In 1890 Van Zandt County had 81 schools but none for higher learning. In April 1890, Prof. James F. Davidson and J. W. Downs held a community meeting in the Old Clough School House in Ben Wheeler and presented a plan, adopted unanimously, to establish Alamo Institute if citizens transferred control of Clough School. The institute’s main building was completed in time for the fall semester, and by 1894 the campus included a pair of two-story buildings. Courses included history, Latin, science, music, and voice culture. Alamo Institute closed before 1911. Its most prominent graduate was Morgan G. Sanders, who served as a state representative, county and district attorney, and U. S. Congressman.