Clermont County Genealogical Society
HISTORY OF OLD BETHEL CHURCH
The Church History, was taken from the
original record with original
spelling and punctuation as found in the record.The author of this
historical
record is not identjfied. Ed.
19 April, 1991
Rev. John Coliins came here from NJ. in the year 1803 and became the owner of a large tract of land on the east fork of the Little Miami River. In 1804 he donated enough ground on which to build a church, and one made of logs from the surrounding forest, and called "Collins Meeting House" was, in a few months, dedicated by him. Other churches were established in adjacent neighborhoods and ere long there was an extensive circuit embracing those churches and called "Collins Circuit" of which Rev. John Collins was the first pastor. Every two weeks, sometimes on Sabbath, sometimes on Wednesday, there was preaching in Collins Meeting House. Prayer and class meetings were held regularly. Most of the early settlers assembled at these services and respectfully and attentively heard the word. The little church was blessed with revivals of great power, and many true and steadfast members were added to iL After a few years, its members had so increased that they were enabled to substitute a frame church for the log church in which they had been worshiping. While it was in course of erection, Mrs. Collins, wife of Rev. John Collins brought victuals to the carpenters and other workman, and was so happy that they could hear her singing as she came and went through the woods. The frame church with its high inclosed pulpit and galleries around three sides was dedicated in 1818. Rev. Jno McLean, a local preacher, taught two summers in the log church which was not torn down for awhile.
After a time the circuit was given the name of Laurel and Mt. Carmel, Olive Branch. Bethel and other villages were placed in other circuits. Zoar and Concord societie were formed principally from the membership of Old Bethel.
Mrs. Sarah Clark, wife of Benj. Clark, a Methodist exhorter and class leader was the second person buried in Old Bethel cemetery. Mr. Chanler was the first.
One of the early Bishops of the M.E. Church delivered a sermon in Old Bethel church on a week day about the year 1821. The first 5.5. was organized about 1830. Daughter of Rev. Collins was one of the teachers. Quarterly Conferences were notable occasions. Tickets were given those who attended the love feasts. Presiding elders and pastors preached with tongues of fire while the people prayed and praised with fervor.
The preachers were entertained mostly by Rev. John Collins, Jas Blackman and Thos String. Among the very earliest pastors of the church were, Jno Strange, Augustus Eddye, Levi White, Greenbury R. Jones, Isaac C. Hunter, John Clark, las W. Finley, Win. Simmons, Jno Ulin, Arthur B. Elliott, James Smith, Leroy Swormstedt, Win. D. Barrett and ___ Leedom, Zacharial Connell, Jacob Young, Geo W Maley, Burns Westlake and ___ Wells Dunn,~ Hands ,Verhoof, ___Frazer ___Beasley, Goshorn, ____Baxter Hosinger, and ___Gasner. John Collins
v-.-, and William Simmons (his son-in-law) traveled the circuit together about the year 1832.
The next year John Collins was reappointed to the circuit with John lJIin as his calleagus. The last named, after a few months died. Rev___Verhoof having preached but once at each appointment on circuit was taken sick and died. Rev. Greenbury R. Jones was two or three times on the circuit.
Rev. Levi White lived on Rev. John Collins farm and always had class meeting at the church on Thursday. Jas Blackman (brother of Mrs Collins) was for a long time leader of this class.
Rev. John Collins died and was buried here in 1845 Rev George Light officiated at the funeral service. Rev. Agustus Eddy taught school at Afton and married Patsy Thomas of that place. In 1890 Mrs. Eddy celebrated her 90th birthday with her three surviving children one of them the wife of Rev. E. Edwards of Wisconsin. Often while teaching school at Aften Agustus Deey exhorted in Collins meeting house and when he entered the ministry and became the pastor of the society he conducted some remarkable meetings there. Rev Jno Eddy, a war chaplain who was shot in ambush, and Thos. C. Eddy D. D., the orator, editor, and missionary secretary were his sons. Between the years 1835 and 1858 the following were among the pastors of Old Bethel, Edward D. Rowe, Win. Perrish and David Whitcomb, Jno Barton, M.G. Purkiser, Jas M. Gatch, Wesley Rowe and ___ Estell,
- Chaney, Win. H. Lander, Win. H. Fyffer, Enoch G. West, Henry E. Purkiser, Jno Shinn, Win. B. Jackson, las Armstrong, Geo Pararott. Rev. Benj Lakin, after his location' at Laurel preached, many times at Old Bethel. las M. Trimble D.D, Rev. Sam'l Latty and other ministers preached here on some special occasions. Rev. las Armstrong resided here for a number of years before and after his superanuation. He did much for Old Bethel and in this cemetery his remains awaits the resurection of the just.
Under Rev. Welsly Rowe and his colleagus, there was a
wonderful
revival at
Old Bethel, one of the memorable conversions at this time was that of a
man
who did not want to be converted and who after listening to part of a
sermon
from Rev. N. Daily on the miracles of healing wrought by the Saviour
started
homeward, declaring that the church should not catch him for he was no
cripple.
Before he could get to the top of the bill up which he was running he
fell
and could get no further and had to be carried home. Then he desired to
be
a new creature in Christ Jesus and he sought the Lord and was changed.
Among
the exhorters and local preachers who often preached at Old Bethel or
assisted
the early pastors in special meetings were Eli Daily, Jesse Justice,
Christian
Husong, Nathanal Daily, Stephen Washington Duly, Richard Short, George
W.
