(b. Coryell County, Texas, Nov. 5, 1855; d. Porto Alegre, Brazil, Aug. 5, 1939). Missionary to Brazil. Converted under the preaching of Rufus C. Burleson (q.v.), then president of Waco University and pastor of the First Baptist Church, Waco, Bagby was one of the first pupils of Benajah Harvey Carroll (q.v.), who succeeded Burleson as pastor of the Waco church and taught theology to the preachers in the Waco school. Bagby graduated from the university in 1875 and was teaching school at Plantersville when he was ordained to preach, March 16, 1879. He and Anne Ellen Luther married on October 21, 1880, were appointed missionaries to Brazil in December of that year, and sailed the following month. The Bagbys were two of five members of the first Brazilian Baptist church, organized October 15, 1882; Zachary Clay Taylor (q.v.), Mrs. Taylor, and Antonio Teixeira (the one Brazilian) were the other members. The second church was constituted at Rio de Janeiro, July 24, 1884. The Bagbys lived in Rio until October, 1901, when they moved to Sao Paula. Among early converts under the preaching of Bagby was F. F. Soren who became pastor of the First Baptist Church, Rio de Janeiro, and served there 33 years. Five of the nine Bagby children became missionaries to South America.
Biographical sources:
Crabtree, A.R. Baptists in Brazil, 1953.
Gill, E., Jr. Pilgrimage to Brazil, 1954.
Harrison, H.B. The Bagbys of Brazil, 1954.
Archival sources in Southern Baptist Historical Library and Archives:
Bagby Family Correspondence. AR. 739.
Bagby, William Buck and Anne Luther. International Mission Board, Missionary Correspondence Files, 1880-1943. AR. 551-2. 11 Files, Box 2.
Nelson, Erik Alfred Papers. AR. 363.
