John Hill Luther (b. 1824-d. 1903) was born in Warren, Bristol, Rhode Island. He was a graduate of Brown University and Newton Theological Seminary. At a young age, he had longed to be a missionary, but as an adult he became pastor in Beaufort County, South Carolina. In addition to being a pastor, Luther became a tutor in the home of Benjamin Jaudon of Robertville. One of the Jaudon children, Anne, later became his wife. John and Anne were married in August of 1854.
After a brief time as pastor of several churches in South Carolina, John and Anne moved to Kansas City where John opened a school for girls, the “Young Ladies Seminary.” He served as the president of the Seminary from 1858-1861, and he also pastored several churches in Missouri. In 1865 Luther established a Baptist paper, which he called the Missouri Baptist Journal. It later became consolidated with the St. Louis Record and was known as the Central Baptist, which was recognized by the Baptist General Association as the official Missouri Baptist state paper. In 1871, William Jewel College conferred on John Hill the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity, recognizing him as a “foremost educator.”
During the Civil War and Reconstruction Luther and his family moved often, but eventually he felt the need to move to a more permanent location. Family members encouraged him to move to Galveston, Texas, where Luther became pastor of the 2nd Baptist Church for a year. In 1878, Dr. Luther accepted the presidency of Baylor Female College at Independence, Texas.
The Luthers had six children, three of whom died in infancy, and a son died during in his teenage years. The two surviving children were both daughters--Anne, born in 1859, and Zollie, in 1865. In 1886, Baylor University moved the male students to Waco. Dr. and Mrs. Luther were asked to move Baylor Female College to Belton, where he continued as President until 1891. Baylor Female College eventually became the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB).
Zollie Luther, the Luther’s youngest daughter, married William Goodrich Jones, who was a banker in Temple, Texas. They had three children, Luther, Riette, and Doris Goodrich Jones. Anne Luther, the Luther’s eldest daughter, served as dean of the Baylor Female College during her father’s presidency. Anne also taught mathematics and represented the institution at State Baptist Conventions. It was during one of these conventions, in Calvert, Texas, that she met William Buck Bagby, who, like Anne, felt a call to foreign missions. William was born in 1855 in Coryell County, Texas. His family moved to Waco, Texas, when he was eight years old. William became a Christian while listening to a sermon from Dr. Rufus Burleson. He attended Waco University as the first theology student in the newly established theology department. William Buck Bagby and Anne Luther married in 1881.
In 1881, William and Anne were appointed by the Foreign Mission Board (FMB) of Richmond, Virginia, and left for the mission field, becoming the first permanent Baptist missionaries in Brazil, South America. Their work in Brazil constituted one of the longest tenures of any couple in Southern Baptist Missions. The Bagbys founded a church in Bahía in 1882, the first Brazilian Baptist Church, and another in Rio de Janeiro in 1884. The churches were successful, and several more were founded in the larger cities of Brazil. The churches were led by Brazilian pastors, trained by the Bagbys and other Baptist missionaries. Rio de Janeiro became the center for Baptist work in southern Brazil. In 1901, having worked in Bahía and Rio de Janeiro for several years, the Bagbys moved to São Paulo, where Anne was primarily responsible for the establishment of a school, Colégio Batista Brasileiro, that included a boarding school for girls. William continued to evangelize and organize churches throughout the southern part of Brazil. William and Anne had nine children, two of which died as infants. In 1912, their son Willson drowned while trying to save a friend. Another son, Oliver, moved to California after initiating studies at the University of Texas Medical School in Galveston, Texas. Dr. Luther died while visiting his oldest daughter in Sao Paulo Brazil.
Obituary adapted from the following source:
Luther-Bagby Collection, Inclusive: 1821-2001. (2013, October 23). The Texas Collection. Retrieved from https://baylorarchives.cuadra.com/cgi-bin/starfetch.exe?
After a brief time as pastor of several churches in South Carolina, John and Anne moved to Kansas City where John opened a school for girls, the “Young Ladies Seminary.” He served as the president of the Seminary from 1858-1861, and he also pastored several churches in Missouri. In 1865 Luther established a Baptist paper, which he called the Missouri Baptist Journal. It later became consolidated with the St. Louis Record and was known as the Central Baptist, which was recognized by the Baptist General Association as the official Missouri Baptist state paper. In 1871, William Jewel College conferred on John Hill the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity, recognizing him as a “foremost educator.”
During the Civil War and Reconstruction Luther and his family moved often, but eventually he felt the need to move to a more permanent location. Family members encouraged him to move to Galveston, Texas, where Luther became pastor of the 2nd Baptist Church for a year. In 1878, Dr. Luther accepted the presidency of Baylor Female College at Independence, Texas.