Mallick, Jno Brunaugh, Robt Nichols, Andrew McLean, John McLean,Fee, -
Price, - Warden, Jay, - Grange, mo Smith, Edmund Burdsall, Jno Hill,
Lewis Duckwall, JnoGest, - Thompson, David Lindsy, Judson Calhoun,
Elshia Dole. Among the stewards and class leaders of the early days
were las Blackman, John Blair, Joshua Dole, Benj
Clark, Dan'l Ogden, Jesse Branduff, Thos Jenkins, Jno Enan, Win
Holliday, Win McDonald, Jno Offutt,
Benj Jenkins, Elisha Dole. The following are a few of the members who
worshiped
in the log church, Thos Hitch Sr, Zephaniah Steelman, David White, Enos
Smith,
Jas Ware, Sam'l Strimple, las Dole, -Moss and their wives, Isaac
Higbee,
las Deal, Isiah Clark. Christopher Clark, Mrs. Sarah Jeffris. The
following
are a few of those who became members after the frame church was built,
John
Leeds, Thou Mull, Thos Scull, las Stewart, mo Caster, Edward Barton,
Jno
McColium, Leeds Douthty, Jno Wilson, Eben Risley, and their wives, Robt
Burnett,
Jno Compton, Brazier James, Richard Mace and Wm Higher. The first four
of
the local preachers mentioned were enrolled in the membership of Old
BetheL
Their wives as also the wives of all the stewards and class leaders
afterwards
named, lived excelent lives and did excelent work in the church. Many
of
the children of these pioneer christians and of others whose names are
not
given emulated their parents in piety and good deeds. Some of their
sons
received and obeyed the Devine call to preach Christ crucified, while
some
of their daughters became the wives of ministers of the Gospel. In the
year
1868 the frame church was remodeled. While the work was being
accomplished,
Sunday school and prayer meetings were held in the Bantam school house.
The
Presbyterian church having been kindly offered for public worship and
preaching,
the people assembled there for these services. The new church was
dedicated
in October 1868 by J.W. Langley D.D. Revs, W.T. McMullen, R.E. Smith
and
'M.A. Head being present.
BIRTHS
Birth
Records
*
Early
Clermont
Co. Births 1856-1857
*
First Presbyterian Churches of Monroe
At Nicholsville & Bantam
*
Baptisms of Children
*
Anderson
Township Births 1906-1907
*
Old
Bethel
Church Baptisms
*
Old Bethel Church Baptisms 1894-1908
*
Early Births 1856
*
MARRIAGES
Early
Marriages 1800 - 1808
*
Marriage
Book 13
1874-1876
*
Goshen M. E. Church
Marriage
*
DEATHS
Funerals
Conducted
by Rev. Hezekiah Hill 1862-1908
*
The
Old
Village Graveyard
*
Deaths
of Residents
Over 75 in 1875
*
Infirmary
Discharges That Mention a Burial Place
*
Death
Dates from
I.O.O.F. Lodge #313
*
Early
Clermont
Deaths from The Ohio Sun
*
Obituaries
From
the Clermont Sun 1890-1891
*
Early
Deaths
from Clermont Sun 1855
*
More
Deaths
1857-1859
*
Stirling
& Moore Funeral Records 1888
*
1880 Mortality Census
*
Census
Goshen
1875
Quadrennial Census
*
Quadrennial
Census,
Batavia, 1847
*
Quadrennial
Census,
Batavia, 1855
*
History
Incidents
in The
Early History of Clermont County
*
Stonelick
Historical Notes
*
Vacation
of a
Road in
Union Township
*
Brown and Clermont County Families Mentioned
in the 1880 Clinton County History
*
Day
Book For Clarke
& Frambes Mills 1838
*
Immigration
Early
Naturalizations from Common Pleas Minutes
*
Citizenship
Papers
1844-1900
*
Names
of
New Found Naturalization Applicants
*
Military
Veterans
in
Various Cemeterys
*
Revolutionary
War Soldiers
*
Clermont
Courier
Ads November 18, 1863
*
Mexican War Veterans
*
Revolutionary War Veterans
*
Post Office
Post
Marks of
Clermont County
*
Clermont
Postmasters 1800 - 1930
*
Early
Unclaimed
Letters
*
More
Unclaimed
Letters
Unclaimed
Letters 1855
*
Bible Records
Manning
Bible
*
Banister
Bible
*
Bible
Records of
James McKinnie 1830
*
Bible
Records
Index Volume Two
*
Bible
Records Index
Volume Three
*
Churches
Old
Bethel Church
and Cemetery
*
History
of Old
Bethel Church 1868
*
Calvary
Church
and Cemetery Washington Twp
*.
Edenton
Church
1861
*
Places
Perin
Mills in 1863
*
Goshen-
Land Of Milk
and Honey
*
First
Settlers of
Jackson Township
*
Legal
Voters of
Goshen Township 1855
*
Batavia
in1847
*
Poll
Book Goshen
Township 1853
*
1840
Account
Book, Laurel Ohio
*
Edenton
School # 4
Pupils
*
Pensions
Pensions
1890
*
More Pensions
1890
*
Other
Indentures
1825
- 1831
*
Index
To General
Store Account Book 1816-1819
*
Vital
Statistics
From An Old Record Book
*
Items
from Clermont
Courier 1836
*
Clermont
Pensioners 1883
*
Ohio
Pioneers That
Moved to Texas
*
Persons
on the Petit
Jury 1880
*
Jails
and Sheriffs
*
Items
From
Early Clermont Courier 1852
*
Meeting
of
Patriarchs 1882
*
Surrender
Records From Childrens Home
*
Gazetteer
1882
*
Potpourri
*
Articles
From The
Clermont Sun 1889
*
River Boatmen
*
Sale of Delinquent Lands
*