J.A. and Neva Rice Public Library
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Tarkington Prairie Historical Society

TARKINGTON PRAIRIE HISTORICAL SOCIETY
Working to preserve the history of Tarkington  

President: Bill Rice
Vice President: Bill Brewer
Secretary: Susan Rice
Treasurer:  Mary Jane Lewis
Board Members: Clifton Cherry
                       Kathy Hinson
                       Norris Lewis
Goals:
1. Preserve the history of Tarkington Prairie
2. Foster public interest in preserving our history
3. Obtain historical markers, the first being for Ryan   Cemetery
4. Recruit more members

Annual dues:  $10.00/person

Address: 3032 FM 163
            Cleveland, TX 77327
Contact: Susan Rice 281-593-8722
             susanrice3@hotmail.com
Meetings – 3rd Monday night of every other month beginning in January, 7:00 p.m. at The Ruth Stetson Community Center.

The historical society has exhibits in the library.  Come and see librarian Ruth Stetson and talk to her about them.  Also on exhibit are several items in the Old Wells Store on Hwy. 321.  

  

THE HISTORY OF TARKINGTON PRAIRIE, TEXAS

In 1822, Burton B. Tarkington and his wife moved their family from Indiana to the Mexican State of Coahuila.  An Indian guide led Tarkington west of the Trinity River in present northwest Liberty County near the old Nacogdoches-Lynchburg Trail where they began raising cattle and crops.  The Tarkington family became the first Anglo-American settlers within fifteen miles of the western bank of the Trinity River.  Another forty pioneer families came to the area in 1834 and the area soon became a thriving rural community. 

Several men from the area fought at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1836.  By 1857, the first school in Tarkington had been established in the Oak Shade Community and in July of that year, the Oak Shade Baptist Church was organized as the pioneer Baptist church in this portion of East Texas.  By the 1860’s, there was a store – trading center (where the Old Wells Store is now located), a blacksmith shop, a steam mill and gin, and a post office.  Many veterans of the Civil War lived in the Tarkington Community.  Rural Shade Baptist Church had its beginnings in 1870 and in 1878, a two-story frame building was erected “to house the Masonic Lodge in the upper story and the service of Rural Shade Baptist Church were held in the house of God.”  When  a second church building was constructed in 1907, this building became the first high school in Tarkington called Oakdale High School.  In the late 1800’s, several men from the prairie organized and supervised a wagon train to rescue Indian friends in East Texas who were suffering from starvation due to drought and an epidemic of fever.  The Indians were brought to Liberty County and settled on the banks of the Trinity River.  In 1881, St. Paul’s Baptist Church was begun in the Rayburn area and in 1884, Little Flock Baptist Church was organized.  Both of these churches also served as meeting places for elementary schools.  All four of these churches – Oak Shade, Rural Shade, St. Paul’s, and Little Flock – remain active today. 

In 1931, the Tarkington Consolidated School District was formed and a brand new high school opened in 1933 in the area of the present day schools.  That building burned four years later.  In 1938, another new high school was built.  Today, in addition to its schools and churches, Tarkington includes a volunteer fire department, Special Utilities District, a library and community center, and the Tarkington Prairie Historical Society.

                                                       

TPHS members at Aug. 2007 meeting at Kevin Allen's home in Cleveland