The Tompkins Cabin was originally located on a sandy loam, noted for its fertility in Parker County. It produced abundant crops for the Tompkins family, and thus, the crops ensured these family's success in the state of Texas. The original structure, built in the early 1850s is a one-room loghouse with a ladder leading up to a loft. When the Tompkins arrived in Texas in 1857, they rented it from the Henderson family. One year later, after their first lucrative crop, they were able to purchase the cabin and the farm. As the Tompkins family and wealth grew, the Tompkins purchased additional acreage and expanded the original cabin into a considerable dwelling place, well known to travelers on the old Fort Worth-Fort Belknap Road A progressive farmer and stockman, Tompkins was ahead of his generation in seed experimentation and crop rotation. Wheat, oats and hay were his primary crops, and his orchard of apple, pear and plum trees we one of the finest in the area. At on time, Tompkins was delighted to receive a 'Free' Government seed packed of the new 'Wonder Grass'. Carefully fencing a plot of ground he planted the seeds and warned the children not to "trod upon the plot". Tow years later he demanded " . . . they get rid of the dratted grass . . " which had now only thrived in the test plot but had also invaded his orchard and garden, as well. It might be of interest to the reader to know that the 'Wonder Grass' which Tompkins so carefully planted covers thousands of Texas acres and is commonly called Johnson Grass! Noted breeder of fine horses and stock, Tompkins' farm was subject to raids by both Indians and outlaws. Horses were a valuable tool for the Comanches, who become expert horsemen. To them, stealing horses from the Anglo settlers meant a chance at survival as more and more settlers encroached on their territory. Therefore, raids such as these were common in the Texas frontier. Such raids in the 1860's and 1870's caused Tompkins to file Indian Deparadation claims for $6,075 to cover the loss of stock, but is was almost twenty years later before the U.S. Court of Claims awarded him a little more than a third of the amount. Sarah H. Tompkins died December 27, 1896 and John Baptist on March 7, 1899. The property then passed into the hands of their daughter, Dora Isabel Milam, who maintained it for a number of years. After her death, the property was acquired by Wyatt Hedrick who donated the original cabin to the Log Cabin Village.

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