George Washington Baines

===Political career in Arkansas===
In 1837, he settled in [[Carroll County, Arkansas]], moving in an effort to recuperate from his recurring [[dyspepsia]].<ref name=TSHA/> He lived along [[Crooked Creek (Arkansas)|Crooked Creek]], about two miles southwest of present-day [[Harrison, Arkansas]], the area today lies in [[Boone County, Arkansas|Boone County]]. After settling in, he resumed his religious calling, helping to establish three churches, where he then preached. He also served as a missionary for the Baptist Home Mission Society of New York. In 1842, Baines was elected as a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]] to the [[Arkansas House of Representatives]], representing Carroll County from November 7, 1842, to February 4, 1843. As a representative, Baines was a member of several select committees, including one to create [[Newton County, Arkansas|Newton County]].<ref name=Ark>{{cite web|last=Polston|first=Michael D.|url= https://encyclopediaofarkansas.net/entries/george-washington-baines-17982/|title=George Washington Baines (1809-1882)|website=Encyclopedia of Arkansas|date=June 19, 2023|access-date=November 21, 2023}}</ref><ref>Arkansas Biennial Report of the Secretary of State John W. Crockett, Tunnah & Pittard, 1903, Fourth Legislature Held November 7, 1842-February 4, 1843, pg. 123-124</ref>

Baines baptized more than 100 people in Arkansas, where he lived for seven years, before moving to [[Mount Lebanon, Louisiana]], with his family in July 1844.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Baines Family Collection, Inclusive: 1807-1912, undated; Bulk: 1855-1882; 1896-1899|url= https://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/164145.pdf|website=Baylor University|access-date=January 20, 2024|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180527234144/https://www.baylor.edu/content/services/document.php/164145.pdf|archive-date=May 27, 2018|url-status=dead}}</ref>