In plan and form, this 2 ½ story frame dwelling is typical of the many large Queen Anne-style houses found in the neighborhood south of downtown. A deed states that the land was transferred on February 6, 1890, from J.T. Pells and S.R. Pells to Oscar B. Sawyers, secretary of the Palestine Loan Association. Sawyers built his home on the lot a short time later and he and his wife Carrie Jones Sawyer lived there until December 19, 1893. The story goes, a local man named Mart Lacy notified Judge Gardner and Dr. Jameson, a local doctor, requesting that they come to the Sawyers’ residence. When they arrived, they found Sawyers dead and his wife wounded. It is speculated that this was a suicide pact that failed, possibly due to financial trouble that Sawyers was apparently experiencing. The Palestine Loan Association turned its claims over to Gregg and Gardner to collect and bring suit. Mrs. Sawyers waived all right to the administration of Sawyers estate on January 24, 1894. The home was appraised at $6,000 and was bought by Percy V. Pennybacker and his wife Anna for $5,000. Pennybacker served as superintendent of the Palestine schools until his death in 1899. Mrs. Pennybacker was a prominent local social leader, and was the author of the first Texas history textbook to be used in state schools, titled “A New History of Texas for Schools”. After Mr. Pennybacker’s death, Mrs. Pennybacker moved to Austin, where she was instrumental in the formation of the Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs. On June 22, 1900, she sold the house to Thomas Mitchell Campbell and his wife, Fannie Bruner Campbell. Mr. Campbell had been appointed receiver of the I&GN Railroad in 1891 and in 1893 he became general manager of the railroad. He was elected governor of Texas for two terms in 1907 and 1909. In 1911, Campbell returned to his law practice and helped to found the Campbell State Bank, which later grew into the East Texas National Bank. About 1922, local architect Theodore Maffitt, remodeled the house, enlarging it to its present size and adding a porch along the front and the south side of the house. Among the treasured items in the home is a grandfather clock which was presented to the governor in recognition of his reforms in labor legislation. A marble bust of Campbell, done by Pompeo Coppini and given to him by the state legislature, is also in the house. The house is still owned by descendants of Governor Campbell.
Taken from: Historic Resources Survey of Palestine, Texas: An Inventory for The City of Palestine, Volume V, Color Slides, June 1991
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