Near Yantis in Wood County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Site of Little Indiana School
Photographed By Mark Hilton, September 1, 2019
1. Site of Little Indiana School marker (with bullet holes).
Inscription.
Site of Little Indiana School. . In 1900 a group of Indiana families, led by John M. Hart and Roland Alexander, migrated to this area of Texas. They arrived to find the land, which had been promoted as abundant in timber and rich soil, to be unfertile and susceptible to flooding. Many of the pioneers returned to their home state, but those who remained established a community they named Little Indiana.
Soon after their arrival, the settlers of Little Indiana set aside land for a school. Construction of the schoolhouse was a community effort. Logs were hauled by oxen-drawn wagons to the local sawmill, where they were cut for use in the building project. The seven-grade Little Indiana School opened about 1901, with Alta Alexander Hart as the sole teacher. Later teachers included Hazel Alexander, Harrison Bullock, William McCreight, and Ola McCreight.
The community grew for several years; by 1907, however, illness and poor crops brought about the abandonment of Little Indiana. The school and other establishments closed, and though many of the settlers returned to Indiana, others moved to different parts of Texas.
Little Indiana School, while short-lived, remains part of the history of Wood County's early pioneering efforts.
In 1900 a group of Indiana families, led by John M. Hart and Roland Alexander, migrated to this area of Texas. They arrived to find the land, which had been promoted as abundant in timber and rich soil, to be unfertile and susceptible to flooding. Many of the pioneers returned to their home state, but those who remained established a community they named Little Indiana.
Soon after their arrival, the settlers of Little Indiana set aside land for a school. Construction of the schoolhouse was a community effort. Logs were hauled by oxen-drawn wagons to the local sawmill, where they were cut for use in the building project. The seven-grade Little Indiana School opened about 1901, with Alta Alexander Hart as the sole teacher. Later teachers included Hazel Alexander, Harrison Bullock, William McCreight, and Ola McCreight.
The community grew for several years; by 1907, however, illness and poor crops brought about the abandonment of Little Indiana. The school and other establishments closed, and though many of the settlers returned to Indiana, others moved to different parts of Texas.
Little Indiana School, while short-lived, remains part of the history of Wood County's early pioneering efforts.
Erected 1983 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 8975.)
Location. 32° 55.432′ N, 95° 29.563′ W. Marker is near Yantis, Texas, in Wood County. Marker is on County Road 1388, 0.4 miles east of Farm to Market Road 2225, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Yantis TX 75497, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 11, 2019. It was originally submitted on September 7, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama. This page has been viewed 301 times since then and 40 times this year. Photos:1, 2, 3. submitted on September 7, 2019, by Mark Hilton of Montgomery, Alabama.
