Near Clarksville in Red River County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Site of McKenzie College

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 1, 2026

1. Site of McKenzie College Marker

Inscription. An outstanding school of the southwest before the Civil War. Established in 1841 by the Reverend John W.P. McKenzie (1806-1877), pioneer missionary to the Choctaws, circuit rider in Texas in 1838. Opened in a log cabin, it expanded to four large buildings on 900 acres. Chartered January 10, 1854. Enrolled 300 boarding pupils annually. Closed in 1869.

Erected 1936 by State of Texas. (Marker Number 16077.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Education. A significant historical year for this entry is 1841.

Location. 33° 35.688′ N, 95° 6.234′ W. Marker is near Clarksville, Texas, in Red River County. It can be reached from County Road 1287 half a mile north of State Highway 37, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Clarksville TX 75426, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South

and in the Piney Woods.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic

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of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: A House of the William Becknell Family (approx. 1.4 miles away); Fairground Cemetery (approx. 2.2 miles away); City of Clarksville (approx. 2.3 miles away); First Baptist Church of Clarksville (approx. 2½ miles away); David Gouverneur Burnet (approx. 2.9 miles away); Page's Tree (approx. 3 miles away); Albert Hamilton Latimer (approx. 3 miles away); J.D. Tippit (approx. 3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Clarksville.

Also see . . . History of McKenzie College: A Pioneer Institution in Texas Education. McKenzie College, three miles southwest of Clarksville, Red River County, was organized by John W. P. McKenzie in 1841 in a log cabin. The original enrollment was sixteen, and growth was slow. Until 1846 the school offered high school work only. In 1848 the institution was chartered as McKenzie Institute, and progress was accelerated. (B. E. Masters, in the Handbook of Texas, Texas State Historical Association)

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, May 1, 2026

2. Site of McKenzie College Marker

(Submitted on May 21, 2026, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Rev. John Witherspoon Pettigrew McKenzie (1806-1877) image. Click for full size.

Southwestern University via Archive.org (Public Domain), circa 1871

3. Rev. John Witherspoon Pettigrew McKenzie (1806-1877)

Founder of McKenzie College, he also helped establish Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas.

McKenzie College Dormitories image. Click for full size.

Southwestern University via Archive.org (Public Domain)

4. McKenzie College Dormitories

This composite of undated photographs shows the separate men's and women's dormitories at McKenzie College.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 21, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 20, 2026, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 11 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 20, 2026, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 3, 4. submitted on May 21, 2026, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.