The Rev. Acton Young
Woodville, Tyler County, Texas
Marker Inscription
(January 16, 1823-April 16, 1873) Born in Tennessee. Settling in East Texas, he married Margaret McMahan, daughter of founder of chapel called earliest permanent Texas Protestant Church. Licensed as a Methodist minister, Young served (1849-73) many communities, including Woodville. Here he had family home and at one time a store operated by son-in-law Bronson Cooper, who later served in the United States Congress. His children were Phebe, Samuel Doak, Charles Acton, and Ettina. Recorded - 1972
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Born in Tennessee in 1823, the Rev. Acton Young settled in the East Texas piney woods and married into a family tied to one of the region's earliest Protestant congregations. Licensed as a Methodist minister, he rode a wide circuit from the 1840s until his death in 1873, serving Woodville and many other communities from a family home that also housed a store. His son-in-law Bronson Cooper later went on to the United States Congress.
Why it matters
Circuit-riding preachers like Young were the connective tissue of the American frontier, carrying faith, literacy, and community into remote settlements ahead of most other institutions.
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Related people
- · Acton Young
- · Bronson Cooper
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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