Adelia
Bell (Belle) Sullenger, born 11 March 1854, Hartford, KY,
daughter of Francis B. “Frank” Sullenger
(1810-1873) and Susan Pigman Duke
(1822-19111), was one of eight children.
Belle married Doctor John T.
Bethel in 1883 and they lived in Henderson
County, Kentucky. Dr. Bethel had five children by his previous
wife, Fannie N. Thurman, who died in
1882. Dr. Bethel and Belle Sullenger
Bethel also had five children: Effie (1884-1938), Lila (1891-1925), Edward C.
(1893-1895), Edwin E. (1896-1896), and William G. (1899-1899). Dr. Bethel died in 1909 and Belle died 17 Aug
1915 in Henderson
County. She is buried in Fernwood
Cemetery, Henderson,
Henderson County, KY.
Fernwood Cemetery, Henderson
Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer, 17 Aug 1915.
Her husband, Dr. Bethel:
JOHN T. BETHEL, M.D., a
well known physician and surgeon of Henderson, Ky., was born near Ranger's Landing, in Henderson
county, his parents being Peter and Ann (Wilson)
Bethel, both natives of Virginia. His paternal grandparents came
from Virginia in 1802 and settled in Henderson county. The
grandfather bought three hundred acres of land on Green
river, for two dollars an acre, cleared a farm and lived the life
of a typical pioneer. He built a two story log house, the lumber in which was
sawed with a whip saw, and his wife spun the yarn, wove the cloth, and made all
the clothes worn by the family. It was on this farm that Peter Bethel grew to
manhood and lived all his life. When his father died he inherited the place and
died on the old homestead in 1892 at the age of ninety years. In his early
years he was an active Whig, but after the dissolution of that party he
affiliated with the Democrats. He was looked upon as one of the progressive
farmers of his neighborhood and was an influential citizen. Both he and his
wife were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church South. Doctor Bethel was
born on this old homestead, the third child in a family of twelve, and he, one
sister and a half brother are now living in this county. He was educated in the
public schools and the Corydon high schoo1. In 1862 he commenced the study of
medicine, and after reading two years under Doctors Powell and Dorsey, of
Corydon, began practice in March, 1864, at Pooltown, Webster county, Ky. He remained there
until 1893, when he removed to Henderson,
where he has built up a lucrative business. His practice is of a general
character and few physicians enjoy to a greater extent the confidence of their
patients. He owns a nice residence and office in the city and until recently
owned farm property in the county. Doctor Bethel is a member of the Free and
Accepted Masons, is a Democrat in his political opinions, and with his family
belongs to the Methodist Church South. He has been twice married. In 1865 he
was married to Miss Fannie Thurman of Ohio,
and by this marriage has two children: Laura Adel is now Mrs. W. E. Royster,
and John T., Jr., lives in Pudacah,
Ky. The mother of these
"children died in 1882, and the following year Doctor Bethel was united in
marriage to Belle Sullenger, a native of Hartford, Ky. Two children have been
born to this union: Effie and Lila, both at home with the parents. All the
children are well educated and Mrs. Royster is proficient in music.
Source: MEMOIRS
OF THE LOWER OHIO VALLEY, published 1905.
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