Squaw Creek Primitive Baptist Church

Church History

In 1856, a group of settlers left Franklin County, Arkansas.  Among this group were Andrew Jackson Nixon, his wife, Lurana Wootten Nixon, and other members of the Francis Marion Nixon family.  Also included in the westward movement were members of the Plummer, Joy,  New, Light, and Ratto families.   Drought continually drove the group farther south as they searched  for water and forage for their stock.  They ended their quest in Mason County were they found a strong spring at a location now known as Nixon Point.  By the early 1860’s, a permanent settlement was established along Squaw Creek near the small community of Doss, Texas, Gillespie County.

Andrew Jackson Nixon I and his family were directly responsible for establishing Squaw Creek Primitive Baptist Church.  Being an ordained Elder, he raised his family according to his beliefs while preaching the gospel throughout the area.  One of his sons, Andrew Jackson Nixon II, married Louise Christine Stackbein, the daughter of Frederick Stackbein, a rock mason and German settler in the Doss area.  To this union were born sixteen children who likewise were raised Primitive Baptist.  In an effort to worship regularly, they and other Primitive Baptists met in the Nixon home and in the old Squaw Creek School/Community building as early as 1895.  They visited the Primitive Baptist Church in the community of Valley Springs, Texas, in Llano County; as frequently as possible, and Elder S. N. Redford made the trip to Doss faithfully; but the thirty to forty miles for services imposed a severe hardship on both the members and pastor.  Both the distance and the desire for local autonomy led the band of worshippers to ask the Valley Springs Primitive Baptist Church for an arm of support in the constitution of the Squaw Creek Primitive Baptist Church of Doss, Texas.

On Saturday before the third Sunday in September 22, 1901, at the Squaw Creek School and Community Building, the Squaw Creek Primitive Baptist Church was constituted.  By request, the Valley Springs Church sent ordained help.  Elder S. N. Redford acted as moderator, and S. S. Redford acted as clerk.  The original charter members, who all received letters of good standing from Valley Springs Church were: 

The newly established Squaw Creek Primitive Baptist Church continued to meet in homes and in the Squaw Creek School Building.  In 1911, the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church relocated to Mormon Creek near Doss.  They allowed the Primitive Baptist to meet in their building from 1911 until 1924.  On August 7, 1924, Willie Baethge and R. G. Nixon, deacons of the Squaw Creek Primitive Baptist Church, purchased the small wood frame structure and one acre of land from the Bethel Missionary Baptist Church .  On June 2, 1956, the Squaw Creek Church received and adjoining one acre of land through a gift by Hannah Baethge (Johanna Nixon Baethge).   These two acres remain the site of the present day Squaw Creek Primitive Baptist Church.

The original 1924 frame structure underwent many stages of reconstruction and remodeling, and for many years was referred to as “The Little Brown Church.”   The addition of siding gave the building a facelift several years before a dining room was added.  Along the rear of the property stood a brush arbor used for meetings and associations when the frame building could not accommodate the worshippers from surrounding Primitive Baptist Churches.  In 1972, the old building was torn down and a modern brick structure which still serves today was built.

From 1902 until 1962, Squaw Creek Primitive Baptist Church was a member of the Friendship Association of Primitive Baptists, entertaining meetings 3^rd weekend of July at various locations.  Squaw Creek Church hosted the meeting every third or fourth year.  Other members of this association were:  Valley Springs Church (Llano County), Eldorado Church (Schleicher County), Quemado Church (Maverick County), and Regency Church (Mills County), Zion Church (Lampasas County), San Angelo Church (Tom Green County), and Cherokee Church (San Saba County).  The last of the Friendship Associations were held in 1962 at Eldorado Primitive Baptist Church. 

The Camp Meeting at Squaw Creek Primitive Baptist Church had its beginning in 1965.  This meeting is still observed 3^rd weekend in July on an alternating basis with the Bethel Church, McMahan, Texas, and Pilgrim Rest Church, Stratton, Texas.

Many Elders and Clerks have served the Squaw Creek Primitive Baptist Church, often during joint or overlapping time frames.  Their names and dates of service follow:

Clerks:

Deacons:

Treasurers:

Squaw Creek Primitive Baptist Church, serving the Doss and surrounding communities for over one hundred years, is a rich part of the heritage of Gillispie County and State of Texas.  It has also served the Primitive Baptists of Texas and continues to remain a beacon in the beautiful Doss Valley.