William L. Bethel

After surrender we went to Raleigh, North Carolina, where we were mustered out. I then moved to Greensboro and began working for Judge Lain, on a farm, and I worked for him 12 months and went to school at night. My meals consisted of fat meat and cornbread.  In the year of 1867, I went to Robinson County to cut turpentine boxes, and while there I met a man by the name of W.E. Harley, and we organized a school and hired a white man to tutor. The school grew so large that we were required to assist the teacher.  I left Robinson County in the year of 1870 and went back to Greensboro, North Carolina and worked in a hotel and continued my scholastic attainments. My teacher's name was Jake Nocho and Reverend Crestfield.  In 1872 I married Mrs. Fannie Elizabeth Martin, and purchased a home and one acre of land, built a frame cabin, at which place (Greensboro) my first child was born, Carrie Lee Bethel, (Now Carrie Lee Lanier) and to the date of this writing she is living in Winston Salem, North Carolina. The next year, I entered Lincoln University, in Chester County, Pennsylvania and worked in a club for my board for Dr. Golder, who is now the president of  Livingston College, Salisbury, North Carolina. After working there for some time, I purchased the club where I worked. In the year of 1876, my second child was born, William H. Bethel, who is now living at Buffalo, New York, I was graduated from Lincoln University in the year of 1882. During the same year on the 12th day of April 1882, I was licensed to preach. After receiving my certificate of licensure I went on a mission trip to Spartanburgh and Welford, South Carolina and organized a church and school, and also served several other churches in Greenville County, South Carolina. In 1884 my wife died, and I then went to Winston Salem and organized a Presbyterian Church and served a Church at Germantown, North Carolina, and also purchased some property while there. I then moved to Mt. Airy and served a church at Street Virginia; I served a church at Sanford, North Carolina, and organized a church at Jonesboro, and also served several other churches. I lost my health at Sanford, and then returned to Winston Salem, North Carolina, where I married Nanie L. Brown, who is my present wife.

In 1901 I moved to Oklahoma Territory, leaving some of my children in Lincoln University. The first place I lived after reaching Oklahoma Territory was Kingfisher. We then moved to Anadarko, where I purchased a home and organized a Presbyterian Church and Sunday School, and also organizing Presbyterian Churches all over the Oklahoma Territory.  I came to Oklahoma City in 1904 and purchased the premises where I now reside 129-31 South Klein Street. I also organized a church here and in the year of 1907 I received three Enabling Acts. 1. An Enabling Act from the Presbyterians of Oklahoma to organized the Bethany Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City. 2. An Enabling Act from the Synod of Indian Territory to organize a Presbytery of Rental at Oklahoma City.

