I have included the names , dates of birth and death, and Find-A-Grave website links for the brothers and sisters of Alwilda Bysar, nee Bethell, Baker near the bottom of this biography.
I have found that the last name of Bethel is sometimes spelled with two "LL's" or just one "L", I don't know if it really matters that much.
Here is an obituary for my Great, Great Grandmother Alwilda Bysar or Bysan nee Bethell Baker.
Her full middle name was written on the back of a photograph that I have, but I can't tell if the middle name is Bysar or Bysan.
Wednesday, March 28, 1934, transcribed newspaper obituary for Alwilda B. Baker.
The obituary was printed on page 5 of the Effingham County Review newspaper and I found this newspaper at the Effingham, Illinois, public library, in the library's Genealogy Department newspaper microfilm reels.
Transcribed Obituary:
Mrs. Alwilda B. Baker, daughter of John Wesley and Sarah J. Bethell, was born February 7th, 1846, at Philadelphia, Penn., and died at Cowden, Illinois, March 23rd, 1934. Aged 88 years, 1 month and 16 days.
At the age of twenty years she was united in marriage to Andrew J. Baker, at Farina, Ill. To this union were born five children; Mary Elnora, who died in infancy; Charles S., who died in E. St. Louis, June 24th, 1923; and Mrs. Nellie Schaaf, who died at Chicago, December 28, 1923; Mrs. Alice McManaway of Cowden, and Mrs. Anna Pfister, of Edgewood. Her husband, Andrew J. Baker, died March 23rd, 1930, at their home in Edgewood, after a journey together of almost sixty-four years. Mrs. Baker died just four years later, both dying on the 23rd of March, and both were 88 years old when death called.
Mrs. Baker taught school prior to her marriage, she was cultured and a splendid conversationalist, being able to discuss most any subject with much more than the average ability. She was industrious and exceptionally tidy and exact about her home. Her long and continuous residence in Edgewood made her known to all as Grandma Baker. She was always ready to do what she could for the sick and needy, as well as take her full part in social and public affairs.
At the age of 17 she joined the Christian church at East Union under the pastorate of Rev. Clayborn Wright, and for more than three score and ten years has been a faithful student and firm believer in the Bible and helped in every way she could in church forego all active work, but always had a kind and consoling word for her friends, neighbors and relatives. Her death, while following only a few days illness, was on account of her age not unexpected, yet death when it comes is always unexpected and sudden, and brings sadness to all alike.
She leaves to mourn her passing on, her two daughters, four grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren, three sisters, Mrs. Nora Whittmer, of Ponca City, Okla.; Mrs. Mary Willoughby, of Stratford, Okla., and Mrs. Emma Renfro, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; two brothers, Bob Bethell, of Champaign, Ill., and A.W. Bethell, of Joplin, Mo., a host of nieces and nephews, besides a very large circle of dear friends and neighbors.
End of the transcribed obituary.
I have been able to find Find-A-Grave website pages for the brothers and sisters of Alwilda Bysar, nee Bethel, Baker and here are those brothers and sisters in the order of their birth.
Alwilda Bysar, nee Bethel, Baker 1846-1934
Find-A-Grave page: Alwilda Bysar Bethel Baker
Virginius LeMartin Bethel 1848-1932
Find-A-Grave page: Virginius L. Bethel
Albert Wesley Bethel 1853-1936
Find-A-Grave page: Albert Wesley Bethel
Charles Henry Bethel 1856-1909
Find-A-Grave page: Charles H. Bethel
Mary Ella, nee Bethel, Willoughby 1858-1943
Find-A-Grave page: Mary Ella Bethel Willoughby
Robert G. Bethel 1861-1937
Find-A-Grave page: Robert G. Bethel
Emma Frances, nee Bethel, Renfro 1861-1960
Find-A-Grave page: Emma Frances Bethel Renfro
Then in 1867 John Bethel married Georgiana Anderson in Fayette County, Illinois and they had the following children.
Fannie, nee Bethel, Cornell 1868-1891
On November 22, 1887 Fannie Bethel was married to Calbert Cornell, in Carroll County, Arkansas.
Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6PHH-CG9?i=219&cc=1417439
I haven't found out where Fannie, nee Bethel, Cornell died or where she was buried, but I did find a mention of Fannie's death on the 1907 Kay County, Oklahoma marriage record for her son, Albert W. Cornell and his first wife, Mattie Rogers.
On that 1907 Kay County, Oklahoma marriage record for A. W. Cornell and Mattie Rogers was a hand-written note from George and Nora Wittmer, the aunt and uncle of Albert Cornell.
The hand-written note stated that George and Nora Wittmer had taken care of Albert Cornell since the age of 3 years old when his mother died.
Albert Cornell was born in 1888 in Arkansas, so Fannie, nee Bethel, Cornell must have died in 1891, but the location of her death is unknown at this time.
You can see a copy of that 1907 Kay County, Oklahoma marriage record on the Find-A-Grave website page for Mattie, nee Rogers, Cornell:
Link: Mattie Rogers Cornell
Nora May, nee Bethel, Wittmer 1872-1934
Find-A-Grave page: Nora May Bethel Wittmer
Benjamin Bethel 1876-1896
Find-A-Grave page: Benjamin Bethel
Here's a Find-A-Grave page for a John W. Bethel that may or may not turn out to be the father of these Bethel children.
Find-A-Grave page: John W. Bethel
According to census records that I've found for John Bethel, John Bethel was born around 1824 in Pennsylvania.
I'm hoping to find a Will for John W. Bethel that might have been created in either Missouri or Oklahoma and I'm hoping that this Will, if it exists, would have the names of his children in the Will.
I've found that most Wills tell when the person that created the Will had died and sometimes the Will also tells where the person died. This information would help prove that this was the correct John W. Bethel that was found on that Find-A-Grave website page.
I haven't found out when Sarah J., nee Hess, Bethel died or where she was buried.
According to census records that I've found for Sarah J. Bethel, Sarah, J., nee Hess, Bethel was born around 1825 in New Jersey.
I think that perhaps Sarah Bethel might have died soon after the birth of her last child, Emma Frances, nee Bethel, Renfro, but I will need to find some proof of this.
Emma Frances, nee Bethel, Renfro was born in Edgewood, Effingham County, Illinois, in 1861, so I'll look at the genealogy records in the Effingham public library the next time that I'm down in Effingham, Illinois and see if there are any Bethel family history records in the Genealogy Department filing cabinets, where they keep the written family history records left by descendants of people who lived in the Effingham County, Illinois area.
I found Sarah Bethel and her husband John Bethel and their children on an 1860 Effingham, Illinois census record and then in 1870 I found Robert Bethel and Emma Bethel, shown as Emmi, on an Effingham , Illinois census record with their older sister Alwilda, nee Bethel, Baker and her husband, Andrew Baker.
I found John Bethel and Georgian Bethel on an 1870 Missouri census record and they had only their daughter, Fanny living with them.
I haven't found out when Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel died or where she was buried.
According to the census records that I've found for John Bethel and Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel, Georgiana, nee Anderson was born about 1850 in Canada.
On the Find-A-Grave website page for that John W. Bethel was a transcribed newspaper mention of the death of John Bethel and here's that transcribed newspaper mention of John Bethel:
Cassville Republican
Cassville, Missouri
Thursday, January 25, 1900
page 7
Uncle John Bethel, formerly of this place, died Tuesday, January 16, in Oklahoma, at the home of his daughter.
(transcribed by Judy Mayfield) June 2021
The only daughter of John Bethel that was living in Oklahoma in 1900 was Nora, nee Bethel, Wittmer, so it's possible that Nora was the daughter that this John W. Bethel was living with when he died.
Since John W. Bethel wasn't living with his second wife, Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel at the time of his death, it makes me wonder if Georgiana had died between the 1880 Newton County, Missouri census record that showed John Bethel, wife, Georgie A., son, Robert R., daughter, Faney, daughter, Norah, and son, Benjamin and the 1900 death date for John W. Bethel.
It's also possible that John W. Bethel and Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel got divorced between the years 1880 and 1900, but I'll have to find proof of that first.
Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel could have gotten re-married after the death of John Bethel in 1900, so without knowing Georgiana's new married name that will make finding records of her death more difficult.
