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Bethlehem Cemetery History
James W. Baird transferred land for the Bethlehem Cemetery to the Bethlehem
Cumberland Presbyterian Church by deed dated August 11, 1884 (Deed was officially
recorded in Marshal County on September 25, 1894, see below). Prior to this, the
cemetery was that of the Baird Family with the first officially recorded burial
being Sarah Jane McLean Baird in 1868. However, local legend has it, and there
is a marker to that effect, that the first burial was that of an unknown slave,
presumably of the Baird household.
There was no community cemetery until the establishment of the Bethlehem Cemetery.
After the establishment of the Bethlehem Cemetery there were disinterments from a
family cemetery on the John J. Williamson farm, located across the road in Maury
County, to the Bethlehem Cemetery. This was done presumably because the farm was
to be subsequently sold to Thomas Jefferson Tindell in 1888, said farm currently
remains in the hands of the Tindell heirs.
The Cemetery is located in the Bethlehem Community on U.S. Highway 431 10 miles north
of Lewisburg and approximately half way between the Berlin community in Marshall
County, Tennessee, and the Hardison Mill community in Maury/Marshall County, Tennessee,
adjacent to the old Baird property that is currently owned by the Bill Turner
family.
The responsibility for the Bethlehem Cemetery was relinquished by the Bethlehem Cumberland
Presbyterian Church in the 1970s and is now administered by a Board of Trustees. The
Cemetery has subsequently been expanded with land purchased from the Bill Turner
Family.
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Bethlehem Cemetery Deed as recorded in Marshall County, Book 1-2, page 84.
Wm. Mallard et als Deed Executed by Jas. W. Baird and Recorded Sept. 25, 1894.
I, James W. Baird have this day bargained and sold and hereby transfer and convey to
Wm. L. Mallard, John Porter, Samuel McLean, Jesse Cheek, and J. N. Baird, Elders of
the Cumberland Church of the Bethlehem Church for the consideration of Twenty-five
Dollars to me in hand paid the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged the following
lot or parcel of land lying and being in Marshall County and state of Tennessee in
Civil Dist. No. 11 and bounded as follows: viz. Beginning in center of Lewisburg and
Franklin Turnpike running East with the cross fence 210 feet to a rock thence South
210 feet to a stake thence west 210 feet to the center of said Pike thence with the
said Pike 210 feet to the beginning, enclosing the present Graveyard containing one
acre be the same more or less to have and to hold to the within named
Elders and their successors forever. I covenant with the said Elders and their
successors that I am lawfully seized of said land, have a good right to convey the
same and that the same is unencumbered. The condition of this obligation is such
that the said graveyard is for the use of the Public for all white persons, whatever,
excluding all persons of color.
Given under my hand and seal this 11th day of August, 1884.
Jas. W. Baird (Seal)
Signed and sealed and delivered in our presence the day and date written.
Test: Z. W. Neil - Jurant May 3, 1886
Thos. B. Hardison - Jurant May 3, 1886
State of Tennessee
Marshall County
Personally appeared before me Joe McBride, clerk of the County Court of Marshall
County aforesaid Z. W. Neil and Thos. B. Hardison the describing witnesses to
within deed who being first sworn and said that they are acquainted with James
W. Baird and that he acknowledged the same in their presence to be his act
and deed upon the day it bears date.
Witness my hand at office this 3rd day of May, 1886.
Joe McBride, Clerk
Filed in my office at 4 o'clock P.M. on the 22 day of September, 1894.
G. R. Sanders, R.M.C.
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Note: The deed above states the cemetery is to be for public use excluding persons of color, yet,
irony of ironies, the first person recorded as being buried there was a person of color, a slave!
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Bethlehem Cumberland Presbyterian Church History
Bethlehem Cumberland Presbyterian Church - Circa 1960
9 Mar 1831. Nathaniel Smith, Sr. gave 1 A each to the Presbyterian Church,
the old Regular Baptist Church, the Methodist Church, and the Cumberland Presbyterian
Church (Note: This church building is near the current Bethlehem Cemetery on the E side
of Franklin Road (U.S. 431). The location of the other churches, if established, has
not been currently determined as in 1831 Nathaniel Smith, Sr. owned 2,000+ acres
in this area.),
"For and in consideration of the regard and esteem I have toward the above named churches, I, Nathaniel
Smith, Sr., of Maury Co. hath given and granted and by these presents doth give
and grant unto each of the above named churches 1 A of land for the purpose of building
a house thereon for a meeting house and school house lying situated and being in
Maury Co. bounded as follows: Beginning at a dogwood a little N of the road leading
from Col. Williamson Smith's to Matthew Moores' Esq. near where said road crosses
the Franklin Road, due S to the divisional line between Capt. Nathaniel Smith and
Fendal Carr, W with the line 18.5 poles, N 9.5 poles to a small dogwood, thence to
the beginning".
Witnesses: Wm. Hughes, Charles A. Smith (Maury Co. p-146).
It is reliably believed that some sort of meeting place was located here as early
as 1815. It may have been the usual for that time, a brush arbor or a small log
building.
The first church which was built has been described as a large and beautiful rural
church. The double front doors opened into a vestibule which extended the full width
of the church. A window in each end of the vestibule furnished light and ventilation.
Stairs to the balcony were located at each end and a closet for storage was situated
beneath the stairway. Two single doors lead into the main sanctuary.
A row of columns down the center of the sanctuary supported the ceiling. There was
a row of pews in the center and outside the two aisles. Two windows in each side
of the sanctuary furnished additional light and ventilation. The building faced
west and the pulpit was to the rear of the church. An organ sat to one side and
the choir sat in the a-men corner. Two rows of oil lamps hung from the ceiling.
The original church building burned 9 May 1915. (No pictures of this church have
been located to date.)
When the present building was erected the north pillars of the old church were used
in the foundation. The south pillars sit some 5 feet to the side because the new
church is smaller than the one which burned. The lumber for the present church
was bought from Doc Morris who ran a sawmill at Hardison Mill. Big Jim Davis did
the sawing of the lumber.
Services were held in the yard under the trees, until completion of the building.
The present church building was completed in 1917 and renovated in the mid 1950s,
with services being held in member's homes until completion of the renovation.
It was again renovated in the late 1980s when purchased by the current Bethlehem Baptist
Church.
On June 12, 1983 Rev. Robert Hall preached the final sermon.
The Bethlehem Church discontinued being a Cumberland Presbyterian church in August,
1983. The ruling elders were Paul Shires, L. R. Cheatham, and Eugene A. Sharp.
All the books and records of the church were sent to the Memphis Presbytery upon the
official closing of the church.
Some of the 20th century ministers of the Bethlehem Cumberland Presbyterian
Church were:
Rev. Thomas Mead Hendrix, Rev. Zumbro, B. F. Guinn, J. T. Colemen, Rev. Bill Ralston, W. C. Bryant,
Bobby Oliver, Rev. Glenn Kapperman, Edwin Sain, Rev. Wayne Morgan, and Rev. Robert Hall.
The Bethlehem church building subsequently opened its doors as the current Bethlehem Baptist
Church.
Bethlehem Baptist Church - Circa 2008
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