Thomas IMEL

                   "Otterbein Chapel was not per se in the Indian Kentuck Valley.  But it drew members from the Pleasant Ridge area and was as much oriented towards Manville as Madison.  On 3 June 1867, the trustees, Robert Imel, William Imel and Henry Davis Jr. were elected with the intent to purchase a lot to construct a building on Bee Camp Creek for use as a church of the United Brethren of Christ (Jefferson Co. Mortgage Book 14 p. 273).  Robert Imel was presiding elder and Isaac Ball was Secretary.  A deed involving the purchase has not been found.  However an article in the Madison Courier of Nov. 9, 1869 noted that "Otterbein Chapel located at Bee Camp will be dedicated Sunday."  The book "Descendants of Peter Imel" said that Robert Imel, Dec. 6, 1815-Aug. 28, 1895, was a minister who moved to Bee Camp from Bennington in 1846 and built the United Brethren Stone Church.  After 1886, he moved to Kansas where he died.  Imel's involvement in the construction is confirmed by a mortgage dated 16 Jan. 1872 in which the trustees for the Otterbein Chapel, United Brethren Church at Bee Camp, borrowed $866.99 to pay Imel "for work, labor, money and material in erection of said church building."  The exact property description is not given, but refers to a border tract owned by Henry Davis and cites Deed Book 25 p. 420 for a more specific location. This date from Gabriel Woodfill to Henry Davis, dated 3 Apr. 1865, was for 20 acres in the NE1/4 Section 33 Twp. 4N Range 11E.  Bee Camp Creek crosses this quarter section.  Perhaps the fact that the church still owed Imel money for construction three years later is responsible for the church's eventually moving to Madison.  On March 15, 1873, Otterbein elected the following trustees:  James Bingham, J.W. Connett, J.W. Denning, Joseph Gray and John W. Brandon (Jefferson County Miscellaneous Records Book 1 p. 219).  The election notice also reported that trustees voted to acquire land "to be erected a house of worship."  It is not known why the church abandoned the stone building.  Perhaps, they did not pay back the notes, as there is no listing of the cancellation of the mortgage.  Perhaps, also life was complicated by the fact that Robert Imel appears to have become a Baptist as he was granted the right to preach at Milton Baptist Church on the 3rd Saturday in January 1872 (Church records), assuming this is the same man.  Perhaps the Baptists took over the church building as the Bee Camp Baptist Church made its brief appearance at the Madison Baptist Association in 1872."

"A large number of the relatives and friends of James M. Imel and family, assembled at their home near Ford, 10 a.m. Friday, to participate in the last sacred funeral rights of grandfather Imel, whose spirit passed from its earthly tabernacle, August 28th, 1895, aged 79 years, 8 months and 23 days.  The funeral services were conducted by Rev. Winslow, who delivered a touching and sympathizing discourse from Rev. XXI-1 "and there shall be no more sea".  Robert Imel was born in Green county Ind. Dec. 26, 1815; was married Sep. 17, 1835, to Elizabeth Leatherbury, with whom he lived a faithful husband and father for three score years and from this union eleven children were born, six of which are now living, four sons and two daughters. The subject of this sketch was converted to Christ in 1843, and began immediately to labor as a minister of the gospel with the United Brethren followers of Christ but the latter part of his life was in connection with the Baptist brethren.  He continued strong in the faith till the end, and like the Servant of old his "last days were his best days."  His remains were taken to the Spearville cemetery and laid to rest beside those of his beloved wife, whose spirit had crossed the river of peace and entered the Golden gate about three weeks previous, and for whose companionship the aged husband during their short earthly separation almost incessantly mourned."

Also in the household were Charles and Cordelia McCoy, described as adopted, both born in Kentucky
                  

                   Drowned in the Ohio River
                  

                   (Compiler's note:  in 1997, this tombstone was illegible).
                  

                   Listed on 1860 census as age 30
                  

                   Enlisted in Company G, 29th Indiana Infantry.  Mustered in on 4 Oct 1864 at Columbus, IN, with a one-year comittment.  Draft papers state that he was 37 years old, grey eyes, light hair and height of 5' 11". Discharged on 26 Jun 1865 at Chattanooga, TN.

bur:Brushy Fork Cem