JOHN T. BATTLE was born in Wilkes county, Georgia, and at the age of 23 years joined the church at Washington, Ga., of which Dr. H. A. Tupper was pastor. In 1872 moved to Waco, Texas, and united with the First Baptist church, since which time he has worked continuously in the church and Sunday school. After some years he was ordained deacon by the First church, and is the only deacon of that church by her ordained. At the meeting of the Baptist General Convention of Texas, held with the church at Houston in 1890, he was elected treasurer of the Convention, and has been re-elected each year since. He is secretary of the Board of Trustees of Baylor University at Waco, Texas. Bro. Battle has given much time, labor and means to this institution, and to the cause of Christian education. The beloved brother says the recollection and his first meeting with Waco Association will be always to him most precious; for there he met such brethren as Jno. S. Allen, J. J. Ridle, S. F. Sparks, B. J. Kendrick, W. D. Gaines and others. While all these years Bro. Battle has been an active business man, taking an interest in all the affairs of his city and state, still he finds time to think of, pray for, and work in the Master’s cause.
Source: J. L. Walker and C. P. Lumpkin, History of the Waco Baptist Association of Texas (Waco: Byrne-Hill Printing House, 1897), p. 235.