Not sure of the source of this material - was in a collection of typed histories

It appears to have been written about 1934

After a sermon by the Rev. G. T. Thompson, evangelist of Dallas Presbytery, which was preached in the Methodist Church on the corner of Scott and Tenth on June 22, 1891, the following named persons came forward and asked to be organized into a Prestyeterian Church in connection with the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of the United States, to wit:

Dr. J. H. Dunn, Mrs. J. H. Dunn, Miss H. M. Dunn, Mrs. E. W. James, W. T. Daugherty, W. W. Parks, Mrs. W. W. Parks, R. O. C. Lynch, and S. D. Lynch. Whereupon the Church was duly organized according to the plan laid down in the book of Church order, Chapter II, Section 5, 1-3.

W. W. Parks was elected a ruling elder and having been an elder in Missouri was installed over this Church. The meeting closed with prayer and the benediction by evangelist Rev. G. T. Thompson.

Evangelists and pastor supplies ministered to the Church and same began to grow. On September 21, 1891, Mr. J. C. Hunt united with the Church and was soon made an elder. R. O. C. Lynch was made a deacon.

The first stated supply was Dr. C. T. Caldwell, long pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Waco, who served this Church in the summer of 1893. Rev. Jno. V. McCall was the first regular supply serving the Church from August, 1893 to May, 1895. It was during this time that the Presbytery of Dallas was the guest of the Church at its spring meeting in l894. Rev. R. D. Campbell, than a student, was supply for the summer of 1895. In the years from 1895 to 1910 there were many long periods when the little flock had preaching only when the Presbytery sent an evangelist, Rev. W. H. Richardson or Rev. J. D. McLean, D. D. for a short meeting or Sabbath preaching. The Church suffered from the general depression of the period. The little building which had been erected at Tenth and Travis was sold and moved away. Many of the members moved away, some united with other Churches, but a few remained with their Church. Mrs. A. F. Kerr and Mrs. J. G. Fain are among the early members who have remained true to their Church through the years.

On March 1, 1910, Rev. E. S. Lowrance, acting under direction of Sherman Presbytery's Home Mission Committee came to take up the work as stated supply. On March 21, 1910, twenty members were received, the Church revived and Dr. J. F. Reed and Arthur L. Whitcher were elected elders; A. F. Kerr, E. C. Leach and J. O. Presley elected as deacons and all were duly ordained and installed. The old lot was sold for a good price to the First Christian Church and a lot at Bluff and Eleventh was purchased and a neat building erected. On April 10, 1910 the name of the Church was changed by vote of the congregation from "Travis Avenue Church" to "Central Church". The Church prospered for the two years under the leadership of Rev. E. S. Lowrance as stated supply, and grew from twenty members to forty-nine. Much of the credit for this forward movement was due to the efforts, interest and generosity of Dr. and Mrs. J. F. Reed. The congregation on May 15, 1912 extended a call, to Rev. Fred L. McFadden, who accepted the call and served the Church for four years.

Then followed a period when the Church was without a pastor and only an occasional visit by some minister, until on April 2, 1918, Rev. E. S. Lowrance returned as supply. By this time the Church roll had declined from 87 members to 50 members. On June 8, 1919, Mr. Lewis J. Sherrill, a student from the Theological Seminary, became supply for the summer. Dr. Sherrill is now instructor of Bible in the Presbyterian Theological Seminary of Louisville Kentucky.

On November 3, 1919, Rev. Guy B. Davis was called as pastor. He accepted and served the Church for two years. This was the most prosperous period of the Church's history to date. The Church increased very materially it's contributions to local support, and benevolent causes and for a short time paid the salary of a missionary on the Foreign Fields.

Rev. Jas. E. Green served a few months as supply, and was followed by Mr. Lewis Sherrill, a candidate for the ministry. Then came Rev. C. Fred Hancock, after two years of vacancy, and served six months as supply. It was during this time that the old Church on Bluff and Eleventh was sold and new lots on Avenue H, in front of the Junior College, were purchased, and a temporary tabernacle erected. Rev. Gaines B. Hall, D. D. Superintendent of Home Missions of Dallas Presbytery, came to Wichita Falls in July 1925, and looked after the Church four months.

On September 27, 1925, at a Congregational meeting, the name of the Church was changed from "Central Presbyterian" to "First Southern Presbyterian" in order to more definitely identify the Church in the Southern Assembly. In December, 1925, Dr. Hall accepted the call to become pastor, which position he has held until the present time, March 1934. During this time the old tabernacles have been reworked into a beautiful brick veneer Church at a cost of $15,000, and the congregation has purchased a new manse at 2203 Lucile Street, all of which have been paid for in cash at the time erection or purchase.

The new Church was dedicated free of debt in April, 1932. The pastor preached the dedicatory sermon. Three elders from the First Presbyterian Church were present at this service; among them was J. C. Hunt who was formerly an elder in this Church.

While the City during the depression has decreased in population 60,000 to 40,000, the Church has increased from 100 members to 250, and the Sunday School has increased from about fifty to more than 200. When Fr. Hall came the Church was receiving more than one-half of its support from the Home Mission Committee of the Dallas Presbytery, and today it is self sustaining. The struggle upward and onward through periods of neglect and depression, represents the heroic and triumphant faith of a loyal band of people.

Officers of the Church

The first Elder was W. W. Parks, when the Church was organized. Then J. C. Hunt. Then upon the reorganization of the Church in 1910, Dr. J. F. Reed and A. L. Witcher were elected elders, and A. F. Kerr, F. C. Leach and J. C. Presley deacons. In 1912 A. F. Kerr, Frank McGinnis and S. D. Lynch were added as elders. In 1914 M. Johnson was elected elder and J. W. Bone, P. E. Kerr, and C. W. Kedd were elected deacons. On Sept. 20, 1914 the Church elected C. C. Willard, C. McFadden, and P. E. Kerr trustees. George Fleming was made an elder 1918. In 1919 J. E. H. Raily was elected an elder and W. T. Joyner made a deacon. On July 25, 1920, J. C. Joplin, D. B. Reed and Adall Rembert were elected deacons, and E. S. Goodner an elder.

Since 1925 the following officers have served: Elders, J. E. H. Railey, J. C. Presley, D. B. Reed, S. D. Lynch, C. McFadden, G. W. Fryer, Jas. Biggs, Fred L. Storey, George Fleming, and Dr. D. R. Venable. Deacons; F. R. Johnson, O. C. Dickson, C. V. Stodghill, D. M. Bernard, Dr . Geo. T. Singleton, R. C. Anderson, W. L. Underwood, I. R. Leslie, Dr. J. A. Little, W. F. Newbery, J. H. Stanbough, M. Rugeley, and G. H. Rolison.

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