Built in 1877, this house served as the residence of John C. Collier, founder of Mansfield Male and Female College. A South Carolina native, Collier was a distinguished educator and Presbyterian minister who was asked in 1869 to establish a school in Mansfield. The college operated from 1870 to 1887 and produced outstanding graduates and community leaders. Located west of the college, the house also served as a residence for female teachers and students. From 1890 to 1909, it was owned by the A.J. Dukes family, who made major alterations including the addition of Mansfield's first indoor bathroom. From 1909 until 1944, the home was occupied by Dr. William B. and Sallie Hodges McKnight, both graduates of Mansfield Male and Female College. Dr. McKnight established a medical practice in Mansfield in 1895 and also served as physician for the Southern Pacific Railroad. In 1944, T.E. "Ernie" Blessing adapted the house as Mansfield's first funeral home. Through its association with an early Texas educational institution and with several families of community leaders, the John C. Collier home has remained a landmark in Mansfield.