Ferris Presbyterians
To Celebrate 95th Anniversary
(Abstracted from article published in The Ferris Wheel mid-1960s)
Copied by Mrs. G. W. Pierce and contributed by Jean Caddel
Ninety-five years ago April 28, thirteen residents of Bear Creek, about three miles west of the present town of Ferris, met with representatives of Red Oak Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church, to be constituted a congregation of that denomination. The meeting was held in a school house, and the prayer of the petitioners was granted. The names of petitioners were: Ephraim, Margaret M., Margaret L., John M., Mary H., Rebecca P., and Jane Andrews; Jane Kooken; Eley Pruitt; Narcissa Gipson; Eleanor F., Mary F., and S. H. A. McKnight. Mr. McKnight later became the first Session Clerk of the new congregation. There are several descendants of these charter members active in the present congregation.
The new congregation grew rapidly as settlers came in from the Eastern States, but many of them departed and are recorded in the minutes as having “gone off.” It is interesting to note that in 1864 Henry McKnight, a slave, was received into the membership by profession of faith and baptism.
When the railway came to Ferris, the congregation moved to its present location on Church Street and erected a building which was later destroyed by a windstorm. In 1907, the Cumberland Presbyterian Church reunited with the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. and the Bear Creek Congregation became the First Presbyterian Church U.S.A. In 1910, the Presbyterian Church U.S.A. merged with the first church. The present brick building was erected in 1925.
An anniversary dinner will be held next Wednesday night at 7 to celebrate the 95th anniversary, and a revival will be held beginning May 26th. All former members and the public are invited to attend these functions at their convenience.
The First Minutes Recorded in Church Register
At the regular meeting of Red Oak Presbytery of the Cumberland Presbyerian Church in April A. D. 1858, a congregation was received called Bear Creek Congregation and taken under the care of said Presbytery. Brother Ephraim Andrews being the only ruling elder in said congregation. Owing to the death of Bro. Ephraim Andrews and the loss of the papers containing the history of the congregation, we are deficient in history of the congregation up to the year 1864.
First - No History of the transfer of the names and membership of Brother John M. Andrews and wife, Sister Sarah Andrews and Brother George D. A. McKnight and wife, Sister Eleanor F. McKnight from Shiloh congregation to this.
Second - No record of the ordination of Bro. John M. Andrews and S. H. A. McKnight as ruling Elders in said congregation which was attended to by Rev. R. D. King in the year 1860.
Three - No record of the death of Sister Sarah J. Andrews and Bro. Geo. D. A. McKnight
Ministers Serving the Ferris Presbyterian Church 1865 - 1955
B. D. Austin - 1864-1866
A. A. Young -
A. J. Haynes - 1867, 1878, 1881
J. T. Boran - 1881-1882
D. G. Molloy - 1882-1886
W. M. Morphis - 1887-1888
W. C. Rushing - 1888
A. S. Hayter - 1889-1892
A. S. Johnson - 1892-1893
B. M. Taylor - 1893-1894
A. S. Hayter - 1895
W. T. Gilliam - 1898-1900
P.D. Tucker - 1900-1901
R. R. Rives - 1902-1903
D. C. Dewitt - 1903-1905
C. C. McConnell - 1905-1907
J. M. Brooks - 1908-1914
C. L. Dickey - 1914-1916
L. B. Gray - 1919-1932
Morris H. Roach - 1932
Claude V. King - 1936
Brice L. Peacock - 1939
M. L. Womack - 1941
Alvin Rue - 1948-1949
Henry O. Moore - 1950
From Minutes of Session
Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Ferris, Texas - Mar. 28, 1898
Memorial Page
In Memory of Elder W. R. Duff
Bro. W. R. Duff was born in Hardiman Co., Tenn., May 3, 1829 - professed religion and united with the C. P. Church early in life and was made a ruling Elder shortly after his marriage, which was in his 21st year. He was made an Elder in this congregation in 1871 which position he held at the time of his death, Jan. 15, 1898.
W. H. Berry, Moderator; W. A. Baird, Clerk
In Memory of Elder B. D. Crabtree
Bro. Crabtree was born in Lee Co., Va., Mar. 29, 1843, died Mar. 26, 1898 - came to Texas in 1857 - married to Mrs. E. F. McKnight, Sept. 10, 1865. He professed religion in early life at old Liberty Church…..was received into this congregation June 1876 - was made Ruling Elder August 1883 which position he held at his death…………..W. H. Berry, Moderator; W. A. Baird, Clerk
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