Rev. Nelson T. Denson and Marlin Missionary Baptist Church
507 Bennett at George Street
Marlin, Falls County, Texas
Year Erected: 1981
Born into slavery in Arkansas, Nelson Taylor Denson (1845 -1938) was brought to
Falls County in 1856 at the age of eleven. After accompanying his master in the
Confederate Army during the Civil War, he returned to Marlin where he was a
pioneer educator and Baptist circuit preacher. Educated by his master and
inspired by the noted Texas statesman Sam Houston, he became a prominent leader
among the area Freedmen. On Nov. 8, 1868, the Rev. Denson started Marlin
Missionary Baptist Church, the earliest black congregation in the county.
Assisting him in the organization meeting was the pioneer Baptist preacher, the
Rev. Z. N. Morrell. Rev. Denson was active in the establishment of several black
schools, including one sponsored by the Marlin Missionary Baptist Church in
1877. Through his efforts, the opportunity for a formal education became a
reality for area blacks by the mid -1880s. In 1882 the Rev. Denson became the
first elected black official in the county when he was chosen commissioner of
precinct one. Trusted and respected by all races, he continued to play a
significant role in the community until his death at the age of 93. Today the
church he founded in 1868 carries on the tradition of his enthusiasm and his
service for others.