George Robert Baughn
1891-1933
(Photo Source: Arkansas Angels
)
George Robert Baughn: A Life of Faith and Dedication
George Robert Baughn was born on November 14, 1892, in Lyons, Greene County, Indiana. He was the son of James Brice Baughn (1826–1911) and Marth L. Beaver (1860–1907). Raised in a blended household, George grew up alongside several step-siblings, as his mother was James’ fourth wife—each of his previous marriages having also brought children into the family.
On April 2, 1911, George married Serilda “Rilda” Hester Webster (1891–1973). Together, they had four daughters: Faye Baughn Hawkins (1912–1999), Fern Baughn (1915–1917), Wanda Lee Baughn (1919–2010), and Aubrey Mae Cox (1928–2018).
In 1915, George was baptized by Charles Black, marking the beginning of a spiritual journey that would become central to his life. Though he earned his living through farming, George’s true calling was in sharing the gospel. He delivered his first sermon in 1921 at his home congregation in Current View, Ripley County, Missouri. From that point forward, he preached wherever he had the opportunity—traveling throughout northern Arkansas and southern Missouri.
Seeking a better life, George and his family eventually relocated west to California. They settled in Alhambra, a community in Los Angeles County, where they became active members of the church of Christ. George took on much of the preaching work there, all while supporting his family through strenuous labor as a rock crusher. Despite the physical demands of his day job, his passion remained in preaching and teaching the timeless truths of the gospel.
When he registered for military service during World War I, George described himself as medium in height, slender in build, with blue eyes and light brown hair.
At some point, the Baughn family returned to their roots in Ripley County, Missouri. Tragically, George’s life was cut short when he passed away on December 27, 1933, at the age of forty-one. He was laid to rest in the Polk Family Cemetery.
-Scott Harp, 02.26.2025
(Photo Source: Arkansas Angels)
A True Arkansas Angel
George R. Baughn was born in Indiana on November 14, 1891 and died at his home in Arkansas I near the Arkansas-Missouri state line, Post Office, Current View, Missouri on December 27, 1933. He was married to Miss Rilda Webster, April 2, 1911. To this union four children were born. He was baptized by Charles Black in 1915. Brother Baughn preached his first sermon at his home congregation in 1921. His field of labor was Arkansas, Missouri and California. He preached the old-time Jerusalem gospel, with love for God and his fellow creatures. He went into the byways, and highways and established a number of new congregations. He not only preached the gospel; he lived it. The Gospel Advocate of February 8, 1932 carried a report of his passing written by Brother L. W. Hinson, who conducted funeral services for Brother Baughn on December 28, 1933 before a large assembly of friends. He was interred at Poke Cemetery near his home.
-Boyd E. Morgan, Arkansas Angels, p.143
GREETINGS FROM A HOSPITAL BED IN THE FAR-AWAY WEST.
BY EMMA P. LARIMORE.
Editor Preface: The following is a report to the Gospel Advocate from Emma Page Larimore. T. B. Larimore was a widely known and deeply beloved gospel preacher among churches of Christ throughout the later part of the 19th and early 20th Century. In their later years, the couple evangelized in California. Numerous reports were written for two reasons, initially to keep an anxious brotherhood abreast of the ongoing health concerns of their beloved brother Larimore, but also news of the growth and strength of churches in the Golden State. The article below was written a little less than two months before brother Larimore died (3.18.1929). He had preached a one-day gospel meeting for the church at Alhambra, the church home of brother and sister George R. Baughn. While Baughn's mention is more incidental, the information about the work and setting a day in their lives is worth preserving for out intentions.
Alhambra.
I am very glad to be able to begin my transmission of these “Greetings” with a favorable report from our patient. He still rests well, suffers little or no pain, eats sparingly, and sleeps soundly. His only trouble is the distressing weariness incident to lying so long in the same position, unable to make the slightest change to obtain relief and rest. He is more and more anxious for his time of probation to end, that he may go home. He began yesterday—Monday, January 7—the fourth week of his stay in the hospital. He greatly appreciates the messages of love and sympathy he receives.
He wants me to take up his work where he left it off, telling of his visits to the congregations “round about” since coming to Southern California. The next in order is Alhambra—not the Moorish Palace' the name suggests, but a beautiful little California city about forty miles from Santa Ana, where Mr. Larimore was invited to preach at an all-day meeting October 7, 1928. These all day meetings are held with a view to develop and encourage the spirit of cooperation among the congregations of this section, each congregation holding at least one each year, and occasionally oftener when some especial event demands it.
Our visit to Alhambra was very pleasant indeed. Brother George R. Baughn, a preacher and one of the leading members of the Alhambra congregation, whose home is at Wilmar, near Alhambra, came over for us Sunday morning. Alhambra is situated at the entrance to the San Gabriel Valley, justly celebrated for its fruit acreage and its fertile farming lands. The city has had a marvelous growth, its population in 1910 being five thousand, ten thousand in 1920, and thirty-five thousand now. It has the usual feature of California cities—beautiful school buildings. In this respect California stands in the lead, so far as we know. California school buildings are comfortable, commodious, convenient, and beautiful to the eye, and Alhambra is up in the front rank in this respect. It has an industrial district that is rapidly developing and adding much to the growth of the city. Its climate is fine, the average temperature for January for several years being fifty-two, and for July seventy- four.
