Rev. George Washington Baines
Fairfield, Freestone County, Texas
Marker Inscription
(1809-1882) Noted Texas religious leader. Pastor, 1850, to Gen. and Mrs. Sam Houston. Founded first Baptist paper in state, 1855. In difficult Civil War years, served as president of Baylor University, 1861-63, and pastor of the First Baptist Church in Fairfield, 1864-66. A North Carolinian. Uneducated, at 21 he cut and rafted timber to pay for schooling. Received A.M. Degree, University of Alabama. Moved to Arkansas. Founded 7 churches. Served in Arkansas Legislature, 1843-44. Lived and preached in Louisiana, 1845-49. He had 10 children. His wife, Melissa Ann (Butler), died here in wartime. He made her coffin with his own hands. One of their great-grandsons, Lyndon Baines Johnson, became 36th President of the United States, the first Texan to receive this high honor. Churches were vital to military and civilian morale in Confederate Texas. Rev. Baines and other ministers led their congregations in prayer days, soldier relief work, aid to families, distribution of Bibles. They also inspired numerous conversions. Later Rev. Baines served as agent for the Baptist State Convention and its education commission. (1965)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
A self-made North Carolinian who rafted timber at 21 to pay for schooling, George Washington Baines became a noted Texas Baptist leader—pastor to Sam Houston, founder of the state's first Baptist newspaper in 1855, and president of Baylor University during the hard Civil War years of 1861–63. He founded churches across the South and led congregations in wartime relief and prayer in Confederate Texas. One of his great-grandsons was Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36th President of the United States.
Why it matters
Baines links the frontier growth of Texas Baptist faith and education to the family line that produced a president, showing how deep such roots ran in the state's history.
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Related people
- · George Washington Baines
- · Sam Houston
- · Lyndon Baines Johnson
Themes & tags
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