Wood County History
By LOU MALLORY - Chairperson, Wood County Historical Commission
Professor Thomas B. Frost was called by the Christian Women's Board of Missions to pioneer and lay the foundation for Jarvis Christian Institute at Hawkins, Texas.
President J.B. Lehman, who in charge of all home mission work, extended the invitation to Professor Frost, who readily accepted the task. He went ahead of his family to look over the land and make any necessary preparations.
On December 11th, 1911, he arrived at the parcel of land. He later described it as having a rattlesnake to every acre. He remained for several weeks, repairing two cabins which were the remnants of a logging camp. He converted one of these cabins into a house for his family. He then returned to Mississippi to get his family.
On January 1st, 1912, Thomas Frost again arrived at the Texas site with his wife, four children and $300 worth of his own equipment. His aim was to turn this timberland into a school. Soon, 40 acres of land was fenced and sixteen acres were under cultivation.
Professor G.A. Berry from the Southern Christian Institute joined Prof. Frost in September, 1913. They immediately began working on a dormitory/dining hall/ classroom building. The ten-room structure was completed and was dedicated at the opening of school the following January.
Prof. Frost served as principal of the Institute from January 14th, 1913 until May 7th, 1914. Then, with the election of President J.N. Ervin, Frost continued to serve Jarvis until 1922 as superintendent of industries.
Although Prof. Frost was deeply involved in laying the foundation for Jarvis Christian College, he never neglected his preaching mission.
Again, in 1922, Prof. Frost was called on to pioneer for another school. On November 21sr, 1922, he left Jarvis to build a school, the Central Christian Institute, in Shepherdville, Kentucky. He remained with that school until it closed in 1928.
Prof. and Mrs. Frost returned to Southern Christian Institute until December, 1939, when Prof. Frost reached retirement age. He had built a comfortable home on his farm near Jarvis Christian College, where he retired.
Frost continued to serve the community and the college as an evangelist for District Number One of the Texas Christian Missionary Convention.
His rich life was rewarded by watching the wilderness he cleared transformed into an accredited senior college and observing student whose lives he influenced become leaders in many walks of life.
Professor Frost died on January 5th, 1946.
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