Zachary Taylor Acker (1852-1910) was a school teacher in Alabama prior to moving to Texas in 1880 for a better life - a trip they made by covered wagon. He and his wife Mary Francis Davis purchased 320 acres of land just north of the present site of Frisco (Bethel) where they farmed and ranched. In the absence of a public school, Z.T. taught his children at home. A great believer in education, he made certain his seven children received the best education available. As the years passed and public schools became available, the children attended the various schools in the area - Bass School, Eurudia, Rock Hill and the Howard School. After the children graduated from high school, Z.T. insisted on further schooling; they all obtained at least one year of a college education. Mattie and Josephine went to what is now the University of North Texas and received permanent teaching certificates; both taught in several local schools. Following Z.T.'s death, Mattie and her mother moved to town. Later, because of Mattie's strong belief in education that was instilled in her by her father, she donated eleven acres of land to the Frisco ISD where Z.T. Acker Elementary School now stands.