The Luthers had six children, three of whom died in infancy, and a son died during in his teenage years. The two surviving children were both daughters--Anne, born in 1859, and Zollie, in 1865. In 1886, Baylor University moved the male students to Waco. Dr. and Mrs. Luther were asked to move Baylor Female College to Belton, where he continued as President until 1891. Baylor Female College eventually became the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB).
Zollie Luther, the Luther’s youngest daughter, married William Goodrich Jones, who was a banker in Temple, Texas. They had three children, Luther, Riette, and Doris Goodrich Jones. Anne Luther, the Luther’s eldest daughter, served as dean of the Baylor Female College during her father’s presidency. Anne also taught mathematics and represented the institution at State Baptist Conventions. It was during one of these conventions, in Calvert, Texas, that she met William Buck Bagby, who, like Anne, felt a call to foreign missions. William was born in 1855 in Coryell County, Texas. His family moved to Waco, Texas, when he was eight years old. William became a Christian while listening to a sermon from Dr. Rufus Burleson. He attended Waco University as the first theology student in the newly established theology department. William Buck Bagby and Anne Luther married in 1881.
In 1881, William and Anne were appointed by the Foreign Mission Board (FMB) of Richmond, Virginia, and left for the mission field, becoming the first permanent Baptist missionaries in Brazil, South America. Their work in Brazil constituted one of the longest tenures of any couple in Southern Baptist Missions. The Bagbys founded a church in Bahía in 1882, the first Brazilian Baptist Church, and another in Rio de Janeiro in 1884. The churches were successful, and several more were founded in the larger cities of Brazil. The churches were led by Brazilian pastors, trained by the Bagbys and other Baptist missionaries. Rio de Janeiro became the center for Baptist work in southern Brazil. In 1901, having worked in Bahía and Rio de Janeiro for several years, the Bagbys moved to São Paulo, where Anne was primarily responsible for the establishment of a school, Colégio Batista Brasileiro, that included a boarding school for girls. William continued to evangelize and organize churches throughout the southern part of Brazil. William and Anne had nine children, two of which died as infants. In 1912, their son Willson drowned while trying to save a friend. Another son, Oliver, moved to California after initiating studies at the University of Texas Medical School in Galveston, Texas. Dr. Luther died while visiting his oldest daughter in Sao Paulo Brazil.
Obituary adapted from the following source:
Luther-Bagby Collection, Inclusive: 1821-2001. (2013, October 23). The Texas Collection. Retrieved from https://baylorarchives.cuadra.com/cgi-bin/starfetch.exe?
John Hill Luther (b. 1824-d. 1903) was born in Warren, Bristol, Rhode Island. He was a graduate of Brown University and Newton Theological Seminary. At a young age, he had longed to be a missionary, but as an adult he became pastor in Beaufort County, South Carolina. In addition to being a pastor, Luther became a tutor in the home of Benjamin Jaudon of Robertville. One of the Jaudon children, Anne, later became his wife. John and Anne were married in August of 1854.
After a brief time as pastor of several churches in South Carolina, John and Anne moved to Kansas City where John opened a school for girls, the “Young Ladies Seminary.” He served as the president of the Seminary from 1858-1861, and he also pastored several churches in Missouri. In 1865 Luther established a Baptist paper, which he called the Missouri Baptist Journal. It later became consolidated with the St. Louis Record and was known as the Central Baptist, which was recognized by the Baptist General Association as the official Missouri Baptist state paper. In 1871, William Jewel College conferred on John Hill the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity, recognizing him as a “foremost educator.”
During the Civil War and Reconstruction Luther and his family moved often, but eventually he felt the need to move to a more permanent location. Family members encouraged him to move to Galveston, Texas, where Luther became pastor of the 2nd Baptist Church for a year. In 1878, Dr. Luther accepted the presidency of Baylor Female College at Independence, Texas.
The Luthers had six children, three of whom died in infancy, and a son died during in his teenage years. The two surviving children were both daughters--Anne, born in 1859, and Zollie, in 1865. In 1886, Baylor University moved the male students to Waco. Dr. and Mrs. Luther were asked to move Baylor Female College to Belton, where he continued as President until 1891. Baylor Female College eventually became the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB).
Zollie Luther, the Luther’s youngest daughter, married William Goodrich Jones, who was a banker in Temple, Texas. They had three children, Luther, Riette, and Doris Goodrich Jones. Anne Luther, the Luther’s eldest daughter, served as dean of the Baylor Female College during her father’s presidency. Anne also taught mathematics and represented the institution at State Baptist Conventions. It was during one of these conventions, in Calvert, Texas, that she met William Buck Bagby, who, like Anne, felt a call to foreign missions. William was born in 1855 in Coryell County, Texas. His family moved to Waco, Texas, when he was eight years old. William became a Christian while listening to a sermon from Dr. Rufus Burleson. He attended Waco University as the first theology student in the newly established theology department. William Buck Bagby and Anne Luther married in 1881.
