History of Trent District -- Independent

Trent is the half-way station on the Texas & Pacific Railroad between El Paso and Texarkana, being four hundred thirty miles from each of these cities. By mistake the signboards of he stations Trent and Eskota were interchanged and what is Trent should have been named Eskota. The naming of the town had, therefore, no relation to the sea vessel of Civil War fame, but was named for Mr. I R. Trent, now a resident of the Eskota community.

The first school in Trent was taught in a tent in 1885 by a Mr. Kirkpatrick. The work continued in a tent for three successive short sessions. Mr. W. E. Hamner, one of Trent's successful business men and honored citizens, was a pupil of the tent school. The first school building, box structure eighteen by twenty feet, occupied the present site of the Christian church building. In fact, the lumber in the old school is a part of the present church building. Among the etchers of these early years were Mr. B. I. Lowe, Mr. H. C. Williams-later postmaster at Merkel, Mr Albert Barnes, Miss Bertie Cannon, and Miss Bertie McLendon. The first bond, issue was voted in 1905, largely through the influence of Dr. Craddock. The two-story structure built at that time and added to a few years later, was destroyed by fire during the session of 1915-1916. The work continued in the churches of the town until the present three-story brick building, modern and well-equipped, was occupied in 1917.

In 1911, the curriculum was raised to include the tenth grade; in 1915, the eleventh grade was added. During the session of 1920, domestic science was offered, with Miss Ruth Holly as the first teacher. The superintendents of the school since it has become a high school have been Messrs. Parmer, Farrar, Sims - later County Superintendents of Taylor County - Cary, Green, Odor, and Hutto. The first diplomas were issued in 1913, about fifty-five pupils have graduated from the school. Something like a third of this number have attended college and a number of these and other students of the high school have attained no small degree of success. At least fifteen have become teachers and a number have made successful businessmen. Mention might well be made of Miss Elua Johnson, who graduated recently from the College of Industrial Arts at Denton; Dr. Carl Mangum, who graduated with honors from the Baylor Medical College at its recent commencement; Miss May Robinson, who is a popular and efficient teacher in the Abilene Hight School; and Misses Amanda and Maggie Payne, who are members of the Trent faculty at present.

The history of the school would be incomplete without mention being made of the directors who have worked faithfully and planned wisely for the best interests of the institution. When the district was incorporated in 1906 and became independent, the following trustees were elected: Messrs. W.A. Abott, J.L. Banner, H.L. Propst, Aaron Brain, W.H. Blount, F.J. Craddock, and John Campbell. Limited space prevents trustees who have rendered good services. Mr. L.E. Adrain served as director and custodian of the funds for a number of years. The present custodian is the First State Bank, with Mr. Homer Easterwood as cashier. The present trustees' pictures and names appear in this section. They have a vision of the possibilities of the the school and are planning with definite ends in view, hoping that the Trent public school may do its part toward producing the highest type of citizenship to the end that Texas may be the brightest star in the galaxy of states and that America maybe truly American.