Francis Wilson

Duane's take

The way I tell it, this comes straight from the official marker record, so let's give it its due. Now pull up a log close to the fire, because this is the story of a man who rode halfway across a continent on nothing but conviction and a saddle. Francis Wilson.

Born 1790, died 1867, and in between, he made himself a central figure in the early days of Texas Methodism. That is not my characterization. That is what the marker says.

And once you hear the story, you will understand why. Wilson was a Virginia native, son of a Scot-Irish immigrant and a native Marylander. He did a brief stint of military service in the War of 1812, and then something shifted in him.

He became a Methodist minister, and he preached his very first sermon on December 25th, 1815. Christmas Day. He rode the circuits through West Virginia and Ohio for years and years after that, which is a hard life in any era, and a harder one in that one.

Then came 1839. Wilson made up his mind to move to the Republic of Texas. Now, his family objected.

His friends objected. His bishop objected. Francis Wilson moved to Texas anyway.

Some men are just built that way. He was stationed first at Shelbyville, then at San Augustine, and from those bases he traveled over all of East Texas, holding camp meetings, organizing churches, earning a reputation for lectures and stirring sermons that made him respected throughout the region. In 1846 he was appointed as a delegate to the first convention of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.

He was instrumental in the establishment of Wesleyan Male and Female College in San Augustine. Then in 1847, Wilson and his wife Elizabeth settled near Belgrade on the Sabine River, planting roots in the very corner of Texas he had spent years crisscrossing. His last official service came in 1851, as a missionary to the black communities on the Austin circuit.

After that, poor health brought him home to Newton County. But here is the thing about Francis Wilson. He retired, yes, and he was ailing, but he kept on preaching locally until 1864.

The man simply could not stop. He died three years after that, and he is buried in the Old Belgrade Cemetery, two miles southeast of where you are standing. A man who defied a bishop, crossed into a republic, and kept his voice going nearly to the end.

That is a life worth marking.

What the marker says

(1790-1867) A central figure in the early days of Texas Methodism, Virginia native Francis Wilson was the son of a Scot-Irish immigrant and a native Marylander. After a brief period of military service in the War of 1812, he became a Methodist minister, preaching his first sermon on Dec. 25, 1815. He rode the circuits in West Virginia and Ohio until 1839, when he moved to the Republic of Texas over the objections of family, friends, and his bishop. Stationed first at Shelbyville and then at San Augustine, Wilson traveled over all of East Texas, holding camp meetings and organizing churches. Noted for his lectures and stirring sermons, he was respected throughout the area. In 1846 Wilson was appointed as a delegate to the first convention of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. He was instrumental in the establishment of Wesleyan Male and Female College in San Augustine. In 1847 Wilson and wife Elizabeth settled near Belgrade on the Sabine River. Francis Wilson's last official service was in 1851 as a missionary to the black communities on the Austin circuit. Shortly after, he retired in poor health to his home in Newton County, but continued to preach locally until 1864. He died three years later and is buried in the Old Belgrade Cemetery (2 mi. SE).