Ebenezer Erskine Pressly (December 23, 1808 – 1860) was the first president of

Erskine Theological Seminary Erskine Theological Seminary is an institution of graduate theological and pastoral education. The Seminary is based in Due West, South Carolina, United States, and also offers classes at a second degree-granting campus in Columbia, South Carolin ...

and

Erskine College Erskine College is a private Christian college in Due West, South Carolina. It is an undergraduate liberal arts college and a graduate theological seminary. The college was founded in 1839 by the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church. Its spor ...

, beginning his service in 1838.

Early life and family

Pressly was born on December 23, 1808, in the lower part of Abbeville District, South Carolina. He was the youngest son of William and Elizabeth Hearst Pressly. He lived in Cedar Springs, South Carolina. In 1824, Pressly entered

Miami University Miami University (informally Miami of Ohio or simply Miami) is a public research university in Oxford, Ohio. The university was founded in 1809, making it the second-oldest university in Ohio (behind Ohio University, founded in 1804) and the 10 ...

Oxford, Ohio Oxford is a city in Butler County, Ohio, United States. The population was 23,035 at the 2020 census. A college town, Oxford was founded as a home for Miami University and lies in the southwestern portion of the state approximately northwest ...

, at the age of 16; he graduated in 1826. He went on to study theology under Dr. John T. Pressly. Pressly was installed as pastor of the Generostee and Due West

Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church The Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARPC), as it exists today, is the historical descendant of the Synod of the South, a Synod of the Associate Reformed Church. The original Associate Reformed Church resulted from a merger of the Associate ...

(A.R.P.) congregations on August 7, 1830. He gave up the position at Generostee in 1838, but continued to serve as pastor of the Due West church for another 30 years, during his tenure as president of the college. In 1831, Pressly was married to Elizabeth Agnew, daughter of Samuel and Malinda Agnew of

Due West, South Carolina Due West is a town in Abbeville County, South Carolina, United States. The population was 1,247 at the 2010 census. It is the home of Erskine College and Dixie High School. History Some say the name is a mispronunciation of "DeWitt's Corner", ...

. Fourteen children were born to them, all of these died in infancy except three daughters and one son, Dr. William Laurens Pressly, President of Erskine Seminary. On June 20, 1853, Ebenezer Pressly's wife died. He later married Mary A. Taylor of

Laurens County, South Carolina Laurens County is a county located in the U.S. state of South Carolina. As of the 2020 census, its population was 67,539. Its county seat is Laurens. Laurens County is included in the Greenville-Anderson- Mauldin, SC Metropolitan Statistical ...

, in 1854. They had two children from this marriage, both dying in infancy.

Erskine Theological Seminary

In 1838, Pressly became a professor at Erskine Theological Seminary and the president of Erskine College. In "The Centennial History of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, 1803-1903" sketch of his life, Pressly is called "the father of Erskine College".

Death

On August 21, 1860, Pressly was accidentally killed when he was thrown from his buggy while on his way to fill an appointment at Little Mountain. He is buried in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church cemetery in Due West.

Bibliography

*(1903). ''The Centennial History of the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church, 1803-1903''. Charleston: Walker, Evans, and Cogswell. *

External links

* Miami University alumni American Presbyterians 1808 births 1860 deaths Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church {{Christian-bio-stub