BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES, BELMONT COUNTY, OHIO

"History of the Upper Ohio Valley" Vol. II, 1890.

Presented by Linda Fluharty from hard copies provided
by Mary Staley & Phyllis Slater.


Pages 497-498.

ALFRED BETHEL - Among the old and influential citizens of Flushing is 
Alfred Bethel, who is the son of James and Mary Bethel, both natives of 
Virginia. They came to Ohio in 1790, where James bought a land lease. They 
were among the first settlers and became well known throughout the 
community. They were both members of the Rock Hill Baptist church. The 
father died about 1850, and the mother followed him about the year 1857. 
Their children were: Sarah, deceased; Lucinda, Edward, deceased; Benjamin, 
deceased; Alfred; Abner, deceased; Elizabeth Ann, deceased; Mary; Eliza 
Jane, deceased; Francis M., deceased; and James S. Alfred Bethel was born 
in 1819, having been reared on his father's farm and receiving the best 
education that the schools of that day afforded. He was married when 
twenty-three years of age to Margaret McCall. Mr. and Mrs. McCall are the 
parents of eight children: John A., Mary E., deceased; James O. and Nancy, 
deceased; Jesse B., Thomas F., and a pair of twins that died in infancy. 
The four living children are all established in homes of their own and all 
have bright prospects in life. John A. answered his country's call 
enlisting in the Ninty-eighth Ohio Infantry, and afterward going to 
Louisville, Ky., where he entered the marines under Capt. Fisher, serving 
for thirty-one months with much courage and efficiency; he was honorably 
discharged at Vicksburg one year after the close of the war. Mr. Bethel has 
served his township as a trustee for several terms with great credit to 
himself and much benefit to the community. Although now in his seventieth 
year, yet he is well preserved and gives promise of living for years to 
come. Mrs. Bethel is also well along in years, being sixty-seven, but like 
her husband, she is still in the enjoyment of good health and bids fair to 
live for many years yet.