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IN 1840, A BLACKSMITH NAMED PLEASANT THORP (1809-1890) IMMIGRATED TO TEXAS. HE PLANNED TO SETTLE IN THIS AREA AFTER TRAVELING THROUGH WHILE ON THE MOREHOUSE EXPEDITION. AS PART OF HIS HOLDINGS TOTALING NEARLY 18,000 ACRES, THORP ENCOUNTERED SULPHUR SPRINGS, WHICH LED TO HIS SETTING ASIDE LAND FOR THE TOWN OF THORP SPRING. HE AND SAM MILLIKEN ESTABLISHED THORP COLLEGE IN 1871. THIS EARLY SCHOOL GAVE WAY IN 1873 TO ADD-RAN COLLEGE, WHICH MOVED TO WACO IN 1896 AND FORT WORTH IN 1910, BECOMING TEXAS CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY (TCU). IN 1888, THORP DEEDED TO HOOD COUNTY THE PORTION OF HIS LAND CONTAINING THE SPRING TO FORM A PUBLIC PARK. A TRUE TEXAN PIONEER, PLEASANT THORP LEFT A GREAT LEGACY FOR RESIDENTS AND POSTERITY TO CHERISH. (2018) |
