James Milton Carroll facts for kids

James Milton Carroll (born January 8, 1852 – died January 10, 1931) was an important American Baptist pastor, leader, historian, author, and educator. He helped start several schools and wrote books about Baptist history, including a famous one called The Trail of Blood.

Who Was James Milton Carroll?

James Milton Carroll was a very influential person in the Baptist church during his lifetime. He was known for many things, including being a pastor, a teacher, and a writer. He helped shape the education system for Baptists in Texas and Oklahoma.

His Early Life and Family

James Milton Carroll was born on January 8, 1852, near Monticello, Arkansas. He was one of twelve children. His father, Benajah Carroll, was also a Baptist minister. When James was six years old, in 1858, his family moved to Burleson County, Texas. Sadly, by the time he was seventeen, both of his parents had passed away, making him an orphan.

On December 22, 1870, when he was 18, James married Sudie Eliza Womble from Caldwell, Texas.

His Journey in Education

Even though James left school at a young age, he was determined to learn more. In 1873, he started attending Baylor University in Independence, Texas. He studied very hard for five years, earning scholarships and winning awards for his public speaking. Baylor University later gave him an honorary Master of Arts degree in 1884.

Carroll was very passionate about education. He helped create and became the first president of San Marcos Baptist Academy. He also served as the first president of Oklahoma Baptist University in Shawnee. He even used his own money to help pay off the university's debts! Later, he became the president of Howard Payne University in Brownwood, Texas.

What He Did in His Career

Beyond leading universities, James Milton Carroll held many other important roles. He helped lead the Education Commission of the Baptist General Convention of Texas for its first ten years. He also worked as a secretary and kept statistics for the Convention. He was involved with the regional Southern Baptist Convention, which grew into a national organization.

He served as a pastor in several churches in Texas, including those in Anderson, Corpus Christi, Lampasas, Taylor, Waco, and San Antonio. He also worked for various Baptist organizations, helping with fundraising and spreading information.

His Important Writings

One of James Milton Carroll's most famous works is a booklet called The Trail of Blood, published in 1931. This booklet is a collection of five lectures where he described Baptist history. He believed that Baptists had a direct connection all the way back to the early days of Christianity. This idea was part of a movement called Landmarkism, which was popular among some Baptist groups.

Carroll also wrote other books about Baptist history. These include Texas Baptist Statistics (1895) and A History of Texas Baptists (1923). He also wrote a biography about his older brother, Benajah Harvey Carroll, called B.H. Carroll, The Colossus of Baptist History (1946). His brother was also a well-known Baptist preacher and educator at Baylor.

James Milton Carroll passed away in Fort Worth and was buried in San Antonio.