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First Presbyterian Church 231 N. Burnett Denison, Texas  Denison Herald The First Presbyterian Church of Denison was organized December 23, 1872, in the residence of the Rev. Josiah Milligan, evangelist sent by the Presbyterian Board of Home Missions to Texas. He lived in the 400 block West Woodard street. This was the first religious organization in Denison, coming soon after the founding of the city on September 23, 1872. The charter members were: Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Hanna, Dr. and Mrs. Alex Acheson, Dr. and Mrs. C. B. Berry, L. H. Ruthrauff, Mrs. Martha Nevins, Miss Rebecca Craighead, Eugene Latta, Mrs. M. B. Milligan, and Miss Mary L. Milligan – twelve in all. The first session of the Austin Presbytery, to which this church first belonged, was held in this building. Bell Sounds Alarm A year later, in 1873, work was begun on a house of worship which was completed in January 1874, located in the 400 block West Gandy, facing Burnett avenue. The lot was donate by the Denison Town Company, which offer was made to all religious bodies for construction of churches. A bell weighing 450 pounds was donated January 29, 1875, by Mrs. M. O. Banks who visited here from New York City. This bell for many years was used as the fire alarm. When a fire occurred, and the church was locked, someone was sure to break in and ring the bell. Pistols were fired all over town, chiming in with the bell. Under Dr. Bishop’s ministry in 1900 the church building was repaired and greatly enlarged. The building committee included: Rev. A. F. Bishop, chairman; G. C. Freeman, E. C. Waples, H. Alex. Denison Daily News Tuesday, January 6, 1880 Through the efforts of Mrs. M.O. Banks of New York, a sister of Mrs. W.H. Sanford, of Denison, the Presbyterian church of this city just received a 450 pound McNeely & Co., Troy, New York, bell, a gift from the Broadway Tabernacle Sunday-school of New York.  First Presbyterian Church History Susan Hawkins © 2024 If you find any of Grayson CountyTXGenWeb links inoperable, please send me a message. |