In the geography and history of Clay county “Bee Ridge” has been
a familiar name for three-quarters of a century. It designates a locality
in Dick Johnson township, an elevation, or ridge, on the south side of
Otter creek, crossed by the old Bowling Green-Rockville road, a mile
and a half north of the old Kennedy crossing of the National Road.
It was given this name by the early settlers because of the many bee-trees
found there in pioneer times. “Bee Ridge” has all along served a
triple purpose—naming a locality, a church and a school. One of the
earliest colonies, or settlements, in the county was planted on this terri-
tory and the immediate surroundings. Settlements were made, also,
correspondingly, in point pf time, at Williamstown, Cloverland and the
Wools hill, in Posey township. The colonization of this territory dates
back four score years. For the period of the first ten years, from 1828
up to and including 1838, the coming of the founders of this colony and
their immediate successors, as remembered by the oldest survivors, may
be enumerated as follows: John Huffman, Sr., and family of four
sons—Jacob, John, Abram and Henry Huffman—Jacob Goodrich, Daniel
Webster, Luke Akers, Joshua Webster, Lewis Fortner, Stephen Barn-
more, Alexander Cabbage, John S. Downing, John S. Yocum, Francis
B.  Yocum, Berryman James, Hiram Fortner, William Yocum, John
Stewart, James Fortner, Pleasant Baldwin, William Fortner, Thomas
James, George W. McCullough, Arnold Cabbage, Jonathan Murphy,
Daniel Dunlavy, James Downing, William Wyatt, John Lewis, Jesse
Sanders, Charles Culver, Nathan Compton, John Summerville, Peter
Sarchett, George W. Willoughby.
    Bee Ridge church was the first religious society in the north end
of the county, organized in the year 1833, at Elder Lewis Fortner's
house, Elders Crossley and Scrogans participating in its institution. Of
the membership of the original organization there is now no one living,
Mrs. Orpha Cabbage and Mrs. Mary Tiffee having been the last survivors.
Having no house of worship, meetings were held from house to house
among the membership. At some time the following year (1834) Elders
Fortner, Crossley and Scrogans emigrated westward, when Elder Will-
iam Yocum followed in their footsteps, holding meetings at the respective
residences, preaching the word and exhorting the brethren. Within the
three years following came Elders Jonathan Murphy and William Wyatt.
Having then held a series of meetings, Francis B. Yocum and Alexander
Cabbage were ordained, who took an active part in promoting the cause
and progress of the society. Four years from the time of organization,
in 1837, it was decided to build a house of worship. The location having
been chosen, which was the site on which stands the present church, then
an unbroken forest, a day was set to meet and commence work, when all
responded promptly to the call, the felling of trees proceeded, and the
logs were lined and scored by the axmen. Elder William Yocum hewed
the first log, as he did most of them. The plans for the house included a
chimney in the north end, a stove in the middle. The carpenter work
was done by Jonathan Murphy, Solomon Myers and Berryman James,
and the plan for the seating drafted by George W. James. Just before
the building of this church, within the same year, the society was reor-
ganized by Elders William Yocum, Jonathan Murphy, Alexander Cab-
bage and William Wyatt. Elders Cabbage and F. B. Yocum were, in
the main, instrumental in keeping the church together from this time on,
often visited and assisted by Brothers Kee, Davis, Duly, McKinney and
David Hayes. Later on came Elders Carney, Phillips and Akers.
    The cemetery was opened in the same year that the church was built.
The timber was cut and the ground cleared up by Levi Stewart, Beverly
Baldwin, Arnold Cabbage, George W. James, Samuel M. Stewart and
William Y. Downing, who also dug the first grave, in which was buried
one of Elder Jonathan Murphy’s children.
    A few years later, beginning with the early forties, there was a per-
ceptible increase in immigration and population, with corresponding
accessions to the church. Among the new-corners were men and women
with thankful hearts and willing hands to assist in building up the good
cause.
    The first immersions after the organization of the society, as remem-
bered, were those of Alexander Cabbage, Orpha, Cabbage, Mary James
and Campbell Gipson, in the month of December, 1833, in the waters of
Otter Creek, the brethren and lookers-on assembled singing:

                  ‘‘If your hearts be warm,
                    Ice and snow can do no harm,” etc.

    Of those who were grown at the time of the building of this church,
none survive. Mrs. Susan Akers Downing and John S. Downing were
then but small children. The data from which this brief account of the
settlement of Bee Ridge, the organization and building of the original
church has been written were communicated to the writer by George
W. James (deceased) twenty years ago. This church, as claimed by its
founders and patrons, was the first and oldest in the county. Undoubtedly
it was the oldest in the north part of the county. George W. James gave
1837 as the date of its building and dedication, but John S. Downing
gives the time as 1835. The present frame house was built and dedicated
in 1870.