At the 24th annual session of the Sabine Association on Oct. 16, 1871, delegates from the First District petitioned for Letters of Dismission to form the Vernon Baptist Association. Signing for the churches were Benjamin Franklin and M.H. Stanly for Castor; Elder N.H. Bray for Anna Coco; Elder J. Bolton and W.A. Holton for Walnut Hill; Elder J.R. O'Banion and J.O. Franks for Mt. Vernon; and Elder James E. Melton for Comrade, Clementine, Elam, Pleasant Grove, and Smyrna. Its boundaries were the Sabine Association on the north, the Sabine River on the west, the Calcasieu Association on the south, and the Red River on the east. The first annual session met with Castor Church on Oct. 15, 1872, where Elder J.E. Melton's introductory message came from Luke 11:13 and, on the Sabbath morning, Elder Bray delivered the missionary message from Romans 10:11-15. Elder Bray was elected Moderator, M.H. Stanly Clerk, and C.D. Collins Treasurer. Ordained ministers were Elders Bray, Melton, O'Branion, A.P. Bebee, and J. Bolton, and B.O. Owens was licentiate. First-year membership was 288, with 18 received by baptism. In 2006, with 295 received by baptism, the association had 12,324 members in 44 churches and had 63 ordained ministers, and 3 of the 9 founding churches of 1871 were still alive.