Many requests have been made of me to write something of the story of my life. Until resently I have never given much consideration to these requests, for the reason that I had never thought that I had done enough in the world to warrant anything in the way of an autobiography, and I hope that my life work, by reason of my present age, lies more in the future than in the past.  I was born a slave on the fourth day of May 1844, Clemmonsville, North Carolina, Forsyth County. My master's name was Josiah Bethel and the mistress's name was Eliza Bethel , and their only daughter was named Mary Bethel. When Mary came of age she married a man by the name of Gannaway, who was a Professor of Trinity College at Trinity, North Carolina. After Mr. Gannaway was married to Mary Bethel he moved from Germanton, North Carolina, where we were living, taking my mother and the rest of our family with him to Trinity College, leaving my grandmother and me with Josiah and Eliza Bethel . I was quite a pet of the mistress, and every morning and night my master would put his hand on my head and pray.  Josiah Bethel was a Methodist Preacher and of course we had to move often. We moved from Germanton, North Carolina, to Greensboro, where I spent my childhood days and we lived there until the Civil War. At the age of about eighteen years I went to Bristow, Virginia, enlisted in the Army, and then I went to Richmond, where we went over breast works. One of our favorite songs was: "Look over in the valley, don't you see it lighten, looks like we are going to have a storm, but although you are mistaken, 'tis the darky soldiers buttons shining on the uniform." After surrender we went to Raleigh, North Carolina, where we mustered out. I them moved to Greensboro and began working for Judge Lain , on the farm, and I worked for him twelve months and went to school at night. My meals consisted of fat meat and corn bread.  In the year of 1867. I went to Robinson County to cut turpentine boxes, and while there I met a man by the name of W. E. Harley , and we organized a school and hired a white man to tutor. The school grew so large that we were required to assist the teacher.  I left Robinson County in the year of 1870 and went back to Greensboro, North Carolina and worked in a hotel and continued my scholastic attainments. My teachers names were Jake Nocho and Reverend Crestfield .   In 1872, I married Mrs. Fannie Elizabeth Martin , purchased a home and one acre of land, built a frame cabin, at which place (Greensboro, North Carolina) my first child was born, Carrie Lee Bethel , (now Carrie Lee Lanier ) and to the date of this writing she is living at Winston - Salem, North Carolina. The next year, in 1873, I entered Lincoln University, in Chester County, Pennsylvania, and worked in a club for my board for Dr. Golder , who is now the President of Livingston College, Salisbury, North Carolina. After working there for some time, I purchased the Club where I worked. In the year of 1876, my second child was born, William H. Bethel , who is now living at Buffalo, New York. I was graduated from Lincoln University in the year of 1882. During the same year on the 12th day of April 1882, I was licensed to preach. After receiving my certificate of licensure I went on a mission trip to Spartanburgh and Welford, South Carolina and organized a church and school, and also served several other churches in Greenville County, South Carolina. In 1884 my wife died, and I then went to Winston Salem, and organized a Presbyterian Church and served a church at Germanton, North Carolina, and also purchased some property while there. I then moved to Mt. Airy and served a church, at Street Virginia; I served a church at Sanford, North Carolina, and organized a church at Jonesboro, and also served several other churches. I lost my health at Sanford, North Carolina and then returned to Winston Salem, North Carolina, where I married Nanie L. Brown , who is my present wife.  In 1901 I moved to Oklahoma Territory , leaving some of my children in Lincoln University. The first place I lived after reaching Oklahoma Territory was Kingfisher. We then moved to Anadarko, where I purchased a home and organized a Presbyterian Church and Sunday School, and also organizing Presbyterian Churches all over the Oklahoma Territory .  I came to Oklahoma City, in 1904 and purchased the premises where I now reside 129-131 South Klein Street. I also organized a church here and in the year of 1907 I received three Enabling Acts. 1st. An Enabling Act from the Presbyterians of Oklahoma to organize the Bethany Presbyterian Church in Oklahoma City. 2nd. An Enabling Act from the Synod of Indian Territory to organize a Presbytery of Rental at Oklahoma City. 3rd. An Enabling Act from the General Assembly at Columbus, Ohio, where I was a Commissioner from the Presbytery of Rental to organize the Synod of Canadian. At the General Assembly, Des Moines, Iowa, I was called on to give the Benediction.  However, it is impossible to remember every and all the incidents that happened from the days of my childhood until now, but I have given the most important things, that is, the things that I think would be inspiring to someone else.  I am the father of six children, and I put forth every effort possible to educate them, and I will now attempt to write what they are doing and their whereabouts. I have already mentioned heretofore where two of them are, and I might add that my children were graduated and received their degrees at Lincoln University, where I finished. Reverend Martin L. Bethel , is now teaching at Tuskegee Institute, Alabama. Doctor Isaac N.R. Bethel lives at Detroit, Michigan, Mrs. Bessie E. Smith (nee Bethel ) is teaching in the grade schools of Oklahoma City, and Dr. Allen Paul Bethel , druggist also lives in Oklahoma City.  I am now the Honorable Retired and Pastor Emeritus of the Bethany Presbyterian Church.