I. B. Kimbrough

I. B. Kimbrough and T. H. Stamps, missionaries to the area appointed by the Baptist General Convention of Texas, reached the High Plains in 1889. They reported that they found no Baptist church south of Amarillo in a territory about the size of the state of Georgia.  In November 1890 Kimbrough and Stamps arrived in Plainview and, with R. B. C. Howell, made plans to organize a church.

R. B. C. Howell had arrived in Plainview earlier in 1889 to explore the possibility of moving to the area. He had also investigated the prospects of establishing a Baptist Church and discovered nine persons who shared his interest. He returned to Breckenridge and made his pastor an offer of $500 a year to return with him to Plainview and take over the church that was to be organized. On the eve of their departure, the preacher declined the offer.

On November 23, 1890, a group assembled in the local schoolhouse to organize the Plainview Baptist Church. Kimbrough and Stamps directed the proceedings. Eleven persons comprised the membership: Mr. and Mrs. F. M. Parks, Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Leverett, Mr. and Mrs. R. B. C. Howell, Mr. and Mrs. T. L. Pearson, Mr. and Mrs. Seat Turner, and Mr. T. E. Smith. The church called Kimbrough to be its pastor.