Home County of Pioneer Leader Joseph Wilson Baines

Baines studied law under James W. Throckmorton at McKinney. In 1878 he helped found the McKinney Advocate, bought out his partner and renamed the merged paper the Black Waxey, which backed John Ireland for governor; Ireland then made him secretary of state. In Austin he advised the governor and helped oversee the building of the Capitol. At Blanco he took clients whether or not they could pay, and in 1903 he was elected to the legislature. Losses on his farm later forced him to Fredericksburg. "I am a Baptist and a Democrat," he said, "that is enough for me."

What the plaque says

Home County of Pioneer Leader Joseph Wilson Baines (1846-1906) Born in Louisiana; in 1850 came to Texas, where his father, Rev. Geo. W. Baines, founded a church newspaper and was president of Baylor University. Served in the Williamson Cadets, in Civil War. Lived in Collin County, 1867-1882. Married Ruth A. Huffman. Was a teacher, lawyer; founder and publisher of McKinney "Advocate." Served 1883-1887 as Secretary of State for Texas. Practiced law in Blanco, 1888-1903. Died in Fredericksburg. His daughter Rebecca (Mrs. Sam Ealy Johnson) became the mother of Lyndon Baines Johnson, 36th president of the United States. (1965)

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Lyndon B. Johnson National Historical Park — 7.6 mi
  The Johnson City district of the national park: the Victorian house where Lyndon Johnson grew up, and the stone barns his grandfather built in the Johnson Settlement.
• Pedernales Falls State Park — 9.1 mi
  The Pedernales stepping down over layered limestone east of Johnson City, a river that can turn from a placid stream to a torrent in minutes.
• Lyndon B. Johnson State Park and Historic Site — 18 mi
  A state park on the Pedernales opposite the LBJ Ranch, with a working Texas-German farm kept as it was around the First World War and the permit desk for the ranch tour.
• Longhorn Cavern State Park — 21 mi
  A cave carved by an underground river in the Hill Country, cleared of mud by hand in the 1930s and reached down 52 stone steps on a guided tour.

More markers nearby

• Joseph Bird — 3.8 mi
• Robert Price — 4.2 mi
• First Christian Church of Johnson City — 7.3 mi
• Dr. James F. Barnwell — 7.4 mi