Dodge County GaArchives Church Records.....History of Old Bethel Church
************************************************
Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://www.usgwarchives.net/ga/gafiles.htm
************************************************

File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 December 28, 2004, 4:53 pm

OLD BETHEL CHURCH.

  OLD BETHEL CHURCH, located about twelve miles from Eastman on the road to
Chester, is one of the oldest, if not the oldest church in the county. It was
built when this section was Wilkinson County. It is on the banks of Gum Swamp
Creek, which presents a picturesque setting for the little white church.

  This church is historical, in that a battle was fought here in 1865. It was
not a battle between the Federals and Confederates, however, but a battle
between a portion of Wheeler's Cavalry of the Confederate Army and a band of
deserters from the Confederate Army. The deserters were men who, feeling that
they were fighting a lost cause, and being tired of war, hungry and ragged,
deserted the ranks and concealed themselves in Gum Swamp. The Company of Cavalry
was rounding up deserters, and these men took refuge in the church. The Cavalry
surrounded the church and shot into it, the deserters on the inside returning
the fire. There were no casualties except one horse that was shot from beneath
his rider.

  This church was used as a school house also in the earlier days, as were many
of the country churches. The first school taught there was by James W. Rozar, an
ancestor of the present County School Superintendent, W. C. Rozar.


Additional Comments:
From:

HISTORY
OF
DODGE COUNTY

COPYRIGHT    1932
By MRS. WILTON PHILIP COBB

Printed by
FOOTE & DAVIES CO., ATLANTA.



File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ga/dodge/churches/gbb182historyo.txt

This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/gafiles/

File size: 2.0 Kb