Among his acquisitions, was 10,000 acres of land in Texas which he bought for 12 and a half cents an acre.
It would be more than 30 years before Tarleton saw this land located in Erath and Palo Pinto counties.
When he finally arrived at the territory, Indians were camped on the spot, so Tarleton went to Waco where he established a mercantile store.
During his stay in Waco, Tarleton met and married Mary Louisa Johnson, a member of the aristocratic Dunnica family of Missouri. They divorced shortly after their first anniversary but remained friends.

John Tarleton had little formal education and found little happiness in life, but a bequest in his will created two institutions of higher learning and made it possible for thousands of young people to receive an education. In his will, Tarleton said he had about $85,000 which he would like to donate to a school. He first considered leaving the money for a school in Palo Pinto and then Weatherford, but his attorney proposed Stephenville.

William Herschell Bruce is Tarleton’s President

The original Science building was built. The first red brick building on campus

Frank M. Martin is Tarleton’s President

Elzy Dee Jennings is Tarleton’s President

George J. Nunn is Tarleton’s President

Roswell W. Rogers is Tarleton’s President

James Franklin Cox is Tarleton’s President

The first social clubs came onto campus

The first Purple Book was published.

The J-TAC newspaper is first published

Ten Tarleton Peppers (TTP) was established

ROTC formally appeared on campus

Ten Tarleton Sisters (TTS) was established

“Plowboys” mascot was adopted. Coach W.J. Wisdom held a contest for a new mascot, but ended up coming up with the name himself

Tarleton’s football team went undefeated with the coaching of Coach Wisdom.

The original Hunewell Bandstand is constructed

Pearl Mahan Rock was donated

Davis Hall is built

Gough Residence Hall was built for female students.

E.J. Howell is Tarleton’s President

Memorial Stadium was completed in 1977.

The Wainwright Rifles made their first appearence at Tarleton

Memorial Stadium held its first Football Game

Dick Smith Library was built.

“Texans” and “TexAnns” mascots were adopted, and the horse and rider became the new athletic mascot of the university.

The original Hunewell Bandstand is taken down to make room for the Tarleton Center.

The 29 members of the class of 1963 were the first class to graduate with a bachelor’s degree.

The Texan Rider Mural was placed in front of the Tarleton Center

Coordinating board approves masters level courses.

O.A. Grant Humanities building was built.

The Athletics Hall of Fame honors past students for their great accomplishments.

The first sorority and national greek organization, Alpha Gamma Delta, chartered at Tarleton State University.

The first national fraternity, Kappa Alpha, colonized at Tarleton State University.

Time Capsule was buried.

The first class of RN’s received their A.A. degrees and almost all passed the state board exams for nursing.

Tarleton Football would go undefeated for a second time in the school’s history.

Coach Jan Lowrey begins the 30-8 record season for Women Basketball.

Tarleton Science Planetarium features a Digistar II digital starfield projector, 18 photographic slide projectors, two video projectors and surround sound under a 40′ (12.192m) dome our 56-seat theatre is truly a fitting environment in which to explore the wonders of the universe.

Tarleton establishes an outreach program with McLennan Community College in Waco.

Coordinating board approves doctorate level courses.

Tarleton State University extended the reach of state-supported, affordable education by expanding undergraduate and graduate programs to Fort Worth.

Tarleton starts to offer completely online degree programs for students.

The Rodeo Hall of Fame honors past students for their great accomplishments.

Kiara Wright named Daktronics National Player of the Year.

The Texans completed their 2014-2015 season with a school record 31 wins and advanced to this year’s NCAA Final Four after winning the Lone Star Conference championship and NCAA South Central Region Tournament championship.

John Tarleton and his legendary companion, Oscar P., came home Monday night, July 27th, 2015, to the university that bears his name, looking younger than ever and larger than life.

Fireworks danced across the sky of Tarleton State University’s Stephenville campus as faculty, staff, students and key community leaders and donors applauded the unveiling of a 10-foot bronze sculpture of its legendary founder—looking 20 years younger than his only known photograph—and his pet duck.

Created by Kenneth Wyatt, a 1946 Tarleton graduate and world-renowned artist called the Norman Rockwell of Western Art, the statue stands in the center of the newly renovated Alumni Island as a symbol of history, tradition and far-reaching vision.;xNLx;;xNLx;The Alpha Building Corporation, which contracted to renovate the Alumni Island, donated funds for the statue in honor of its long-time employee Richard H. Booher, who retired earlier this year after more than 20 years of service.

When friends heard that Wyatt had been commissioned to sculpt the bronze of Tarleton, they insisted he include the founder’s legendary companion, Oscar P. The duck serves as one of three anchors that keep the monument steady against Texas winds.

The 10-foot bronze began as a 24-inch model, which was turned into the larger-than-life piece by The Crucible Foundry in Norman, Okla. The foundry poured the 1,078 pounds of bronze in 250- to 300-pound segments and welded them together to create the final monument.