Rev. Nelson T. Denson and Marlin Missionary Baptist Church
507 Bennett at George Street, Marlin, TexasYear 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.