Odem in San Patricio County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Bethel Baptist Church of Christ and Cemetery
Organized on May 6, 1873, the Bethel Baptist Church of Christ was the first Baptist congregation in San Patricio County. The ten charter members represented the pioneer area communities of Sharpsburg, Moore’s Lake Settlement, and Meansville. Under the supervision of L. D. Young, a Baptist missionary, John Walker Baylor was selected as the first pastor. Alexander Moore served as the first deacon.
Early worship services were held in Moore’s Lake Settlement and in the Methodist Church sanctuary at Meansville. In 1877 trustees of the Bethel Baptist Church of Christ purchased land at this site from J. M. Garner for construction of a chapel and for the establishment of a burial ground.
The cemetery was first used in 1877 for the burial of an unidentified Mexican girl. The earliest marked grave is that of E. A. Paschal (1857-1878). Also buried here are seven Confederate veterans of the Civil War and many pioneer settlers of the area.
For a brief time during the late 1870s the church merged with the Nuescestown Baptist Fellowship. Although the Bethel congregation never officially disbanded, services here ended in 1914 after members began attending the Baptist Church in Odem (2 mi. N).
Erected 1981 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 6341.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Cemeteries & Burial Sites • Churches & Religion • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical date for this entry is May 6, 1873.
Location. 27° 55.808′ N, 97° 35.206′ W. Marker is in Odem, Texas, in San Patricio County. Marker is on County Road 1876, on the left when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 14994 County Rd 1876, Odem TX 78370, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 6 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. First United Methodist Church of Odem (approx. one mile away); Odem First Baptist Church (approx. 1.2 miles away); Meansville and Kaleta (approx. 1.4 miles away); Odem Veterans Memorial (approx. 1.4 miles away); White Point / Rosita (approx. 1.4 miles away); Early Odem Area Schools (approx. 1.4 miles away); Nuecestown (approx. 5.2 miles away); Nuecestown Raid (approx. 5.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Odem.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 8, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 7, 2022, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. This page has been viewed 273 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 7, 2022, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.