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From: HERMON B FAGLEY <>
Subject: [NJGLOUCE] History-Old Bethel M.E.,Bantam,Clermont Co,Oh
Date: Sat, 17 Nov 2001 15:43:23 -0500


I'm goint to post to some NJ shore areas where some came from,
and to some sw Ohio counties ,who shared the Methodist circut-riders.
I note US SUPREME COURT Justice John McLean,author of a bio of
Rev John Collins [m Sarah Blackman,Galloway Twnsp,old Gloucester Co,NJ]
taught,and preached at Old Bethel. There is a word-las- that might be [?]
Lewis,or
Jas-James.Somebody knows this church as well as Rev Carl Ely and I.
I'm typing 2 miles from it,and descend from James Blackman,Thomas and
John
Hitch,Jesse Justice,and more were many great uncles-HB FAGLEY 2679 St Rt
125
Bethel,Ohio 45106 HFAGLEY@ AOL.COM
History of Old Bethel ChurchHISTORY 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, Jno
Gest, - 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.
2ND IMPORT-








John was born 7 March 1804, in Tate township, Clermont, Ohio, the son of
Isaac Higbee and Sophia Somers. Shortly after his birth his parents moved
to New Jersey, where he grew to manhood. In February of 1832, he and his
family joined the Church. A short time later he sold his farm and moved
his family to Missouri. Trouble arose between the Saints and the settlers
of that county and they were driven out. They wandered with the Saints
until they reached the Nauvoo area. His family lived there for eight
years. As the Saints were leaving Nauvoo, John writes: "We locked our
homes and left with what little we could take along." He was Captain of
the Eleventh Ten. He acted as hunter for game, stood guard, and split
rails for farmers in North Iowa to get horse feed and other necessities.
He remained at the north fork of the Platte River until the 20th of
August when his family arrived. They traveled on and arrived in the Salt
Lake valley, 26 September 1847. In the spring of 1849, he went with 30
other men to the Little Provo in Utah county. A branch of the Church was
organized with John as president. In the fall of that year his brother
Isaac was called to take charge at Provo, and John was called on a
mission to Great Britain, leaving Salt Lake in October of 1849. He was
appointed president of the Newcastle Conference and served until January
5, 1852. He was then appointed to preside over 333 Saints on board the
ship Kennebec which sailed from Liverpool, 10 January 1852. In February,
1865 he moved his family to Toquerville, Utah. He died 1 November
[BELOW IS S E iLLINOIS,1830'S.-HB FAGLEY]
3RD IMPORT -Soon after this occurrence, about April A.D. 1835, the
Latter-day work found most of my folk. Elisha Graves and Isaac Higbee
Latter- day Saints come through our parts of the country and stopped at
my father's house and preached to me and to my father's family all of
them that was at home at that time, baptizing some of them; my father and
mother and three sisters and two brothers during the time of the sojourn
of graves, and Higbee. There come into the settlement William Ivy and
Milton Homes and assisted them in their labors in that part of the
country. During the sojourn in that part of the country they baptized
some 30 or 40 persons, male and female, and the power of the Lord was
made manifest to the believers. Mostly they spoke with new tongues and
gave the interpretation of the same. The sick was healed and the hearts
of all the believers had cause to rejoice in the goodness of God and the
writer of this biography had as a testimony given to him from his
Heavenly Father of the truth of the Latter- day work. Although he was
only a child about nine years old the Lord answered his humble prayer and
made manifest his power by healing him instantly of disease. For the
first time he ever had faith to ask the Lord for such a blessing, seeing
and hearing my mother and sister and many other spake with new tongues
and give the interpretation of the same. And many other manifestations of
his power made manifest to his Saints in them days when they loved one
another and sought the interests of each other, and the Lord blessed them
that loved and worshipped him the true and living God. About





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