Early Elders ~ circa 1798

Brice McGeehon:
Brice seems to have been a leading spirit in the new country and took great interest in the establishing of Bethel Church. When a stranger would come inquiring for land, his first question was, "are you a Seceder?" If the answer was yes, the excellences of the land were praised, but if no there was nothing either said or done to praise the area.
One of his neighbors, an Irish lady, came to this house one day exclaiming, "Mr. McGeehon, sure! Willlie ha twa somethings up a tree and he dinna ken what they are at all! They keep squatting' around and looking at him! Would you be after comin' to see?" Mr. McGeehon exclaimed, "Why, woman, they are panthers, they will kill him as sure as the world". Taking his hug, he found the Irishman standing all unconscious of his danger watching two huge panthers ready to spring on him. Raising his rifle he shot one down but the other taking fright, fled into the woods.
Brice helped build the road leading from Darling tot Mt. Jackson. He also planted the first apple trees in the area. Brice died March 29th, 1830 and is buried in Bethel U.P. Church Cemetery.

Charles Morrow ~
Born in Ireland and came to this country in 1786. He was very strict with his family in religious observances. Sabbath keeping and church attendance were the fashion of the time. He had his eldest son called before session and had him dismissed from the church on his refusal to confess that it was wrong to got with his wife to the Slippery Rock Presbyterian Church of which she was member. Charles died at the age of 85 and is buried with his wife in the cemetery of Rocky Springs near New Galilee, Pa.

Thomas Hogg:
He came from Donnegal Ireland about 1796. He lived first in Washington County,Pa before coming to our area in 1798. He was a member of session from about the time of organization until his death in August 1829

Nathaniel Hamill~
Nathaniel Hamill came into the congregation very early in our history, as shown by the treasurers' book. He served the congregation as treasurer during the greater part of the time of the Pastorate of Rev. David Imbrie. The recorded receipts tell of the sacrifices made on the part of the pastor and people in maintaining and carrying forward the cause of Jesus Christ in the new land.
Salary amounts were as small as $1.50 or often a few bushels of grain. Mr. Hamill married Catherine Lecky. In 1802 he purchased one hundred acres form his father-in-law John Lecky for $190.00 In part the deed read, "to a white oak in the line of land belonging to the Seceding Congregation of North Beaver Township". Mr. Hamill died on November 1, 1843 and Catherine, his first wife, died March 13, 1833. Both are buried in Bethel's Cemetery.

Thomas Dungan:
Born in Holidays' Cove, Virginia. He and his first wife, Jane Witherspoon had eleven children. After Jane died, Thomas married Cynthia Hamill, daughter of Nathanial and granddaughter of John Lecky. The had four children. Alonzo who died in boyhood, Horace R. and Emmet W. who resided on Mt. Air Road and Charles who died California.
Thomas was a very active member of Bethel. He was song leader and the Clerk of Session for nine or more years. The earliest records of session are in his handwriting. He was a very liberal thinker. Rev. John Harsha in 1844 was said to have called him Peter because he was always ready to speak.
He became the Honorable Thomas Dungan in 1851 and was the first representative of Lawrence County for the years 1851 and 1852. He set up the charter for the Lawrence County Courthouse and the first cemetery in New Castle, Pa. He was on the first board of trustees for Westminster College in 1851. He died July 10,1873 and Cynthia died April 8 21, 1903 Both are buried in Bethels' Cemetery.