William Carey Crane
Encyclopedia
William Carey Crane was the President of Baylor University
from 1864 to 1885.
, on March 17, 1816. He attended the Mount Pleasant Classical Institute in Amherst, Massachusetts
and Virginia Baptist Seminary, now known as Richmond College. In 1883, he attended the Hamilton Literary and Theological Institute and Madison, now known as Colgate University
. In 1836, he received a B.A. from Columbian College, now known as George Washington University
, followed by an M.A. in 1839. From 1937 to 1939, he taught in Talbotton, Georgia
and preached in Thomaston
and Greenville
. He also preached at Mercer University
. In 1838, he became a Baptist
minister in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1839, he preached at the First Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama
.
In the 1840s, he served as a pastor in Columbus
, Vicksburg
, and Yazoo City
. In 1844, he was a Professor at Union University
in Murfreesboro, Tennessee
, and he edited The Baptist with R.B.C. Howell for two years in Nashville. He served as President of Mississippi Female College in Hernando
from 1851 to 1857, Semple Broaddus College in Centre Hill, Mississippi from 1859 to 1860, and Mount Lebanon College in Louisiana
from 1860 to 1863. He was co-editor of the Louisiana Baptist and President of the Louisiana Baptist State Convention. He served as a pastor in Centre Hill, Coldwater
, Oxford, Mississippi
and New Connah, Tennessee. He was also an editor of the Mississippi Baptist. He was the cofounder and Vice-President of the Mississippi State Historical Society. He served as the general agent of the American Tract Society
for two years. From 1851 to 1863, he served as Secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention
and was its Vice-President four times in the 1870s and 1880s.
In 1863, he served as Pastor at the First Baptist Church in Houston, Texas
. From 1864 to 1885, he was the President of Baylor University
. He served as the pastor of the Independence
Baptist Church for eighteen years from 1864 to 1867, and again from 1869 to 1884. He was also active in the Texas Baptist State Convention. He was the first President of the Texas State Teachers Association and Chairman of the founding committee for Sam Houston Normal Institute, now known as Sam Houston State University
. He was a member of the American Philological Association
.
Crane County, Texas is named after him.
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
from 1864 to 1885.
Biography
William Carey Crane was born in Richmond, VirginiaRichmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
, on March 17, 1816. He attended the Mount Pleasant Classical Institute in Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst is a town in Hampshire County, Massachusetts, United States in the Connecticut River valley. As of the 2010 census, the population was 37,819, making it the largest community in Hampshire County . The town is home to Amherst College, Hampshire College, and the University of Massachusetts...
and Virginia Baptist Seminary, now known as Richmond College. In 1883, he attended the Hamilton Literary and Theological Institute and Madison, now known as Colgate University
Colgate University
Colgate University is a private liberal arts college in Hamilton, New York, USA. The school was founded in 1819 as a Baptist seminary and later became non-denominational. It is named for the Colgate family who greatly contributed to the university's endowment in the 19th century.Colgate has 52...
. In 1836, he received a B.A. from Columbian College, now known as George Washington University
George Washington University
The George Washington University is a private, coeducational comprehensive university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States...
, followed by an M.A. in 1839. From 1937 to 1939, he taught in Talbotton, Georgia
Talbotton, Georgia
Talbotton is a city in Talbot County, Georgia, United States. The population was 1,019 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Talbot County. Talbotton may be best known in history as the place where the immigrant Straus family got their start in retail sales in the 19th century....
and preached in Thomaston
Thomaston, Georgia
Thomaston is a city in and the county seat of Upson County, Georgia, United States. The population was 9,638 at the 2006 census. It is the principal city of and is included in the Thomaston, Georgia Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is included in the Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Gainesville,...
and Greenville
Greenville, Georgia
Greenville is a city in Meriwether County, Georgia, United States. The population was 946 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Meriwether County. southwest of Atlanta...
. He also preached at Mercer University
Mercer University
Mercer University is an independent, private, coeducational university with a Baptist heritage located in the U.S. state of Georgia. Mercer is the only university of its size in the United States that offers programs in eleven diversified fields of study: liberal arts, business, education, music,...
. In 1838, he became a Baptist
Baptist
Baptists comprise a group of Christian denominations and churches that subscribe to a doctrine that baptism should be performed only for professing believers , and that it must be done by immersion...
minister in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1839, he preached at the First Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
.
