The Tarlton House of 1895 is one of the better known Bed & Breakfast locations in the Texas heartland. In business as a Bed & Breakfast since 1985, the Tarlton House is listed on the National Historical Register and the Historic Registry for the state of Texas. Guests of note have been: President Calvin Coolidge, television host Art Linkletter, and Olympic decathlete Rafer Johnson. The latter two men stayed at the Tarlton House several times. While promoting Literacy, Laura Bush held a reception in the Tarlton House.

In 1873, Dr. John and Frances Tarlton came to Hillsboro, Texas. Two sons, Benjamin Dudley and Green Duke, were educated in Louisiana, became attorneys and practiced law in Texas. Frances’ father was Greene Duke Caller, hence the naming of her second son. Greene Duke, born February 20, 1852, came to Hillsboro with his parents in 1873, and married Sarah (Sallie) Elizabeth Scott on June 14, 1878.

The older brother, Benjamin Dudley Tarlton practiced law in Hillsboro until 1890, when he was appointed a Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas. Retiring from the bench, he later joined the faculty at the Law School of the University of Texas, 1904-1919, which now houses the Tarlton Law Library.

Meanwhile, back in Hillsboro, in 1895, younger brother, Greene Duke and his wife, Sarah Elizabeth, built a new home, a 3-story Queen Anne Victorian mansion, still celebrated 113 years later as the Tarlton House.

Mrs. Sarah Tarlton passed away in 1907, is buried in the Hillsboro historic cemetery, and her tombstone epitaph reads:

Her soul was attuned to melody on earth.
Her sweet voice adds to the melody of the angel's songs.

 Greene Duke married Elizabeth Millard in 1910. By 1931, both were in ill health. Elizabeth died of cancer Aug 26, 1931, and according to family, Greene Duke died a day later of influenza, at the age of 79. They are buried in the family plot in the Hillsboro historic cemetery.

Music still plays a significant part in the Tarlton House, more than a century later. Go to the Breakfast Room, and the Music Parlor to check out the Italian tiles embossed with musical characters that Sarah Tarlton chose in the original fireplace mantels.