DUANE
Duane's take
Here's how the official marker tells it, and I'll do my best to do it justice. Way back in 1857, a man named Charles Mullins came riding into this part of Mills County with cattle — just cattle and ambition, far as we know. The town that would eventually carry his name, Mullin, hadn't even dreamed itself into existence yet.
But things had a way of taking root out here. By tradition — and tradition is a careful word, worth noticing — a Methodist circuit rider found his way to Charles Mullins's home and preached there. One of those traveling men of God who'd ride the lonesome miles to bring a sermon wherever a door was open.
Now, exactly when those early faithful decided they had themselves a proper church, nobody can say for certain. The marker is honest about that: the date of the church's founding is uncertain. What we do know is that for years, worship was held in the Mullin Schoolhouse — the congregation making do, the way Texas congregations always have.
Then 1893 arrives, and Mr. and Mrs. J. E.
Martin step forward and give the very site where this church now stands. Three years on, in 1896, a building went up — raised under the leadership of the Reverend Marion Mills. A real church at last, on donated ground, with a name to lead it.
You'd think that was the end of the striving. You would be wrong. In 1919, a cyclone came through and wrecked that building.
Just wrecked it. Now, a lesser community might've taken that as a sign to quit. Not this one.
The very next year, 1920, they erected the present native stone church — and here's the part that stays with you — using much of the material from the original structure. The old walls, broken and scattered by the storm, built right back into the new ones. That's not just construction.
That's a statement.
What the marker says
Charles Mullins, for whom this town was later named, came here with cattle in 1857. By tradition, a Methodist circuit rider preached at his home. The date of the church's founding is uncertain. Worship was held in Mullin Schoolhouse for years. In 1893, Mr. and Mrs. J. E. Martin gave this site and in 1896 a building was constructed under leadership of The Rev. Marion Mills. After a 1919 cyclone wrecked that building the present native stone church was erected in 1920, using much material from original structure.