I have found that the last name of Bethel is sometimes spelled with two "LL's" or just one "L", I don't know if it really matters that much.
Here is an obituary for my Great, Great Grandmother Alwilda Bysar or Bysan nee Bethell Baker.
Her full middle name was written on the back of a photograph that I have, but I can't tell if the middle name is Bysar or Bysan.
Wednesday, March 28, 1934, transcribed newspaper obituary for Alwilda B. Baker.
The obituary was printed on page 5 of the Effingham County Review newspaper and I found this newspaper at the Effingham, Illinois, public library, in the library's Genealogy Department newspaper microfilm reels.
Transcribed Obituary:
Mrs. Alwilda B. Baker, daughter of John Wesley and Sarah J. Bethell, was born February 7th, 1846, at Philadelphia, Penn., and died at Cowden, Illinois, March 23rd, 1934. Aged 88 years, 1 month and 16 days.
At the age of twenty years she was united in marriage to Andrew J. Baker, at Farina, Ill. To this union were born five children; Mary Elnora, who died in infancy; Charles S., who died in E. St. Louis, June 24th, 1923; and Mrs. Nellie Schaaf, who died at Chicago, December 28, 1923; Mrs. Alice McManaway of Cowden, and Mrs. Anna Pfister, of Edgewood. Her husband, Andrew J. Baker, died March 23rd, 1930, at their home in Edgewood, after a journey together of almost sixty-four years. Mrs. Baker died just four years later, both dying on the 23rd of March, and both were 88 years old when death called.
Mrs. Baker taught school prior to her marriage, she was cultured and a splendid conversationalist, being able to discuss most any subject with much more than the average ability. She was industrious and exceptionally tidy and exact about her home. Her long and continuous residence in Edgewood made her known to all as Grandma Baker. She was always ready to do what she could for the sick and needy, as well as take her full part in social and public affairs.
At the age of 17 she joined the Christian church at East Union under the pastorate of Rev. Clayborn Wright, and for more than three score and ten years has been a faithful student and firm believer in the Bible and helped in every way she could in church forego all active work, but always had a kind and consoling word for her friends, neighbors and relatives. Her death, while following only a few days illness, was on account of her age not unexpected, yet death when it comes is always unexpected and sudden, and brings sadness to all alike.
She leaves to mourn her passing on, her two daughters, four grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren, three sisters, Mrs. Nora Whittmer, of Ponca City, Okla.; Mrs. Mary Willoughby, of Stratford, Okla., and Mrs. Emma Renfro, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; two brothers, Bob Bethell, of Champaign, Ill., and A.W. Bethell, of Joplin, Mo., a host of nieces and nephews, besides a very large circle of dear friends and neighbors.
End of the transcribed obituary.
I have been able to find Find-A-Grave website pages for the brothers and sisters of Alwilda Bysar, nee Bethel, Baker and here are those brothers and sisters in the order of their birth.
Alwilda Bysar, nee Bethel, Baker 1846-1934
Find-A-Grave page: Alwilda Bysar Bethel Baker
Virginius LeMartin Bethel 1848-1932
Find-A-Grave page: Virginius L. Bethel
Albert Wesley Bethel 1853-1936
Find-A-Grave page: Albert Wesley Bethel
Charles Henry Bethel 1856-1909
Find-A-Grave page: Charles H. Bethel
Mary Ella, nee Bethel, Willoughby 1858-1943
Find-A-Grave page: Mary Ella Bethel Willoughby
Robert G. Bethel 1861-1937
Find-A-Grave page: Robert G. Bethel
Emma Frances, nee Bethel, Renfro 1861-1960
Find-A-Grave page: Emma Frances Bethel Renfro
Then in 1867 John Bethel married Georgiana Anderson in Fayette County, Illinois and they had the following children.
Fannie, nee Bethel, Cornell 1868-1891
On November 22, 1887 Fannie Bethel was married to Calbert Cornell, in Carroll County, Arkansas.
Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6PHH-CG9?i=219&cc=1417439
I haven't found out where Fannie, nee Bethel, Cornell died or where she was buried, but I did find a mention of Fannie's death on the 1907 Kay County, Oklahoma marriage record for her son, Albert W. Cornell and his first wife, Mattie Rogers.
