James Hearst Pressly, son of Rev. William L. Pressly, D.D. and the former Miss Francis Wideman, was born on March 8th 1866 in the parsonage at Generostee A.R.P. Church in Anderson County, South Carolina; where his father was pastor. Early in James' childhood, his father was called to the pastorate of the Due West A.R.P. church in Due West, S. C.. Here James received his primary education and later graduated from Erskine College in June, 1885.

For the next five years, James taught school in Marion Junction, Alabama. In this work he was eminently successful, but he felt called to enter the ministry. In 1890, he entered Erskine Seminary, graduating in 1892. Rev. Pressly was licensed by the Second Presbytery at Woodruff A.R.P. Church, S. C. in October 1891 and ordained and installed as pastor of Statesville A.R.P, Church in North Carolina by the First Presbytery, in July, 1892. His work in Statesville was very successful; where the church grew and developed in every way. Rev. Pressly's influence was felt throughout the city of Statesville.

Rev. James H. Pressly was married to Miss Mabel Lowry on June 19th 1895 in James Hearst Pressly is the son of Rev. William L. Pressly, D.D. and Francis Wideman, and was born March 8th 1866 in the parsonage at Generostee, Anderson Co., S. C, when his father was pastor there. When he was but a child, his father was called to the pastorate of the church at Due West, S. C., and his education was obtained in the schools at that place, lie graduated from Erskine College in June, 1885, and spent the next live years in teaching, at Marion Junction, Alabama. In this work he was eminently successful, but he felt called to enter the ministry. In 1890, he entered Erskine Seminary, graduating in 1892. He was licensed by the Second Presbytery, at Woodruff, S. C., Oct., 1891. He was ordained and installed as pastor of Statesville, North Carolina by the First Presbytery, in July, 1892, and still continues pastor of that church. His work in Statesville has been very successful: the church has grown and developed in every way, and his influence is felt for good in all the city.

Rev. James H. Pressly was married to Miss Mabel Lowry on June 19th 1895 in Harrells, Alabama; with whom he had the following known children:
James Lowry (1896-1957)
Frances Wideman (1897-1981)
Katherine Craig (1899-1993)
Mabel Lowry (1901-1979)
William Laurens (1902-1994)
Jean Donald (1906-1982)
Julia Clarke (1907-1988)
Henry Erskine (1910-1998)
Elizabeth Hearst (1912-2007)
David Lowry (1914-1990)
Claude Lowry (1916-2002)

Rev. James Hearst Pressly was the pastor of the First A.R.P. Church in Statesville, North Carolina for 54 years. He departed this life on the 19th day of July 1955 at the age of 89 years old.