George Webb Slaughter deserves a full-length biography. His life was filled with excitement and Christian service. I am not sure when he became a child of God, but it appears to have been early in his life. Having moved from Louisiana to Texas, he became one of Sam Houston’s most trusted scouts and one of his messengers, during the struggle for Texas’ liberation from Mexico. On one occasion, carrying a message from Houston, he arrived as Mexicans overran the Alamo, defeating and killing the Americans there. Slaughter then guided Mrs. Dickenson and the servant of Colonel Travis back to Houston with Santa Anna’s demands. For his service throughout the war, he was given a commendation from his commander.
At the war’s conclusion, Slaughter was given leave to return home to be married. He and his wife obtained the first marriage license granted by the new Texas Republic. To support his family, G.W. studied medicine, and was for years the only physician in Palo Pinto County. But the Lord had other plans. On December 4, 1865, at the age of fifty-four, G.W. Slaughter preached his first sermon – the first preached at Fort Davis. In the next six years he worked tirelessly, organizing twenty-one Baptist churches and baptizing 907 people. It is said that he traveled extensively, riding a Texas pony while carrying a lariat, coffeepot, rifle, a pair of six-shooters and his Bible. When he was sixty-seven, on a hill above his ranch, six miles north of Palo Pinto, he established another of his many churches. This one had the auspicious name: “Slaughter Valley Baptist Church.” There is some confusion about the date, but that may have been on this day in 1877 or it might be that it was the Elm Grave Baptist church which started on this date. Whichever is the case those two, and the Lake Creek Baptist Church, were all organized within a matter of weeks, and it is said they grew substantially over the next year.
George W. Slaughter refused to retire, visiting churches and preaching Christ until he died at the age of eighty-four.