On that 1907 Kay County, Oklahoma marriage record for A. W. Cornell and Mattie Rogers was a hand-written note from George and Nora Wittmer, the aunt and uncle of Albert Cornell.
The hand-written note stated that George and Nora Wittmer had taken care of Albert Cornell since the age of 3 years old when his mother died.
Albert Cornell was born in 1888 in Arkansas, so Fannie, nee Bethel, Cornell must have died in 1891, but the location of her death is unknown at this time.
You can see a copy of that 1907 Kay County, Oklahoma marriage record on the Find-A-Grave website page for Mattie, nee Rogers, Cornell:
Link: Mattie Rogers Cornell
Nora May, nee Bethel, Wittmer 1872-1934
Find-A-Grave page: Nora May Bethel Wittmer
Benjamin Bethel 1876-1896
Find-A-Grave page: Benjamin Bethel
Here's a Find-A-Grave page for a John W. Bethel that may or may not turn out to be the father of these Bethel children.
Find-A-Grave page: John W. Bethel
According to census records that I've found for John Bethel, John Bethel was born around 1824 in Pennsylvania.
I'm hoping to find a Will for John W. Bethel that might have been created in either Missouri or Oklahoma and I'm hoping that this Will, if it exists, would have the names of his children in the Will.
I've found that most Wills tell when the person that created the Will had died and sometimes the Will also tells where the person died. This information would help prove that this was the correct John W. Bethel that was found on that Find-A-Grave website page.
I haven't found out when Sarah J., nee Hess, Bethel died or where she was buried.
According to census records that I've found for Sarah J. Bethel, Sarah, J., nee Hess, Bethel was born around 1825 in New Jersey.
I think that perhaps Sarah Bethel might have died soon after the birth of her last child, Emma Frances, nee Bethel, Renfro, but I will need to find some proof of this.
Emma Frances, nee Bethel, Renfro was born in Edgewood, Effingham County, Illinois, in 1861, so I'll look at the genealogy records in the Effingham public library the next time that I'm down in Effingham, Illinois and see if there are any Bethel family history records in the Genealogy Department filing cabinets, where they keep the written family history records left by descendants of people who lived in the Effingham County, Illinois area.
I found Sarah Bethel and her husband John Bethel and their children on an 1860 Effingham, Illinois census record and then in 1870 I found Robert Bethel and Emma Bethel, shown as Emmi, on an Effingham , Illinois census record with their older sister Alwilda, nee Bethel, Baker and her husband, Andrew Baker.
I found John Bethel and Georgian Bethel on an 1870 Missouri census record and they had only their daughter, Fanny living with them.
I haven't found out when Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel died or where she was buried.
According to the census records that I've found for John Bethel and Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel, Georgiana, nee Anderson was born about 1850 in Canada.
On the Find-A-Grave website page for that John W. Bethel was a transcribed newspaper mention of the death of John Bethel and here's that transcribed newspaper mention of John Bethel:
Cassville Republican
Cassville, Missouri
Thursday, January 25, 1900
page 7
Uncle John Bethel, formerly of this place, died Tuesday, January 16, in Oklahoma, at the home of his daughter.
(transcribed by Judy Mayfield) June 2021
The only daughter of John Bethel that was living in Oklahoma in 1900 was Nora, nee Bethel, Wittmer, so it's possible that Nora was the daughter that this John W. Bethel was living with when he died.
Since John W. Bethel wasn't living with his second wife, Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel at the time of his death, it makes me wonder if Georgiana had died between the 1880 Newton County, Missouri census record that showed John Bethel, wife, Georgie A., son, Robert R., daughter, Faney, daughter, Norah, and son, Benjamin and the 1900 death date for John W. Bethel.
It's also possible that John W. Bethel and Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel got divorced between the years 1880 and 1900, but I'll have to find proof of that first.
Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel could have gotten re-married after the death of John Bethel in 1900, so without knowing Georgiana's new married name that will make finding records of her death more difficult.
