Birdville School
Title
Birdville School
Subject
School Buildings
School Architecture
School Architecture
Description
Dr. Benjamin Franklin Barkley (1822-1882) donated land for the first Birdville School. Barkley practiced law and medicine and is buried in Birdville Cemetery, which also happens to be on land he donated.
About Dr. Barkley:
In 1855 Dr. Benjamin Franklin Barkley and his wife, Malinda Elizabeth (Duncan), traveled from their Kentucky farm to Texas, settling in Birdville. He continually spoke out against slavery and secession, but he kept an open house at Birdville to feed the widows and orphans of Confederate soldiers, and when necessary he treated or lodged returning soldiers. After the war, he was named to the Tarrant County Registration Board, and in November 1867 he was appointed county judge, a position he held until 1870. He also served as subassistant commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau in 1867–68. Barkley reported misconduct and conducted hearings on Ku Klux Klan activities; he became so unpopular that he was escorted by US soldiers from his home to his office in Fort Worth. During this time he also served as the local postmaster. He received an appointment as county treasurer from Governor Edmund J. Davis in November 1871 and served until January 1873. Following the return of state and county government to Democratic control, Barkley resumed his practices of medicine and law in Birdville. Additionally, he advertised as a land agent with 7,000 acres for sale in the county. He was named a United States commissioner for his efforts during the crisis.
Barkley died on December 24, 1882, and was buried on land that he had donated for Birdville Cemetery. A historical marker honoring him was placed at the site in 1979.
About Dr. Barkley:
In 1855 Dr. Benjamin Franklin Barkley and his wife, Malinda Elizabeth (Duncan), traveled from their Kentucky farm to Texas, settling in Birdville. He continually spoke out against slavery and secession, but he kept an open house at Birdville to feed the widows and orphans of Confederate soldiers, and when necessary he treated or lodged returning soldiers. After the war, he was named to the Tarrant County Registration Board, and in November 1867 he was appointed county judge, a position he held until 1870. He also served as subassistant commissioner of the Freedmen's Bureau in 1867–68. Barkley reported misconduct and conducted hearings on Ku Klux Klan activities; he became so unpopular that he was escorted by US soldiers from his home to his office in Fort Worth. During this time he also served as the local postmaster. He received an appointment as county treasurer from Governor Edmund J. Davis in November 1871 and served until January 1873. Following the return of state and county government to Democratic control, Barkley resumed his practices of medicine and law in Birdville. Additionally, he advertised as a land agent with 7,000 acres for sale in the county. He was named a United States commissioner for his efforts during the crisis.
Barkley died on December 24, 1882, and was buried on land that he had donated for Birdville Cemetery. A historical marker honoring him was placed at the site in 1979.
Source
Date
1907
Files
Collection
Citation
“Birdville School,” NRHTXHistory, accessed November 1, 2024, http://nrhtxhistory.com/items/show/56.