1844-1907

"How did an Iowa farmer get to Mesquite, Texas in it's early days?" you might ask.
Well if the truth were known, my love of teaching brought me here.
I was pretty well known for my love of reading and was never afraid of work.

In 1901, Mesquite voted to form it's own independent school district.
Students began school in a new brick building just south of the railroad.
That first school had seven rooms and cost $15,000.

I was on the school board until I got sick in 1907. I died in December of that same year.

It's strange to me that Mesquite now has 32 elementary schools, not to mention five high schools!

I was honored for my work in education, which spanned 28 years, when a middle school was named after me."

(Ambrose Calhoun New was portrayed by Jeff Medley, Mesquite Community Theater)