I have included the names , dates of birth and death, and Find-A-Grave website links for the brothers and sisters of Alwilda Bysar, nee Bethell, Baker near the bottom of this biography.
I have found that the last name of Bethel is sometimes spelled with two "LL's" or just one "L", I don't know if it really matters that much.
Here is an obituary for my Great, Great Grandmother Alwilda Bysar or Bysan nee Bethell Baker.
Her full middle name was written on the back of a photograph that I have, but I can't tell if the middle name is Bysar or Bysan.
Wednesday, March 28, 1934, transcribed newspaper obituary for Alwilda B. Baker.
The obituary was printed on page 5 of the Effingham County Review newspaper and I found this newspaper at the Effingham, Illinois, public library, in the library's Genealogy Department newspaper microfilm reels.
Transcribed Obituary:
Mrs. Alwilda B. Baker, daughter of John Wesley and Sarah J. Bethell, was born February 7th, 1846, at Philadelphia, Penn., and died at Cowden, Illinois, March 23rd, 1934. Aged 88 years, 1 month and 16 days.
At the age of twenty years she was united in marriage to Andrew J. Baker, at Farina, Ill. To this union were born five children; Mary Elnora, who died in infancy; Charles S., who died in E. St. Louis, June 24th, 1923; and Mrs. Nellie Schaaf, who died at Chicago, December 28, 1923; Mrs. Alice McManaway of Cowden, and Mrs. Anna Pfister, of Edgewood. Her husband, Andrew J. Baker, died March 23rd, 1930, at their home in Edgewood, after a journey together of almost sixty-four years. Mrs. Baker died just four years later, both dying on the 23rd of March, and both were 88 years old when death called.
Mrs. Baker taught school prior to her marriage, she was cultured and a splendid conversationalist, being able to discuss most any subject with much more than the average ability. She was industrious and exceptionally tidy and exact about her home. Her long and continuous residence in Edgewood made her known to all as Grandma Baker. She was always ready to do what she could for the sick and needy, as well as take her full part in social and public affairs.
At the age of 17 she joined the Christian church at East Union under the pastorate of Rev. Clayborn Wright, and for more than three score and ten years has been a faithful student and firm believer in the Bible and helped in every way she could in church forego all active work, but always had a kind and consoling word for her friends, neighbors and relatives. Her death, while following only a few days illness, was on account of her age not unexpected, yet death when it comes is always unexpected and sudden, and brings sadness to all alike.
She leaves to mourn her passing on, her two daughters, four grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren, three sisters, Mrs. Nora Whittmer, of Ponca City, Okla.; Mrs. Mary Willoughby, of Stratford, Okla., and Mrs. Emma Renfro, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; two brothers, Bob Bethell, of Champaign, Ill., and A.W. Bethell, of Joplin, Mo., a host of nieces and nephews, besides a very large circle of dear friends and neighbors.
End of the transcribed obituary.
I have been able to find Find-A-Grave website pages for the brothers and sisters of Alwilda Bysar, nee Bethel, Baker and here are those brothers and sisters in the order of their birth.
Alwilda Bysar, nee Bethel, Baker 1846-1934
Find-A-Grave page: Alwilda Bysar Bethel Baker
Virginius LeMartin Bethel 1848-1932
Find-A-Grave page: Virginius L. Bethel
Albert Wesley Bethel 1853-1936
Find-A-Grave page: Albert Wesley Bethel
Charles Henry Bethel 1856-1909
Find-A-Grave page: Charles H. Bethel
Mary Ella, nee Bethel, Willoughby 1858-1943
Find-A-Grave page: Mary Ella Bethel Willoughby
Robert G. Bethel 1861-1937
Find-A-Grave page: Robert G. Bethel
Emma Frances, nee Bethel, Renfro 1861-1960
Find-A-Grave page: Emma Frances Bethel Renfro
Then in 1867 John Bethel married Georgiana Anderson in Fayette County, Illinois and they had the following children.
Fannie, nee Bethel, Cornell 1868-1891
On November 22, 1887 Fannie Bethel was married to Calbert Cornell, in Carroll County, Arkansas.
Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6PHH-CG9?i=219&cc=1417439
I haven't found out where Fannie, nee Bethel, Cornell died or where she was buried, but I did find a mention of Fannie's death on the 1907 Kay County, Oklahoma marriage record for her son, Albert W. Cornell and his first wife, Mattie Rogers.
On that 1907 Kay County, Oklahoma marriage record for A. W. Cornell and Mattie Rogers was a hand-written note from George and Nora Wittmer, the aunt and uncle of Albert Cornell.
The hand-written note stated that George and Nora Wittmer had taken care of Albert Cornell since the age of 3 years old when his mother died.
Albert Cornell was born in 1888 in Arkansas, so Fannie, nee Bethel, Cornell must have died in 1891, but the location of her death is unknown at this time.
You can see a copy of that 1907 Kay County, Oklahoma marriage record on the Find-A-Grave website page for Mattie, nee Rogers, Cornell:
Link: Mattie Rogers Cornell
Nora May, nee Bethel, Wittmer 1872-1934
Find-A-Grave page: Nora May Bethel Wittmer
Benjamin Bethel 1876-1896
Find-A-Grave page: Benjamin Bethel
Here's a Find-A-Grave page for a John W. Bethel that may or may not turn out to be the father of these Bethel children.
Find-A-Grave page: John W. Bethel
According to census records that I've found for John Bethel, John Bethel was born around 1824 in Pennsylvania.
I'm hoping to find a Will for John W. Bethel that might have been created in either Missouri or Oklahoma and I'm hoping that this Will, if it exists, would have the names of his children in the Will.
I've found that most Wills tell when the person that created the Will had died and sometimes the Will also tells where the person died. This information would help prove that this was the correct John W. Bethel that was found on that Find-A-Grave website page.
I haven't found out when Sarah J., nee Hess, Bethel died or where she was buried.
According to census records that I've found for Sarah J. Bethel, Sarah, J., nee Hess, Bethel was born around 1825 in New Jersey.
I think that perhaps Sarah Bethel might have died soon after the birth of her last child, Emma Frances, nee Bethel, Renfro, but I will need to find some proof of this.
Emma Frances, nee Bethel, Renfro was born in Edgewood, Effingham County, Illinois, in 1861, so I'll look at the genealogy records in the Effingham public library the next time that I'm down in Effingham, Illinois and see if there are any Bethel family history records in the Genealogy Department filing cabinets, where they keep the written family history records left by descendants of people who lived in the Effingham County, Illinois area.
I found Sarah Bethel and her husband John Bethel and their children on an 1860 Effingham, Illinois census record and then in 1870 I found Robert Bethel and Emma Bethel, shown as Emmi, on an Effingham , Illinois census record with their older sister Alwilda, nee Bethel, Baker and her husband, Andrew Baker.
I found John Bethel and Georgian Bethel on an 1870 Missouri census record and they had only their daughter, Fanny living with them.
I haven't found out when Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel died or where she was buried.
According to the census records that I've found for John Bethel and Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel, Georgiana, nee Anderson was born about 1850 in Canada.
On the Find-A-Grave website page for that John W. Bethel was a transcribed newspaper mention of the death of John Bethel and here's that transcribed newspaper mention of John Bethel:
Cassville Republican
Cassville, Missouri
Thursday, January 25, 1900
page 7
Uncle John Bethel, formerly of this place, died Tuesday, January 16, in Oklahoma, at the home of his daughter.
(transcribed by Judy Mayfield) June 2021
The only daughter of John Bethel that was living in Oklahoma in 1900 was Nora, nee Bethel, Wittmer, so it's possible that Nora was the daughter that this John W. Bethel was living with when he died.
Since John W. Bethel wasn't living with his second wife, Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel at the time of his death, it makes me wonder if Georgiana had died between the 1880 Newton County, Missouri census record that showed John Bethel, wife, Georgie A., son, Robert R., daughter, Faney, daughter, Norah, and son, Benjamin and the 1900 death date for John W. Bethel.
It's also possible that John W. Bethel and Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel got divorced between the years 1880 and 1900, but I'll have to find proof of that first.
Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel could have gotten re-married after the death of John Bethel in 1900, so without knowing Georgiana's new married name that will make finding records of her death more difficult.
