three months he worked here he organized a union Sunday school with James North as superintendent that continued for some years.

There were only a dozen houses in El Paso when a small group met on May 11, 1857 in a carpenter shop on East Front Street and sat on nail kegs in lieu of chairs. The Reverend F. N. Ewing presided the meeting organized the First Presbyterian Church of El Paso. Among the charter members were Silas W. Ogden and wife, Margaret; Dr. Samuel L. Kerr and wife, Caroline; John R. Gaston and Frances, and John R. Bingham, all of whom came from Ohio. The first year the Reverend James Mahan preached here once a month, probably in the homes of the members. In 1858 the services were held on alternate Sundays in the James Crawford hall, shared with the Baptists. In March, 1859, the Reverend William T. Adams who lived at Deer Creek, became pastor on a part time basis, soon moving to El Paso.

The first church built was of frame construction and was located on the site of the present church north of Franklin Park on Second Street. It cost $3,200 and was dedicated in December, 1864 by the Reverend W. W. Harsha, D. D. of Chicago. The building committee included John R. Bingham, Silas W. Ogden, M. T. Polhemus and the Reverend J. H. Bourn, first resident minister. In 1887 the house next east of the church was purchased from C. Clark for $900 for a parsonage. It was sold in 1895 and a new manse built two blocks east at a cost of $2,500.

In 1903 the old church was razed and the present one of brick and stone erected. Reverend Charles McClure was minister; the building committee was composed of A. S. McKinney, A. E. Fleming, George Shuman and S. W. Sturgeon, and they employed W. B. Renard as the supervising contractor. The new building was dedicated January 31, 1904. It is now the Federated Church.

THE EL PASO BAPTIST CHURCH was organized on January 21, 1858, when the following persons met at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Crawford located where Miss Olive Engle now lives: Reverend and Mrs. William Branch, Mr. and Mrs. Lewis B. McOmber, Anthony and Sarah Daffern, Harriett McOmber, James Hewitt, Elizabeth McClellan and Henry H. Hewitt. Mr. Hewitt's letter from his previous church had not been received, but he was accepted as a charter member on the group's knowledge of him. Israel D. McOmber who was critically ill and died within ten days, was not present but was accepted as a charter member as were Alice and Deborah Whittaker. L. B. McOmber and A. Daffern were the first deacons; H. H. Hewitt was the first clerk

The group first held services in various homes, with members being admitted. The church record states for December 1858 that "Brethern John and Henry North and wives were received on experience, the church at Kappa, with which they were connected, having disbanded." The February 12, 1859 record reads: "It was voted to receive the communion service used by the Kappa church if it can be donated with-

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