In the 1840s, he served as a pastor in Columbus
Columbus, Mississippi
Columbus is a city in Lowndes County, Mississippi, United States that lies above the Tombigbee River. It is approximately northeast of Jackson, north of Meridian, south of Tupelo, northwest of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and west of Birmingham, Alabama. The population was 25,944 at the 2000 census...
, Vicksburg
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the only city in Warren County. It is located northwest of New Orleans on the Mississippi and Yazoo rivers, and due west of Jackson, the state capital. In 1900, 14,834 people lived in Vicksburg; in 1910, 20,814; in 1920,...
, and Yazoo City
Yazoo City, Mississippi
Yazoo City is a city in Yazoo County, Mississippi, United States. It was named after the Yazoo River, which, in turn was named by the French explorer Robert La Salle. It is the county seat of Yazoo County and the principal city of the Yazoo City Micropolitan Statistical Area, which is part of the...
. In 1844, he was a Professor at Union University
Union University
Union University is a private, evangelical Christian, liberal arts university located in Jackson, Tennessee, with additional campuses in Germantown, Tennessee, and Hendersonville, Tennessee...
in Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro is a city in and the county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 108,755 according to the United States Census Bureau's 2010 U.S. Census, up from 68,816 residents certified during the 2000 census. The center of population of Tennessee is located in...
, and he edited The Baptist with R.B.C. Howell for two years in Nashville. He served as President of Mississippi Female College in Hernando
Hernando, Mississippi
Hernando is a city in central DeSoto County, Mississippi. The population was 6,812 at the 2000 census. The 2006 census estimate reflects a population of 10,580. Hernando is the county seat of DeSoto County, the second-most-populous county in the Memphis metropolitan area. US Hwy 51 and the I-55...
from 1851 to 1857, Semple Broaddus College in Centre Hill, Mississippi from 1859 to 1860, and Mount Lebanon College in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
from 1860 to 1863. He was co-editor of the Louisiana Baptist and President of the Louisiana Baptist State Convention. He served as a pastor in Centre Hill, Coldwater
Coldwater, Mississippi
Coldwater is a small town in Tate County, Mississippi, United States. It is in the Memphis Metropolitan Area or Mid-South. The population was 1,674 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Coldwater is located at...
, Oxford, Mississippi
Oxford, Mississippi
Oxford is a city in, and the county seat of, Lafayette County, Mississippi, United States. Founded in 1835, it was named after the British university city of Oxford in hopes of having the state university located there, which it did successfully attract....
and New Connah, Tennessee. He was also an editor of the Mississippi Baptist. He was the cofounder and Vice-President of the Mississippi State Historical Society. He served as the general agent of the American Tract Society
American Tract Society
The American Tract Society is a nonprofit, nonsectarian but evangelical organization founded on May 11, 1825 in New York City for the purpose of publishing and disseminating Christian literature. ATS traces its lineage back through the New York Tract Society and the New England Tract Society to...
for two years. From 1851 to 1863, he served as Secretary of the Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
and was its Vice-President four times in the 1870s and 1880s.
In 1863, he served as Pastor at the First Baptist Church in Houston, Texas
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
. From 1864 to 1885, he was the President of Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
. He served as the pastor of the Independence
Independence, Texas
Independence is an unincorporated community in Washington County, Texas, United States. Located twelve miles northeast of Brenham, it was founded in 1835 in Austin's colony of Anglo Americans. It became a Baptist religious and educational center of the Republic of Texas...
Baptist Church for eighteen years from 1864 to 1867, and again from 1869 to 1884. He was also active in the Texas Baptist State Convention. He was the first President of the Texas State Teachers Association and Chairman of the founding committee for Sam Houston Normal Institute, now known as Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University
Sam Houston State University was founded in 1879 and is the third oldest public institution of higher learning in the State of Texas. It is located in Huntsville, Texas. It is one of the oldest purpose-built institutions for the instruction of teachers west of the Mississippi River and the first...
. He was a member of the American Philological Association
American Philological Association
The American Philological Association , founded in 1869, is a non-profit North American scholarly organization devoted to all aspects of Greek and Roman civilization...
.
Crane County, Texas is named after him.