I have found that the last name of Bethel is sometimes spelled with two "LL's" or just one "L", I don't know if it really matters that much.
Here is an obituary for my Great, Great Grandmother Alwilda Bysar or Bysan nee Bethell Baker.
Her full middle name was written on the back of a photograph that I have, but I can't tell if the middle name is Bysar or Bysan.
Wednesday, March 28, 1934, transcribed newspaper obituary for Alwilda B. Baker.
The obituary was printed on page 5 of the Effingham County Review newspaper and I found this newspaper at the Effingham, Illinois, public library, in the library's Genealogy Department newspaper microfilm reels.
Transcribed Obituary:
Mrs. Alwilda B. Baker, daughter of John Wesley and Sarah J. Bethell, was born February 7th, 1846, at Philadelphia, Penn., and died at Cowden, Illinois, March 23rd, 1934. Aged 88 years, 1 month and 16 days.
At the age of twenty years she was united in marriage to Andrew J. Baker, at Farina, Ill. To this union were born five children; Mary Elnora, who died in infancy; Charles S., who died in E. St. Louis, June 24th, 1923; and Mrs. Nellie Schaaf, who died at Chicago, December 28, 1923; Mrs. Alice McManaway of Cowden, and Mrs. Anna Pfister, of Edgewood. Her husband, Andrew J. Baker, died March 23rd, 1930, at their home in Edgewood, after a journey together of almost sixty-four years. Mrs. Baker died just four years later, both dying on the 23rd of March, and both were 88 years old when death called.
Mrs. Baker taught school prior to her marriage, she was cultured and a splendid conversationalist, being able to discuss most any subject with much more than the average ability. She was industrious and exceptionally tidy and exact about her home. Her long and continuous residence in Edgewood made her known to all as Grandma Baker. She was always ready to do what she could for the sick and needy, as well as take her full part in social and public affairs.
At the age of 17 she joined the Christian church at East Union under the pastorate of Rev. Clayborn Wright, and for more than three score and ten years has been a faithful student and firm believer in the Bible and helped in every way she could in church forego all active work, but always had a kind and consoling word for her friends, neighbors and relatives. Her death, while following only a few days illness, was on account of her age not unexpected, yet death when it comes is always unexpected and sudden, and brings sadness to all alike.
She leaves to mourn her passing on, her two daughters, four grandchildren, fourteen great grandchildren, three sisters, Mrs. Nora Whittmer, of Ponca City, Okla.; Mrs. Mary Willoughby, of Stratford, Okla., and Mrs. Emma Renfro, of Albuquerque, New Mexico; two brothers, Bob Bethell, of Champaign, Ill., and A.W. Bethell, of Joplin, Mo., a host of nieces and nephews, besides a very large circle of dear friends and neighbors.
End of the transcribed obituary.
I have been able to find Find-A-Grave website pages for the brothers and sisters of Alwilda Bysar, nee Bethel, Baker and here are those brothers and sisters in the order of their birth.
Alwilda Bysar, nee Bethel, Baker 1846-1934
Find-A-Grave page: Alwilda Bysar Bethel Baker
Virginius LeMartin Bethel 1848-1932
Find-A-Grave page: Virginius L. Bethel
Albert Wesley Bethel 1853-1936
Find-A-Grave page: Albert Wesley Bethel
Charles Henry Bethel 1856-1909
Find-A-Grave page: Charles H. Bethel
Mary Ella, nee Bethel, Willoughby 1858-1943
Find-A-Grave page: Mary Ella Bethel Willoughby
Robert G. Bethel 1861-1937
Find-A-Grave page: Robert G. Bethel
Emma Frances, nee Bethel, Renfro 1861-1960
Find-A-Grave page: Emma Frances Bethel Renfro
Then in 1867 John Bethel married Georgiana Anderson in Fayette County, Illinois and they had the following children.
Fannie, nee Bethel, Cornell 1868-1891
On November 22, 1887 Fannie Bethel was married to Calbert Cornell, in Carroll County, Arkansas.
