Church and Family History Research Assistance for Barbour County, West Virginia
CHURCHES:LITTLE BETHEL (MEADOWVILLE)
Little Bethel Church was organized in 1795, by Elders Phineas Wells and Simeon Harris, and was probably the first church of any denomination in the county. Elder Simeon Harris was a private in the Virginia Militia during the Revolutionary War, and Elder Phineas Wells also saw distinguished service in that conflict, as part of the Northampton (PA) Militia.
In 1836 one acre of land was deeded to the church's trustees, John Harris and William Price, by Eli and Isaac Phillips. There is a cemetery at the site. The church still stands, on top of a hill about a mile east of Meadowville.
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Cross, Delander, Gainer, Hymes, Marteney, Poling (very incomplete due to lack of records).
MOUNT OLIVE (PHILIPPI)
Mount Olive Primitive Baptist church was constituted at the Rice house, two miles west of Philippi, June 21, 1817, by Elders Phineas Wells and Simeon Harris, with about ten members. Elder Wells continued as the minister until he was too old for active service, and was succeeded by Simeon Harris.
SURNAMES OF MEMBERS:
Corder, Cross, Dennison, Priest, Proudfoot (very incomplete due to lack of records).
Copyright c. 2001-2003. All rights reserved. The Primitive Baptist Library.
