1858
First Presbyterian Church
When First Presbyterian Church of Lawrence was founded in 1858, the town was only four years old. Lawrence was a leader in the effort to have Kansas become a Free State. The charter members of our church were Free Staters, people who left their homes in the east to make a commitment against the evil of human slavery. Charter members of the church’s founding on April 5, 1858 include: Mrs. Ann P. Berry, D.E. and Sarah Bowen, Mr. and Mrs. William Cook, R.A. and Mary Dean, James A. and Elizabeth Finley, George W. Herrington, William A. Holmes, Dr. and Mrs. C.E. Miner, Oliver and Mary Paul, Thomas Reed, Thomas Seetin, Mrs. Lydia Shanklin, James and Elizabeth Steele and Mr. and Mrs. L.S. Steele. It is also believed that a Mr. and Mrs. McCandless and a Mrs. Edgerton were also charter members.
List of Charter Members
April 5, 1858
Mrs. Ann P. Berry
D.E. and Sarah Bowen
Mr. And Mrs. Wm. Cook
R.A. and Mary Dean
James A. and Elizabeth Finley George W. Herrington
William A. Holmes
Dr. and Mrs. C. E. Miner Oliver and Mary Pearl
Thos. Reed
Thos. Seetin
Mrs. Lydia Shanklin
James and Elizabeth Steele
Mr. and Mrs. L.S. Steele
It’s believed that a Mr. and Mrs. McCandless and a Mrs. Edgerton were also charter members.
Step Sponsored By: John I. Hughes, Chair, Gifts & Memorials Committee