Link: https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:S3HY-6PHH-CG9?i=219&cc=1417439
I haven't found out where Fannie, nee Bethel, Cornell died or where she was buried, but I did find a mention of Fannie's death on the 1907 Kay County, Oklahoma marriage record for her son, Albert W. Cornell and his first wife, Mattie Rogers.
On that 1907 Kay County, Oklahoma marriage record for A. W. Cornell and Mattie Rogers was a hand-written note from George and Nora Wittmer, the aunt and uncle of Albert Cornell.
The hand-written note stated that George and Nora Wittmer had taken care of Albert Cornell since the age of 3 years old when his mother died.
Albert Cornell was born in 1888 in Arkansas, so Fannie, nee Bethel, Cornell must have died in 1891, but the location of her death is unknown at this time.
You can see a copy of that 1907 Kay County, Oklahoma marriage record on the Find-A-Grave website page for Mattie, nee Rogers, Cornell:
Link: Mattie Rogers Cornell
Nora May, nee Bethel, Wittmer 1872-1934
Find-A-Grave page: Nora May Bethel Wittmer
Benjamin Bethel 1876-1896
Find-A-Grave page: Benjamin Bethel
Here's a Find-A-Grave page for a John W. Bethel that may or may not turn out to be the father of these Bethel children.
Find-A-Grave page: John W. Bethel
According to census records that I've found for John Bethel, John Bethel was born around 1824 in Pennsylvania.
I'm hoping to find a Will for John W. Bethel that might have been created in either Missouri or Oklahoma and I'm hoping that this Will, if it exists, would have the names of his children in the Will.
I've found that most Wills tell when the person that created the Will had died and sometimes the Will also tells where the person died. This information would help prove that this was the correct John W. Bethel that was found on that Find-A-Grave website page.
I haven't found out when Sarah J., nee Hess, Bethel died or where she was buried.
According to census records that I've found for Sarah J. Bethel, Sarah, J., nee Hess, Bethel was born around 1825 in New Jersey.
I think that perhaps Sarah Bethel might have died soon after the birth of her last child, Emma Frances, nee Bethel, Renfro, but I will need to find some proof of this.
Emma Frances, nee Bethel, Renfro was born in Edgewood, Effingham County, Illinois, in 1861, so I'll look at the genealogy records in the Effingham public library the next time that I'm down in Effingham, Illinois and see if there are any Bethel family history records in the Genealogy Department filing cabinets, where they keep the written family history records left by descendants of people who lived in the Effingham County, Illinois area.
I found Sarah Bethel and her husband John Bethel and their children on an 1860 Effingham, Illinois census record and then in 1870 I found Robert Bethel and Emma Bethel, shown as Emmi, on an Effingham , Illinois census record with their older sister Alwilda, nee Bethel, Baker and her husband, Andrew Baker.
I found John Bethel and Georgian Bethel on an 1870 Missouri census record and they had only their daughter, Fanny living with them.
I haven't found out when Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel died or where she was buried.
According to the census records that I've found for John Bethel and Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel, Georgiana, nee Anderson was born about 1850 in Canada.
On the Find-A-Grave website page for that John W. Bethel was a transcribed newspaper mention of the death of John Bethel and here's that transcribed newspaper mention of John Bethel:
Cassville Republican
Cassville, Missouri
Thursday, January 25, 1900
page 7
Uncle John Bethel, formerly of this place, died Tuesday, January 16, in Oklahoma, at the home of his daughter.
(transcribed by Judy Mayfield) June 2021
The only daughter of John Bethel that was living in Oklahoma in 1900 was Nora, nee Bethel, Wittmer, so it's possible that Nora was the daughter that this John W. Bethel was living with when he died.
Since John W. Bethel wasn't living with his second wife, Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel at the time of his death, it makes me wonder if Georgiana had died between the 1880 Newton County, Missouri census record that showed John Bethel, wife, Georgie A., son, Robert R., daughter, Faney, daughter, Norah, and son, Benjamin and the 1900 death date for John W. Bethel.
It's also possible that John W. Bethel and Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel got divorced between the years 1880 and 1900, but I'll have to find proof of that first.
Georgiana, nee Anderson, Bethel could have gotten re-married after the death of John Bethel in 1900, so without knowing Georgiana's new married name that will make finding records of her death more difficult.
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