due return thereof as required by law. Said election to be held at I. D. Browder's store in said town.

Given under my hand this 10th day of December, A. D. 1887.
E. G. Bower,
County Judge,
Dallas County, Texas.
Attest:
W. M. C. Hill, Clerk;
By S. J. Brooks, Deputy.
The first officers of the incorporated town as above set out according to the returns of the election ordered in said articles of incorporation were: J. E. Russell, mayor; S. E. Champion, marshal; J. M. Talley, L. L. Thompson, G. B. Gross, R. S. Kimbrough, and I. D. Browder, aldermen.

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