Stephenson, Henry (1772–1841)

Henry Stephenson, early Methodist preacher, was born in Virginia in 1772. The family moved to Kentucky and later to Missouri, where Stephenson was licensed to preach by Methodist officials in 1812. He married and moved to Arkansas and subsequently to Louisiana as a Methodist circuit rider. He ventured into Texas as early as 1824 but found Stephen F. Austin opposed to the propagation of Protestantism in his colony, as this violated Mexican law and threatened to upset relations between Anglo settlers and the Mexican government. Nonetheless, Stephenson was placed in charge of the Methodist effort in Texas in 1834. That year, despite the continued opposition of Mexican authorities to the presence of Protestant ministers, he made a successful sweep through Texas. Stephenson moved to Texas the following year and settled on Cow Creek in what is now Newton County. Mirabeau B. Lamar described him as "a zealous & sincere man." Stephenson struggled to overcome his lack of eloquence and limited formal education while delivering his message. Poor health and shaky financial support slowed his efforts in later years, although he did preach in Jasper and Jefferson counties in 1840 and 1841. He died in Jasper on November 20, 1841, and was buried in Burkeville. The Texas Centennial Commission placed a marker on his grave in 1936.