ELDER NEWELL W. CRAIN was a native of Tennessee. His father moved to Texas in 1833 or 1834, and settled in San Augustine county. He moved to Nacogdoches county in 1837. Newel [sic] received some schooling in San Augustine, though his education was limited. He was a hard student, both before and after entering the ministry. He was converted and joined Union church, in Nacogdoches county, about 1840, and was by this church ordained. Came to McLennan county in 1854. He was a delegate from Waco church in the organization of the Waco Association in 1860. He served on the committee that framed the constitution; was at that time pastor of Bosqueville church. After the war he moved to Mexico and died there. He was a consecrated, pioneer worker, and is remembered with much pleasure by the older brethren.
Source: J. L. Walker and C. P. Lumpkin, History of the Waco Baptist Association of Texas (Waco: Byrne-Hill Printing House, 1897), pp. 278-279.