Tennessee native James Henry Campbell (1830-1918) moved to Texas in 1856 with his wife, Julia Emeline (Perkins), and their children. One of the first settlers in this area, he named the surrounding community Sylvan for the nearby grove of trees. A Confederate veteran, Campbell completed this home for his family in the late 1860s and became one of the largest landowners in Lamar County. The homestead, which remained in the Campbell family for more than 100 years, stands as a reminder of the once-thriving Sylvan community.