LIVE OAK SCHOOL
1879--mid 1920's

The first Live Oak School adjacent to Live Oak Cemetery occupied land given by J. M. and Permelia Owens in 1877 for both the cemetery and the school. This Live Oak School was located about half way between Ohio on Plum Creek and Carter’s Mill on the Cowhouse. The Live Oak Cemetery was one of the first community cemeteries in Hamilton County. Live Oak Cemetery is on the west side of CR 424 north of FM 1241. Live Oak is ten miles southeast of Hamilton.

Joseph Hardy Dixon, a school teacher from Alabama, was probably the first teacher in this Live Oak School. For two years Mr. Dixon walked eight and a half miles from his cabin at Blue Ridge to the West Point School. Mr. Dixon then preempted land near the Murphree Cemetery and built a cabin. Building the cabin took all of his available funds so he had to continue to walk eight miles daily to teach at Live Oak for two years. On 13 September, 1879, the Hamilton County Commissioners Court signed a contract with Joseph Hardy Dixon to teach five months at Live Oak with a salary of $14.00 per month, and one dollar per month for each child under eight or over fourteen. Trustees of Live Oak School in 1879 were W. W. White, A. J. Gilbreath, and Evan Brooks.

The second Live Oak School was on the Old Evant Highway across from Parsleys Crossing where Sardis Primitive Baptist Church stood. In 1911 seven grades were taught at Live Oak School. In 1924-25 school board members were A. H. Summerford, D. D. Roten, and Sam Hill. The teachers were A. W. Ellis and Miss Emily Keller. Live Oak School consolidated with Blue Ridge in the mid 1920's.