Led by Rev. B.F. Alexander, the Beulah
congregation was organized on July 29, 1860 (one account says it was July
23). A room was built at the back of some members’ homes for the
pastor to stay over. Since Beulah was on a circuit, the pastor would
ride to town to conduct services.
The first church was built on forty
acres of land donated by Adam P. Massey on November 30, 1861. Before a
separate school was built in the community, classes were held in the church.
A cemetery is located behind the church.
The first person buried there was Maaka Massey, the nine year-old daughter
of Adam and Emily Massey. During funeral services, the attendees
heard a scream coming from the Bolton home about half a mile east of the
church. It seems that Elijah and Nancy Bolton’s daughter had just
passed away. She was buried next to Maaka. A memorial marker
was placed at their graves in May of 1988.
In 1924, the church was used for an
election. The day after, the church (their second) burned down.
A new white church was the third built on the original site, five miles
north of Marthaville on Hwy. 487. The lumber was donated by John
A. Ingram and built by the community. It is set a few hundred feet
from the highway. |
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