Founding

Petition to Union Baptist Association denied.

In the Harris County book of marriages that seems to be devoted to the unions of people of color (which begins in November 1865), J. B. Link (“Minister Baptist Church”) first appears as an officiant on March 30, 1866.¹ He reappears in May 1866. W. C. Crane appears and is identified as a minister on June 25, 1866. In October, Simon Hobson signs with his mark as an officiant and “Minister Bap. Ch.” (p. 164). Link then reappears on February 1867.

On March 25, 1867, Israel Campbell appears to officiate the wedding of Sandy Parker with Harriet Rodger.² Parker then appears, with his mark, as an officiant on April 6.³ And again on April 27, May 4/10, June 14/15. Israel Campbell returns again in July on Pages 298, 299, 303 (Johnson Rice’s marriage) through 307. Sandy Parker officiates on page 308-309 and 315 (still in July), followed by pages 318 and 333 (August), 336 and 338-339 (September).

Finally, on October 12, 1867, Sandy Parker officiates and is identified as “Minister Antioch Ch.”⁴ Other marriages officiated by Parker in October 1867 are on page 347 and 350 (Jack Yates); in November, pages 353, 357, 360, 363, and 365; in December, pages 369, 371 and 372; in January 1868, page 395. The book ends on February 20, 1868.

Houston Informer article advocating purchase of land in 1932.