George Washington Baines


George Washington Baines was an American frontier, politician, editor, teacher, and Pioneer Baptist Preacher in Texas; he was also president and co-founder of Baylor University.

Background

Baines was born near Raleigh, North Carolina to Thomas Baines and Mary McCoy. Baines was the oldest child and was raised in Georgia and Alabama where he spent most of his childhood. Although at his early age he didn't get his formal education, due to health issue, he was forced out of school in his senior year but at his adult age 20 he educated himself then he went to the University of Alabama till in 1836 he graduated and in 1832 he had a conversion experiences in Tuscaloosa, Alabama under TJ Fisher ministry. In Salem Church there he was baptized and in 1834 he became the preacher by Baptist church of Tuscaloosa and in 1836 Grant Creeks Church ordained and later he was in Arkansas for his health treatment in 1837. He baptized more than 100 people in Arkansas were spent six years and moved to Texas in 1850 together with his family.

Political career

Baines served in the Arkansas House of Representatives representing Carroll County, Arkansas from November 7, 1842 to February 4, 1843.

Baptist ministry

He began his career as preacher, after succeeding as preacher; he was the editor of Texas Baptist in 1855 although he was the president of Baylor University in 1851 due to the experience he had in Board of Trustees but his health issue makes him resigned in 1863 which see's him get M.A degree award as honour by Baylor University. He devoted his life as advanced Christian even with the health issue he was the field agent of Baptist State Convention.
He died in December 1882 of malaria a day before he celebrate his 74th birthday before that he was pastor at Soldado. His son Baines Jr was also ordained as minister in 1874 as fourth generation Baptist minister.

Family

His great-grandson was Lyndon B. Johnson who served as President of the United States.