Alameda County, Oakland, California
First Presbyterian Church
First Presbyterian Church -- This church was organized in April, 1853, being one of the oldest of any denomination in Oakland. The first services were held in a cloth tent, and afterwards in the public school house, under the pastoral charge of Rev. S. B. Bell. He was succeeded by Rev. E. B. Walsworth, who officiated until December, when Rev. L. Hamilton was called to the pastorate, and continued in charge until February 24, 1869. On August 17, 1869, the 'Rev. Daniel W. Poor, D.D., succeeded to the duties, since when the following have been the pastors: From June, 1872, to November, 1879, Rev. James Eels, D. D.; from November, 1879,to November, 1882, Rev. Samuel P. Sprecher, D. D. The present pastor, Rev. Francis A. Horton, assumed the pastorate April 8,1883.
The present church edifice, on the northeast corner of Fourteenth and Franklin Streets, was built in the year 1875, at a cost of about fifty-two thousand dollars, and was dedicated for public worship January 16, 1876. It is one of the handsomest structures in the city. The original church building occupied by this society was erected about 1856, at the corner of Webster and Sixth Streets, at a cost of about six thousand dollars. It was afterwards removed to the southeast corner of Broadway and Thirteenth Streets, and enlarged to meet the requirements of the growing congregation. It now stands on Thirteenth Street, between Broadway and Franklin Streets, and is used as an armory.
The present membership of the church is eight hundred and forty-two, the largest accession to the church in any one day was on March 6, 1881, when two hundred and twenty persons were admitted to its membership. The present officers are as follows: Pastor, Rev. Francis A. Horton; Elders,E. Bigelow, G. W. Armes,C. W. Armes, J. B. Ford, J. J. Gardiner, J. C. Raymond, C. H. Fish, G. D. Gray, P. D. Browne, A. J. Ralston, H. L. King, Jr., C. A. Bailey; Deacons, W. H. Knight, W. F. Curtis, R. W. Poindexter, A. Elder, F. S. Page; Trustees, A. Miller, D. E. Martin, E. G. Sessions, E. B. Beck, A. J. Ralston, M. W. Upton, C. L. Watson; President of the Society, W. H. Friend; Secretary, M. W. Upton; Treasurer, W. P. Wheeler.
The Sunday-school connected with this church was organized in April, 1853, under the superintendency of John Kelsey, with four teachers and six scholars. The present membership is, officers and teachers, eighty-four; scholars, six hundred and seventy-three; total, seven hundred and fifty-seven. Officers, 1882-83 -- Pastor, Rev. Francis A. Horton; Superintendent, G. W. Armes; Assistant Superintendent, H. L. King, Jr.; Secretary, M. S. Hill; Treasurer, G. W. Armes; Librarian, J. E. Simmons; Assistant Librarians, J. H. Henderson, Geo. Henderson; Chorister, Miss Jennie Harrison; Organist, J. F. Kendall; Pianist, Miss Mollie Andrews; Advisory Committee, H. L King, Jr., P. D. Browne, C. H. Fish, Chas. A. Bailey, G. D. Gray. Primary Department -- Superintendent, Mrs. William Sublette; Assistant Superintendent, Miss Kate S. Van Arsdale; Secretary, Mrs. M. B. Holmes; Treasurer, Mrs. James E. Gordon; Librarian, Mrs. Edward Hackett; Assistant Librarian, Miss Bessie Goodfellow.
Alameda County, California,
Including Its
Geology, Topography, Soil and Productions
Oakland.: M.W. Wood Publisher, 1883
Transcribed by Julie Appletoft, November, 2007 Pages 722-723
Archive Church Records ~ Archive Index
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