Elizabeth Bell, daughter of William and Margaret (née Montgomery) Bell, was born 26th of December 1791 in the Fairfield District of South Carolina. Her parents were charter members of Ebenezer Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church, also known as 'Old Brick Church' on the banks of Little River. At the age of 21, Betsy, as she was known by her family and friends, married William McKell, who was originally from County Armagh, Ireland. Together Betsy and William would have four children.
A few years after William's death in 1821, Betsy and her children: David (1813-1855), James (1815-1867) Nancy (1818-1869) and Jane (1821-1888) along with a number of their Montgomery & Bell relatives and friends emigrated west to Oktibbeha County, Mississippi near Starkville.
Once settled, these reform church Presbyterians began a congregation in Starkville, and organized formally in 1840. The first church was built in 1841; which was a wooden structure, standing at the juncture of East Main Street and the West Point Road. They named it Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church; later it became United Presbyterian Church. The charter members were Margaret Fleming, Jane Wiseman, Elizabeth McKell, Hugh Montgomery, Robert Bell, William Bell, Sr., William Bell, Jr., and John and James Wiseman. The membership was twenty-five in 1842; and Rev. David Pressly was the pastor.
Church and education were very important to Betsy and her family. My great-grandfather, Rev. J. B. Muse (Jane's son), left Starkville to attended Erskine College and then Seminary in Due West, South Carolina. After he was ordained, he became a minister at several A.R.P. churches throughout Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas. Often he was a circuit rider preacher at different churches near Verdery, South Carolina, requiring him to make overnight journeys on horseback several times a week.
Elizabeth "Betsy" Bell McKell departed this life on the 2nd day of June 1842 at the age of 52. She is buried in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery near her children and several grandchildren.
A few years after William's death in 1821, Betsy and her children: David (1813-1855), James (1815-1867) Nancy (1818-1869) and Jane (1821-1888) along with a number of their Montgomery & Bell relatives and friends emigrated west to Oktibbeha County, Mississippi near Starkville.
Once settled, these reform church Presbyterians began a congregation in Starkville, and organized formally in 1840. The first church was built in 1841; which was a wooden structure, standing at the juncture of East Main Street and the West Point Road. They named it Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church; later it became United Presbyterian Church. The charter members were Margaret Fleming, Jane Wiseman, Elizabeth McKell, Hugh Montgomery, Robert Bell, William Bell, Sr., William Bell, Jr., and John and James Wiseman. The membership was twenty-five in 1842; and Rev. David Pressly was the pastor.
Church and education were very important to Betsy and her family. My great-grandfather, Rev. J. B. Muse (Jane's son), left Starkville to attended Erskine College and then Seminary in Due West, South Carolina. After he was ordained, he became a minister at several A.R.P. churches throughout Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas. Often he was a circuit rider preacher at different churches near Verdery, South Carolina, requiring him to make overnight journeys on horseback several times a week.
Elizabeth "Betsy" Bell McKell departed this life on the 2nd day of June 1842 at the age of 52. She is buried in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery near her children and several grandchildren.
Elizabeth Bell, daughter of William and Margaret (née Montgomery) Bell, was born 26th of December 1791 in the Fairfield District of South Carolina. Her parents were charter members of Ebenezer Associate Reformed Presbyterian (ARP) Church, also known as 'Old Brick Church' on the banks of Little River. At the age of 21, Betsy, as she was known by her family and friends, married William McKell, who was originally from County Armagh, Ireland. Together Betsy and William would have four children.
A few years after William's death in 1821, Betsy and her children: David (1813-1855), James (1815-1867) Nancy (1818-1869) and Jane (1821-1888) along with a number of their Montgomery & Bell relatives and friends emigrated west to Oktibbeha County, Mississippi near Starkville.
Once settled, these reform church Presbyterians began a congregation in Starkville, and organized formally in 1840. The first church was built in 1841; which was a wooden structure, standing at the juncture of East Main Street and the West Point Road. They named it Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church; later it became United Presbyterian Church. The charter members were Margaret Fleming, Jane Wiseman, Elizabeth McKell, Hugh Montgomery, Robert Bell, William Bell, Sr., William Bell, Jr., and John and James Wiseman. The membership was twenty-five in 1842; and Rev. David Pressly was the pastor.
Church and education were very important to Betsy and her family. My great-grandfather, Rev. J. B. Muse (Jane's son), left Starkville to attended Erskine College and then Seminary in Due West, South Carolina. After he was ordained, he became a minister at several A.R.P. churches throughout Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas. Often he was a circuit rider preacher at different churches near Verdery, South Carolina, requiring him to make overnight journeys on horseback several times a week.
Elizabeth "Betsy" Bell McKell departed this life on the 2nd day of June 1842 at the age of 52. She is buried in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery near her children and several grandchildren.
A few years after William's death in 1821, Betsy and her children: David (1813-1855), James (1815-1867) Nancy (1818-1869) and Jane (1821-1888) along with a number of their Montgomery & Bell relatives and friends emigrated west to Oktibbeha County, Mississippi near Starkville.
Once settled, these reform church Presbyterians began a congregation in Starkville, and organized formally in 1840. The first church was built in 1841; which was a wooden structure, standing at the juncture of East Main Street and the West Point Road. They named it Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church; later it became United Presbyterian Church. The charter members were Margaret Fleming, Jane Wiseman, Elizabeth McKell, Hugh Montgomery, Robert Bell, William Bell, Sr., William Bell, Jr., and John and James Wiseman. The membership was twenty-five in 1842; and Rev. David Pressly was the pastor.
Church and education were very important to Betsy and her family. My great-grandfather, Rev. J. B. Muse (Jane's son), left Starkville to attended Erskine College and then Seminary in Due West, South Carolina. After he was ordained, he became a minister at several A.R.P. churches throughout Tennessee, Georgia and the Carolinas. Often he was a circuit rider preacher at different churches near Verdery, South Carolina, requiring him to make overnight journeys on horseback several times a week.
Elizabeth "Betsy" Bell McKell departed this life on the 2nd day of June 1842 at the age of 52. She is buried in the Associate Reformed Presbyterian Cemetery near her children and several grandchildren.
Inscription
══════════════════
SCARED
to the memory of
Elizabeth McKell,
who departed this life on the 2nd
of June 1842 in the 52nd
year of her age.
"Sleep on, sweet mother and wife, God called thee home, He thought it best."
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