This old cemetery is one of the earliest in Jefferson Township, of which only three are known; Sulphur Springs, Bowers and Bethel. Jefferson Township was one of the last townships settled. On October 24, 1832 James Swope purchased the land on which the cemetery is now located. This cemetery was started in the 1830s when one of the first burials here was for six-year old William Crandall, the son of a neighbor to the north, another was for William Kerlin, four-year old son of Ephriam Kerlin, a neighbor just to the east, both of these deaths most likely victims of the cholera plague. These deaths were in the year of 1833, the year of the dreaded "Cholera Plague" of summer and fall of 1833. It is recorded that over a quarter of the population of Henry County died in that year, many of them young children. There are probably several more unmarked graves of cholera victims in this cemetery.    The Bethel German Baptist church was first organized on 14 Feb 1856 when the following were named trustees; George Hoover, Wilson Maddy and Joseph Rife. The church continued to use this cemetery up to the early 1900s. It is now under the care of the Jefferson Township trustee. The old cemetery is finally receiving the care it needed. There were several stones in danger of being destroyed, those have been taken care of and the cemetery is well maintained by the township trustee.    Thomas Hamm recorded this cemetery in the 1970s. I have tried to update the list with names that have been supplied by family and other records.