Rev. Evander McNair, D. D.
Second Minister of The First Presbyterian Church of Pine Bluff, Arkansas
October 20, 1866 – January 4, 1879

Evander McNair was born in Robeson County, North Carolina, on April 7, 1811. He was the son of Roderick McNair and Mary McGill. His father was native of Argyleshire, Scotland, and his mother a native of Robeson County, North Carolina.
Evader McNair graduated from Union Theological Seminary before reaching his majority. He was licensed by the Presbytery of Fayetteville on November 6, 1832 and he was ordained on December 21, 1833. Rev. McNair served churches in the Fayetteville Presbytery in North Carolina from 1833 to 1851. Evander McNair served the First Presbyterian Church of Galveston, Texas from December 1852 to 1855 and moved to Eufaula, Barbour County, Alabama, in 1859, he was living there on June 13, 1860, serving his church until the outbreak of War in 1861.
Evander McNair appears on a Register of Appointments, Confederate States Army as Chaplain, General and Staff Officers, 1st Alabama Regiment, with the Date of Appointment: May 7, 1861, and Date of Acceptance: May 11, 1861. The appointment was delivered to Pensacola, Florida be Secretary of War Leroy P. Walker. Evander McNair, Chaplain, was appointed to serve the 24th Regiment North Carolina Infantry on July 31, 1862; the appointment delivered by General Robert E. Lee and Secretary of War, George W. Randolph. McNair Appears on a Roll of Honor of the 24th Regiment North Carolina Troops in Robeson County, North Carolina.
The first meeting of the Session of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, after the War Between the States was held on April 1, 1866. At the next meeting of the Session on April 15, 1866, it was unanimously resolved that the Congregation delegate to the Session full power and authority for them and in their name to call a minister to take charge of the congregation. It is not known how Evander McNair came to be invited to serve as stated supply of the First Presbyterian Church of Pine Bluff, Arkansas but we do know that Shelby Currie, Organizing Elder was originally from Robeson County, North Carolina, as was Evander McNair. McNair had resigned as Chaplain in the Confederate Army to take care of his Mother and Aunt who were living in Robeson County, North Carolina in 1863. Therefore, it can be assumed that he was still at home and without a Church making him available to move to Pine Bluff in 1866.
October 20, 1866; on a unanimous invitation of the Session of the Pine Bluff Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Evander McNair a native of Robeson County, North Carolina, and member of East Alabama Presbytery was called. The same day Rev. McNair arrived; reaching Pine Bluff and entered on his labors as Stated Supply of the Church commencing his labors on the evening of October 20, 1866. After a year in Pine Bluff, Rev. McNair wrote; "When I look upon the broad field before me ready for the sickle, I am almost tempted to wish myself young again, ready to enter for the harvest. I have just completed one year of hard and laborious service in Arkansas, and I can truthfully say that I have never before in my ministry witnessed such immediate and encouraging results." These arduous labors continued unabated eleven more successive years. He was living in Pine Bluff, Jefferson County, Arkansas on August 3, 1870.
The University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, at its commencement of 1876 conferred upon the Rev. Evander McNair, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church of Pine Bluff, Arkansas, the degree of "Doctor of Divinity".
The last meeting of the Session of the First Presbyterian Church of Pine Bluff moderated by Rev. Evander McNair, D.D., was January 4, 1879.
The death of Rev. Evander McNair, D.D. occurred at his home in Roberson County, North Carolina, on January 22, 1886. His life was solely that of the Church.