The 24th. day of March 1855 the first Baptist Church of Jefferson was
organized. The first addition to the church after it organized was
William I. Bateman in June 1855. The deed to the church lots where the
church now stands were recorded Oct. 11th. 1860.
The first conference after the war was Jan. 28th., 1866 with Rev. H. T.
Buckner presiding. Rev. Buckner was known later as “Father Buckner” to
his 800 orphan children, who loved him devotedly. He made Buckner’s
Orphans Home the largest and most noted in Texas. W. E. Penn and wife
came to Jefferson from Lexington, Tenn. and on February 24th., 1886
joined the first Baptist church. Major Penn immediately became
superintendent of the Sunday School, continuing in this capacity for ten
years. He was known in 1877 as “The famous state Evangelist of Texas”.
In 1866 a committee was appointed to solicit contributions to build a
church. W. E. Penn and B. J. Terry were the first building committee,
this resulted in the brick edifice which is today standing on Polk
Street. The church was dedicated Dec. 4th. 1869. Rev. D. B. Hale
(grandfather of Jim, Miss May Belle Hale and Mrs. Oralee Hale Miller)
assisting in the dedication service.
In 1870 a pipe (imitation) organ was installed costing $1,000.00. The
organ remained in use for fifty years. Rev. C. P. McCloud was the first
pastor of the First Baptist church in 1869, while the Rev. D. B.
Culbertson, father of Col. D. B. Culbertson, acted as pastor while the
church was using the Presbyterian and Methodist churches in which to
worship. Dr. Tucker was pastor when the church was first organized and
he received $200 for his services during the year of 1855. The Southern
Baptist convention met with this church May 7th., 1874 and was the
largest ever held up to this time and first to meet in the state of
Texas. Over 1000 attended. Many distinguished divines were present
including Dr. A. J. Broadus, Dr. J. R. Graves, P. H. Mall, J. L.
Burrour, W. W. Laundrum and many others. W. W. Laundrum, Jr. was
ordained as a minister during the convention. His father delivered the
charge. The convention held until May 12th. when the visitors were taken
on a free tour of the state of Texas, through the courtesy of the Texas
and Pacific Railroad.
In January, 1877, J. H. Rowell, Sr., was elected superintendent of the
Sunday School, a position he held about thirty years.
Rev. S. A. Hayden was pastor of the First Baptist Church for five years,
he was given leave of absence in 1882 to visit Europe and the Holy Land.
In 1883 he resigned to take possession of the Texas Baptist, at Dallas.
Dr. L. J. Anderson, father of Mrs. Jodie Rowell, was another much
beloved pastor during the latter years of the church. Plans are at
present being rushed to repair the building, preserving the original
exterior architecture.