Salado in Bell County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

George Washington Baines

Dec 29, 1809 - Dec 28, 1882

Photographed By James Hulse, August 4, 2022

1. George Washington Baines Marker

Inscription. Reverend George Washington Baines is buried at this site with his second wife, Cynthia Williams, and one of his sons, Taliaferro. Reverend Baines was born in North Carolina Dec 29, 1809. Educated in Alabama and ordained a minister in 1836. A preacher and missionary, he founded churches in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas. Was the founding editor of the first Baptist newspaper in Texas, The Texas Baptist. Befriended Sam Houston and was instrumental in having him baptized. Married Melissa Ann Butler in 1840 with whom he had 9 children. In 1851, he became pastor in Independence, Texas, where he and Melissa operated a boarding house for female students enrolled in Baylor College. Served as a member then president of the Baylor Board of Trustees; from 1851 to 1859. As president of Baylor College from 1861 to 1863, he is credited with keeping the university functioning when male students left to serve in the Civil War. In 1866 he became president of the Board of Trustees of the new Baylor Female College at Independence. In 1867, he moved to Salado where he became pastor of the Baptist churches in Salado and Florence. On Dec. 28, 1882, Reverend Baines died of malaria in Belton, Texas. Reverend Baines was the great-grandfather of the 36th President of the United States, Lyndon Baines Johnson.

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City of Salado.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Education. A significant historical date for this entry is December 29, 1809.

Location. 30° 56.185′ N, 97° 31.899′ W. Marker is in Salado, Texas, in Bell County. Marker is at the intersection of Baines Street and Salado Oaks Drive, on the right when traveling north on Baines Street. The marker is located in the northern section of the Salado Cemetery. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Salado TX 76571, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. James Lowry Smith (here, next to this marker); James Anderson (a few steps from this marker); Hermon and Margaret L. Aiken (a few steps from this marker); Capt. Milton Wesley Damron (a few steps from this marker); Dr. Welborn Barton and Louisa Adeline Barton (within shouting distance of this marker); The Rev. James E. and Fannie F. Ferguson (within shouting distance of this marker); Robert Bonner Halley (within shouting distance of this marker); Salado Cemetery (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Salado.

Also see . . . Baines, George Washington, Sr. (1809–1882). Texas State Historical Association

George Washington Baines,
Photographed By James Hulse, August 4, 2022

2. George Washington Baines Gravestone and Marker
Baptist pastor, teacher, and editor, was born near Raleigh, North Carolina, on December 29, 1809, the eldest son of Thomas and Mary (McCoy) Baines. He was third in a line of four generations of Baptist ministers. His parents moved the family to Georgia in 1817 and to a farm near Tuscaloosa, Alabama, in 1818. Despite a limited academic background Baines entered the University of Alabama, where he paid his expenses by cutting and rafting timber. He was forced to withdraw from school during his senior year (1836) because of poor health. When he twenty-five he was baptized at the Salem Baptist Church. He was licensed to preach on July 20, 1834, by the Philadelphia Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa County and ordained on August 7, 1836, by the Grant's Creek Baptist Church. His father was among the signers of both the license to preach and the certificate of ordination. In 1837, in an effort to recover from his recurring dyspepsia, Baines moved to Carroll County, Arkansas. During his seven years in that state he organized three churches and baptized 150 people while serving as a missionary for the Baptist Home Mission Society of New York City. He was also a representative from Carroll County to the Fourth Legislature of Arkansas, from November 7, 1842, to February 4, 1843. Baines moved to Mount Lebanon, Louisiana, in July 1844 to serve churches there and at Minden and Saline. During his six-year
Photographed By James Hulse, August 4, 2022

3. The George Washington Baines Marker is the far left marker
residence in Louisiana, he also served as superintendent of schools in Bienville Parish and assisted John Bryce in organizing the First Baptist Church of Marshall.

(Submitted on August 6, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Credits. This page was last revised on August 6, 2022. It was originally submitted on August 6, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 130 times since then and 17 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 6, 2022, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.