John Peter Sjolander (1851-1939) was a Swedish-American farmer and poet. He was known as the "Sage of Cedar Bayou" for his many literary works while residing in Cedar Bayou. Sjolander began his life in various european countires before settling in Cedar Bayou, Texas as an editor on "Peterson's Magazine". While he published a variety of poems in local and state papers, the only bound volume of his work came by the book, "Salt of the Earth" which he collaborated with Hilton Ross Greer.

Hilton Ross Greer (1879-1949) was a native Texan, journalist, and poet. As a reporter in his younger years, Greer took up positions with various Texas and Louisiana newspapers. Greer was appointed secretary to Congressman Choice Boswell Randell in 1902 and simultaneously served as a correspondent for various Washington D.C. newspapers. After returning to Texas in 1904, Greer made a career as a "Newspaperman" and began publishing volumes of poetry. He was a founding member of the Poetry Society of Texas and Texas Institute of Letters. Other organizations Greer was involved with include: Knights of Pythias, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Woodmen of the World, the Texas Geographic Society, the Texas Folklore Society, the Poetry Society of America, and the Poetry Society of England.