In 1881, William and Anne were appointed by the Foreign Mission Board (FMB) of Richmond, Virginia, and left for the mission field, becoming the first permanent Baptist missionaries in Brazil, South America. Their work in Brazil constituted one of the longest tenures of any couple in Southern Baptist Missions. The Bagbys founded a church in Bahía in 1882, the first Brazilian Baptist Church, and another in Rio de Janeiro in 1884. The churches were successful, and several more were founded in the larger cities of Brazil. The churches were led by Brazilian pastors, trained by the Bagbys and other Baptist missionaries. Rio de Janeiro became the center for Baptist work in southern Brazil. In 1901, having worked in Bahía and Rio de Janeiro for several years, the Bagbys moved to São Paulo, where Anne was primarily responsible for the establishment of a school, Colégio Batista Brasileiro, that included a boarding school for girls. William continued to evangelize and organize churches throughout the southern part of Brazil. William and Anne had nine children, two of which died as infants. In 1912, their son Willson drowned while trying to save a friend. Another son, Oliver, moved to California after initiating studies at the University of Texas Medical School in Galveston, Texas. Dr. Luther died while visiting his oldest daughter in Sao Paulo Brazil.
Obituary adapted from the following source:
Luther-Bagby Collection, Inclusive: 1821-2001. (2013, October 23). The Texas Collection. Retrieved from https://baylorarchives.cuadra.com/cgi-bin/starfetch.exe?
After a brief time as pastor of several churches in South Carolina, John and Anne moved to Kansas City where John opened a school for girls, the “Young Ladies Seminary.” He served as the president of the Seminary from 1858-1861, and he also pastored several churches in Missouri. In 1865 Luther established a Baptist paper, which he called the Missouri Baptist Journal. It later became consolidated with the St. Louis Record and was known as the Central Baptist, which was recognized by the Baptist General Association as the official Missouri Baptist state paper. In 1871, William Jewel College conferred on John Hill the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity, recognizing him as a “foremost educator.”
During the Civil War and Reconstruction Luther and his family moved often, but eventually he felt the need to move to a more permanent location. Family members encouraged him to move to Galveston, Texas, where Luther became pastor of the 2nd Baptist Church for a year. In 1878, Dr. Luther accepted the presidency of Baylor Female College at Independence, Texas.
The Luthers had six children, three of whom died in infancy, and a son died during in his teenage years. The two surviving children were both daughters--Anne, born in 1859, and Zollie, in 1865. In 1886, Baylor University moved the male students to Waco. Dr. and Mrs. Luther were asked to move Baylor Female College to Belton, where he continued as President until 1891. Baylor Female College eventually became the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor (UMHB).
Zollie Luther, the Luther’s youngest daughter, married William Goodrich Jones, who was a banker in Temple, Texas. They had three children, Luther, Riette, and Doris Goodrich Jones. Anne Luther, the Luther’s eldest daughter, served as dean of the Baylor Female College during her father’s presidency. Anne also taught mathematics and represented the institution at State Baptist Conventions. It was during one of these conventions, in Calvert, Texas, that she met William Buck Bagby, who, like Anne, felt a call to foreign missions. William was born in 1855 in Coryell County, Texas. His family moved to Waco, Texas, when he was eight years old. William became a Christian while listening to a sermon from Dr. Rufus Burleson. He attended Waco University as the first theology student in the newly established theology department. William Buck Bagby and Anne Luther married in 1881.
In 1881, William and Anne were appointed by the Foreign Mission Board (FMB) of Richmond, Virginia, and left for the mission field, becoming the first permanent Baptist missionaries in Brazil, South America. Their work in Brazil constituted one of the longest tenures of any couple in Southern Baptist Missions. The Bagbys founded a church in Bahía in 1882, the first Brazilian Baptist Church, and another in Rio de Janeiro in 1884. The churches were successful, and several more were founded in the larger cities of Brazil. The churches were led by Brazilian pastors, trained by the Bagbys and other Baptist missionaries. Rio de Janeiro became the center for Baptist work in southern Brazil. In 1901, having worked in Bahía and Rio de Janeiro for several years, the Bagbys moved to São Paulo, where Anne was primarily responsible for the establishment of a school, Colégio Batista Brasileiro, that included a boarding school for girls. William continued to evangelize and organize churches throughout the southern part of Brazil. William and Anne had nine children, two of which died as infants. In 1912, their son Willson drowned while trying to save a friend. Another son, Oliver, moved to California after initiating studies at the University of Texas Medical School in Galveston, Texas. Dr. Luther died while visiting his oldest daughter in Sao Paulo Brazil.
Obituary adapted from the following source:
Luther-Bagby Collection, Inclusive: 1821-2001. (2013, October 23). The Texas Collection. Retrieved from https://baylorarchives.cuadra.com/cgi-bin/starfetch.exe?
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