There is an earnest, active congregation of disciples of Christ worshiping in Alhambra. They have a large lot, centrally located, and on it a house sufficient for their present needs. They expect to build, some time in the future, a front to their present quarters, and thus have ample space for Sunday-school rooms and other conveniences for work.
There was present a capacity audience the day of the all-day meeting, including many visitors from surrounding congregations. After the morning sermon and other services we repaired to a park and enjoyed a bountiful picnic lunch served on long tables under a pavilion. Immediately after lunch Brother and Sister Baughn took Mr. Larimore and me to see two members of the congregation who were sick, after which we returned to the meetinghouse, where a song service was in progress. Then followed a brief but very forcible, interesting, and instructive talk by Brother Foy E. Wallace on “Evidences of Christianity." There was a short time for rest and refreshment in the home of Brother Baughn before we reassembled at the meetinghouse, where Mr. Larimore preached the closing sermon, and then came a pleasant ride back to Santa Ana in the quiet of the night.
We met many old friends and new friends in Alhambra, but none we were more pleased to see again than the family of Brother and Sister A. P. Crowder, whom we knew in Cookeville, Tenn., but who live now in El Monte and worship at Alhambra. I want to give a little history of that family, because it is in many ways a remarkable family, and because their experiences may serve to answer some questions that are often propounded to Mr. Larimore relative to the merits of California as a home and the advisability of families coming here with a hope of bettering financial conditions. The family numbers twelve—father, mother, five sons, and five daughters, the children ranging in age from thirty-four to eleven years. When we knew them in Tennessee, I think Brother Crowder was confined to his chair, unable to walk at all. Two sons—one in Idaho and one in Tennessee—are married, as are two of the daughters, both of whom live in California. Two other daughters are teaching school in Idaho, and all are successful in their respective vocations. Some of the children, I have been told, determined to get an education, borrowed money to pay their way through school, and have since paid it back from their salaries as teachers. Indeed, they are a family of teachers, each one of the oldest six children having begun business life as a teacher and pursued that until something better was available. The youngest four children are in school— three at home, and one son, Giffin Crowder, seventeen years of age, is in the Berkeley school for deaf mutes.
When we lived in Berkeley, Giffin occasionally came to our services Sunday mornings with his friend, William Green, who is also our friend, a teacher in the University of California, and several times they came to our home for dinner. We were very fond of Giffin, but failed to recognize him as a son of the Brother and Sister Crowder we knew in Cookeville, he having been in the Knoxville school for the deaf when we visited their home. All the children are members of the church except Giffin, and he told Mr. Larimore the last time he was in our home in Berkeley that he intended to be baptized some time.
In a letter giving certain points of family history we asked for, Sister Crowder says:
“Mr. Crowder took rheumatism thirteen years ago, which crippled him very badly. We were told that the climate of California would be much better for him than that of Tennessee. Our two daughters in California and our oldest son, in Idaho, insisted that we come to California. In Tennessee we had one hundred and twenty acres of land, but the rent wouldn’t half support us, so we sold out and came to California. We went into the poultry business, which has been worth several times as much as the farm was to us. We are making a living. Not many people, I think, get rich at the poultry business, but there is a fair living in it, if it is properly managed. We all like California very much, have got on much better financially and have had much better health than in Tennessee. I’m sure Mr. Crowder’s health is fifty per cent better than it was when we came here.
“Mr. Crowder and I have been married thirty-six years, and there is one thing we are very, very proud of, and that is our family. There is not a spot or stain on the character of a single one, so far as I know. We could appreciate nothing else on earth as much as we appreciate that fact.”
-Emma Page Larimore, January 24, 1929, pages 85-86
Pasadena Star News, Pasadena, California
Saturday, October 19, 1929, p.9
Pasadena Star News, Pasadena, California
Tuesday, November 18, 1930, p.13
The Dexter Statesman, Dexter, Missouri
Friday, August 21, 1931, p.3
The Dexter Statesman, Dexter, Missouri
Friday, December 29, 1933, p.1
Gospel Advocate, 08.01.1934, p. 151
Directions To Grave
George and Rilda Baughn are buried in the Pope Cemetery near Current View, Missouri. Close to the northern Arkansas line, and located just north of the little township just off E State Hwy. Head west (left) on Ripley County Road U-5. The road is not paved. The cemetery will be on the right. Go to the flag pole and head straight in to the middle of the cemetery and you will easily find the Baughn grave. GPS location below is actual location of the grave.
GPS Location
36°30'43.2"N 90°46'55.8"W
or D.d. 36.511987, -90.782167
BAUGHN
Rilda - October 17, 1891 - July 31, 1973
George R. - November 14, 1891 - December 27, 1933
Photos Taken Saturday, 05.03.2025
Webpage Produced -
05.26.2025
Courtesy Of Scott Harp
www.TheRestorationMovement.com
Special Recognition: The graves of George and Rilda Baughn was the second of 29 graves of gospel preachers it was my privilege to find during the first week of May, 2025. I had the great blessing of traveling from my home in Russellville, Kentucky to Lebanon, Missouri that week for the purpose of preaching a gospel meeting at the South Hwy. 5 church of Christ. During the week, I stayed on American history's most famous U.S. Hwy, Route 66. Daily, I had the opportunity to travel a number of miles to visit graves of preachers of yesteryear. It was a wonderful week for the gospel, and a blessing for me to stand at the graves of giants in the Kingdom of our Christ.