Baines, George Washington, 1809-1883.

Reverend George Washington Baines, Sr. was born on 1809 December 29, near Raleigh, North Carolina. He was the oldest son of Reverend Thomas Baines and Mary McCoy. George spent most of his childhood in Georgia and Alabama where he failed to receive a formal education. Baines, Sr. began teaching himself at the age of twenty-one and soon attended the University of Alabama where he studied until 1836. He was forced to withdraw during his senior year because of poor health.

George's professional life was driven by his faith. In 1832, Baines, Sr. had a conversion experience under the ministry of T.J. Fisher at a camp meeting ten miles south of Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He was baptized in Salem Church, was licensed to preach by the Philadelphia Baptist Church of Tuscaloosa County in 1834 July 20, and was ordained by Grant Creek's Church in 1836 August 7. He moved to Arkansas in 1837 to combat his lingering health issues. During his seven years of residency in the state, Baines, Sr. organized three Baptist churches and baptized approximately 150 members. He also served in the Fourth Arkansas Legislature as a representative of Carroll County from 1842 to 1843. In 1840, he married Melissa Ann Butler with whom he had ten children.

Baines and his family moved to Huntsville, Texas, in 1850 and to Independence, Texas, in 1851. During this time, a powerful friendship grew between Baines, Sr. and famous Texan General Sam Houston. Baines, Sr. led several congregations during his time in Texas: Huntsville, Independence, Anderson, Fairfield, Springfield, Butler, Florence, and Salado. He served as the editor of The Texas Baptist from 1855 to 1860, as evidenced by his multiple ledgers of subscriptions found in the collection below.

In 1861, George Washington Baines, Sr. became the third president of Baylor University. Because of his experience on the Board of Trustees from 1851 to 1859, Baines, Sr. was viewed as an appropriate interim president to replace Rufus C. Burleson who had left because of a confrontation with the head of Baylor's female department. Baines, Sr. struggled to lead the university because of the daunting toll the Civil War was taking upon the male population. This financial hardship greatly affected Baines, Sr.'s health. He resigned in 1863 and was replaced by William Carey Crane. In appreciation for his efforts, Baylor awarded him an honorary M.A. degree on 1861 July 27.

Baines, Sr. endured tragic loss after leaving Baylor University. His wife and youngest son both passed away. In 1865, he married a widow named Cynthia Williams. Baines, Sr. continued to devote his life to the advancement of Christianity despite his waning health. He served as a field agent for the Baptist State Convention and the pastor at Salado. He died of malaria on 1882 December 28, one day before his 73rd birthday.

George Washington Baines, Jr. was born on 1848 September 8, to George Washington Baines, Sr. and his wife Melissa Ann Butler Baines. Baines, Jr. was born in Mount Lebanon, Louisiana, but his family moved to Texas shortly thereafter. He attended Baylor University at its original campus in Independence, Texas, where he received his degree in 1875. Ordained as a minister in 1874 November, Baines, Jr. became a fourth-generation Baptist minister. He preached in Caldwell, Rockdale, and McKinney until April 1882 when he was appointed a missionary to El Paso by the American Baptist Home Mission Society. He was able to establish the First Baptist Church of El Paso. In 1889, Baines, Jr. continued his education at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. He returned to Texas shortly thereafter and ministered at Weatherford, Cleburne, and Alpine. He served as Dean of the Bible Department at San Marcos Baptist Academy from 1908 to 1920 and secretary of the Baptist Educational Commission of Texas from 1897 to 1899.

Baines had married twice in his lifetime. He married his first wife, Cornelia Holmes, in 1875, but she died five years later. Baines, Jr. remarried two years later to Annie McIntosh. In 1900, Baines, Jr. received an honorary D.D. degree from Baylor University. He died in Fort Worth on 1923 March 21 and was buried in San Marcos.

From the description of Baines family collection, 1807-1912, undated 1855-1882, 1896-1899. (Baylor University Libraries). WorldCat record id: 777198871