Burial site of Rev. John McCullough
Prairie Lea, Caldwell County, Texas
Marker Inscription
(April 3, 1805 - January 7, 1870) Born in Pennsylvania; educated at Princeton; in New Jersey, 1835, ordained a missionary. In 1838 came to Texas. Elected chaplain, House of Representatives, Third Congress, Republic of Texas, 1839. Founded First Presbyterian Church, Galveston, 1840. Moved in 1841 to Columbia-on-the-Brazos. Driving an ox-drawn Conestoga wagon, "Little Church in the Wilderness," moved 1846 to San Antonio. Helped built "Old Adobe," city's first Protestant church. Founded Galveston Seminary in 1849. Moved to Burnet County in 1859, and to Prairie Lea, 1869. Continued to preach and teach. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1967.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Born in Pennsylvania in 1805 and schooled at Princeton, John McCullough was ordained a missionary in 1835 and reached Texas in 1838, at the height of the young Republic. He served as chaplain to the Third Congress, founded Galveston's First Presbyterian Church, and famously hauled a Conestoga wagon dubbed the "Little Church in the Wilderness" to San Antonio, where he helped raise the city's first Protestant sanctuary. He kept preaching and teaching across the frontier until his death at Prairie Lea in 1870.
Why it matters
McCullough's circuit — from Galveston pulpit to ox-drawn chapel to seminary founder — embodies the frontier missionary's role in planting churches and schools across a raw Republic just emerging from revolution.
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Related people
- · Rev. John McCullough
Related events
- · Founding of First Presbyterian Church, Galveston, 1840
Themes & tags
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