The Rev. Samuel C. Taylor, the Rev. Thomas Alexander, and the Rev. John M. McChord were the organizing ministers for the First Presbyterian Church of Waco in 1855.

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Rev. John M. McChord was the son of Rev. James McChord, of Lexington. He was educated at Hanover College [Hanover, Indiana], and spent the early years of his ministry in Indiana. He lived mostly at or near Cotton Gin [Texas], except a short time at Sherman. He supplied statedly for a time the churches of Chambers Creek and Lancaster. Otherwise he appears to have preached only as occasional opportunities offered and he was appointed to special services by the Presbytery. He served as stated clerk from April, 1861, to September, 1865. He was a gentle, amiable, humble Christian and in his earlier years an efficient and active minister. He was about sixty-five years of age.

Source: History of the Presbytery of Central Texas by Leonard Tenney, page 25.

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United States Census, 1860
Name John McChord
Event Type Census
Event Date 1860
Event Place Vicinity of Cotton Gin, Freestone, Texas
Gender Male
Occupation Old School Presbyterian preacher
Age 49
Race White
Birth Year (Estimated) 1811
Birthplace Kentucky
Page 16
Household, Role, Sex, Age, Birthplace
John McChord M 49 Kentucky
Mary E McChord F 30 Kentucky
David E McChord M 19 Indiana

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Texas, County Tax Rolls
Name J M McChord
Event Type Tax Assessment
Event Year 1875
County Freestone County

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The Reverend John M. McChord
1811 (circa) - born in Kentucky
1837 (circa) - educated at Hanover College, Hanover, Indiana, and McCormick Theological Seminary
1839 - licensed to preach, Vincennes Presbytery, Indiana
1841 (circa) - ordained, Vincennes Presbytery
1841 (March) - secretary, African Colonization Society, Princeton, Indiana
1842-1848 - stated supply pastor, West Salem Church and Bruceville Church, Vincennes Presbytery
1850-1854 - stated supply pastor, Green Castle, Indiana
1854-1855 - domestic missionary, Waco Village, McLennan County, Texas
1855 (April 20) - the Presbytery of Central Texas appointed the Reverend John M. McChord to serve on a committee with the Reverend Thomas Alexander and the Reverend Samuel C. Taylor to organize a church in Waco Village. The congregation was called the First Presbyterian Church of McLennan County.
1856-1859 - stated supply pastor, Bruceville, Indiana
1857 (May 21) - commissioner to the General Assembly, Synod of Indiana, Vincennes Presbytery
1860-1862 - home missionary, Cotton Gin, Freestone County, Texas
1861-1865 - stated clerk, the Presbytery of Central Texas
1863-1865 - not on roll
1866 - stated supply pastor, Lancaster Church and Chambers Creek Church
1868 - without charge, Sherman, Texas
1869 - stated supply pastor, Carolina Church, the Presbytery of Central Texas
1870-1874 - without charge, Cotton Gin, Texas
1875 - infirm
1876 (March 22) - died in Cotton Gin, Freestone County, Texas, from a fire in his residence. Unmarked grave
2018 (June 26) – a grave marker was placed at Oak Island Presbyterian Church Cemetery for the three organizing ministers of First Presbyterian Church, Waco, Texas

From: The Organizing Ministers, First Presbyterian Church, Waco, Texas, compiled by
T. Bradford Willis, DDS, church historian, 2018.

Sources:
Conger, Roger Norman. 1955. The First Presbyterian Church of Waco, Texas: a memorial history, 1855-1955.
Presbyterian Church in the U.S., and E. C. Scott. 1942. Ministerial directory of the Presbyterian Church, United States, 1861-1941. Austin, Tex: Press of Von Boeckmann-Jones Co.
"Rev. John M. McChord," Find A Grave Memorial.
Tenney, Leonard. 1895. History of the Presbytery of Central Texas. Austin: E. Von Boeckmann.