The Rev. James E. Ferguson (1824-76), father of Texas Governor James Ferguson, was appointed in 1847 to Richland, later called Dresden, the first Methodist circuit in Navarro County. Ethan Melton (1793-1873), founder of Dresden, which was known as Richland in his day, gave land for a school, cemetery, and church. A log cabin meetinghouse stood here in 1847, but a storm destroyed that structure and fire destroyed another; the present building stands near the original land. This church helped Blooming Grove Mission become a full-fledged church and also aided other congregations.