The first Methodist preacher to be appointed to Jefferson was the
Reverend James W. Baldridge. The year was 1844. That Methodist preachers
had preached in Jefferson prior to this date is very likely. The great
and wide-spread Harrison Circuit covered this country and, in all
likelihood, the modest settlement which sprang up at the head of
navigation was a preaching point for the circuit rider.
The Rev. Mr. Baldridge had joined the conference in 1843. He served
Jefferson for three years the records state. Jefferson was in the East
Texas Conference as an appointment the first year that conference was
formed from the older Texas Conference. Later in 1867, the church was in
the North Texas Conference, and in still more recent years, the
territory came back into the Texas Conference.
At the close of the year 1845 the church reported 50 white and 3 colored
members. The custom of having the slaves join the church was continued
through Civil War days. By 1845 a number of churches had grown up
through the immediate country about Jefferson, so the work was listed as
the Jefferson Circuit with the town as the principal church. The
membership reported that year was 508 whites and 89 colored.
A complete record of all pastors for Jefferson from 1855 to the present
day is preserved. The names of some from the years 1847 to 1855 are
missing.