M. J. Baughman was a founding member of the Mineral Springs Baptist Church where he, his wife and some of his children are buried in the churchyard cemetery. Mineral Springs is situated in Lincoln Parish (on the Union parish line), however M. J. was well known in several parishes, most notably Union as well as Lincoln, and Jackson.

The Ruston Caligraph.
Ruston, Lincoln Parish, Louisiana
Thursday, November 25, 1886
Page 3; Column 3

WARD FIVE ITEMS.

We learn that Mr. M. J. Baughman, an old and well known citizen of Union parish, died at 7 p. m. Thursday, the 13th inst., at his residnece, 8 miles southwest from Farmerville. He had been a long sufferer of asthma, but the immediate cause of dissolution seems to have been a complication of diseases hard to properly diagnose by the physicians attending him. His sufferings for several weeks previous to death were of the most painful character. Deceased, we learn, was born, reared and married in South Carolina. He removed from that state to Arkansas, where he resided a few years, from whence he came to the neighborhood of Mineral Springs church, originally Jackson, now Lincoln parish, where he carried on a successful mercantile business for several years. He removed from that locality to his last residence. Being born in 1826, he was about sixty years of age. By hard labor, economy and assiduity to business, he had acquired quite a competency. For years previous to his death he was engaged in farming and the management of his ready capital. He left no written will. Verbal request was made by him that the oldest son should take charge of the minor heirs and keep them together at the homestead. Mr. B. had born to him thirteen children, nine daughters and four sons, six of the former and three of the latter now living. Four daughters are married. Two sons and one daughter are minors. He was a member of the Culbertson Baptist church. The remains were interred in the cemetery at Mineral Springs church on Saturday last, where his deceased wife and three children are resting. In all the business relations of life he bore the character of an honest, upright man. Peace to his ashes.

The Farmerville Gazette.
Farmerville, Union Parish, Louisiana
Wednesday, February 23, 1887
Page 2

Memoir of Michael Joseph Baughman
The subject of this sketch was born in Fairfield District, South Carolina, on April 27, 1826, and departed this life Nov. 18, 1886; aged 60 years, 6 months, and 21 days. M. J. Baughman was married to Miss Emiline Chapman on January 20, 1852. He removed to this State in 1856, and settled near Mineral Spring Church where he pursued his occupation as wheelright until after the war, making some money and rearing his family. After the emancipation of his slaves and the partial failure of his eye-sight, he engaged in mercantile business with considerable success; but owing to the sudden decline of cotton, in which he had invested considerable, he lost all. About this time he, with his wife, united with the Missionary Baptist Church at Mineral Springs, and was baptised by Eld. J. L. Mays. He then removed to his late residence, 8 miles west of Farmerville, where he bought up a large tract of and, and built thereon one of the best dwellings in Union parish, surrounded with a fine steam gin, saw and grist mill and all the appliances of a first-class farm. This was all done amid adverse fortune, low prices of cotton, demoralized labor, proving himself to be one of the best farmers and closest financiers in North Louisiana. Notwithstanding his affliction, and the raising and education of a family of nine children (four of whom are now married and well provided for), he still made money. Nine months and two days before his death he lost the companion of his youth and mother of his children, which was a stroke of Divine Providence from which he never seemed to recover; having for years been afflicted with asthma and its attending evils, he gradually declined. With that indomitable energy that always characterized him in business, he often exposed himself to inclement weather, but his whole aim and end was to lay up something for his children; and, while this was his chief aim, he was not unmindful of his poor neighbors and his employees, for I never knew a more liberal or charitable man. One of his last public acts was a liberal donation and assistance in building a new house for his church at Culbertson. While he maintained a strict and honorable business integrity, he was very indulgent of those indebted to him, and there's man a poor man both white and black, who will heave a deep drawn sigh in memory of the loss of M. J. Baughman; for his place cannot be filled in our community by any other. His illness was protracted and painful, his asthmatic trouble generated catarrhal neuralgia. He was confined to his bed for four weeks without taking any sustenance of any consequence. He bore his illness with that manly christian fortitude peculiar to the man. A few days before his death he told the writer that he had seen in a vision his wife and her uncle, who came and talked about his sickness. They told him he was to suffer a great deal and lose his left eye and then come to them, for they were perfectly happy. While he related this the tears streamed from his eyes, and he added that his suffering would wean him from this troublesome world. At that time there was nothing the matter with eye; afterwards it did inflame and went out. The night before he died he called all his children about him, and in a calm and business like manner gave in detail his instruction concerning his home, and the care of the minor children which was committed to his son J. D. Baughman. After asking whether all were satisfied, he requested us all to join in singing him a good old song. In response we sang -- "When I Can Read My Title Clear," after which he never spoke of business nor of the future. At 6 p.m. he breathed his last in the arms of his son and son-in-law Wm. L. Gill."

Farmerville Gazette article was submitted to usgwarchives. net by Timothy D. Hudson.