Rev. James Gore, 1865-1954

17th Pastor of Herrin FBC

1916-1919

Rev. James Gore

Born: September 17, 1865… St. Joseph, Missouri

Died: January 22, 1954… Tulsa, Oklahoma

James married Kathryn Hughes on September 2, 1896. 

They had 4 known children.

James was in the Class of 1896 and graduated from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY.

James was a son of Noah Jackson and Mary C (Fly) Gore.  He had 4 known older siblings, and 4 known younger siblings.  James grew up on a farm in Missouri… his father and grandfathers were all farmers.  However, he felt the pull to go in a different direction with his life, and in 1885, James preached his first sermon.

His obituary states that James’ father Noah, was a Confederate army veteran.  We have not been able to find any military records for Noah at this time.  However, James’ Uncle William Fly (a brother of his mother), served in the Confederate army, as part of the Missouri Cavalry.  Uncle Fly fought at Gettysburg and was taken as a POW in Maryland.  Prior to the Civil War, Uncle Fly went West for the 1849 Gold Rush… but was unsuccessful.

Herrin FBC building, 1902-1917

Rev. James Gore, 1917

What happened while Rev. Gore was at Herrin FBC:

• Mrs. Gore reorganized and helped develop a functioning women's organization in the church, which would later be part of the WMU

• During a pastor’s conference and ladies meeting in December of 1917, the church building caught fire and was not able to be saved

• Church services were held at City Hall in a courtroom 

• Rev. Gore led the church in finding a new site and erecting a new building (the brick church that used to be by the hospital)

• From 1917 to 1919, Rev. Gore and many other men of the church, donated their days/months to working on the new church building.  Total cost to build was $50,000.

Rev. Gore resigned from Herrin FBC on September 28, 1919.  He then moved to Oklahoma.

Fun facts:

• In 1893, James ran the Cherokee Strip to find land for his sister.  

• In 1930, James officiated a wedding in an airplane, flying over Tulsa, OK.