The Rev. Dr. Cornelius W. Wycoff
Fourth Pastor of Bethel Presbyterian Church
November, 1873 to October, 1913
Dr. Wycoff received his preliminary education in the public schools, Richmond and
New Hagerstown Academies in Ohio. He entered Washington College in his junior year and was graduated in 1862 with the degree of A.B. He received his doctorate from Washington and Jefferson in 1903. He was graduated from the Western Theological Seminary in 1865 and was licensed by Steubenville Presbytery. He was ordained and installed to the churches of Richmond, Bacon Ridge and East Springfield, Ohio on April 25, 1866.
He married Martha Bell Morrison on December 19, 1865. They bore six children, four sons and two daughters. One son died in early childhood.
When he received the call to Bethel, Dr. Wycoff replied that he could not accept due to the lack of a parsonage. Previous pastors owned farms and no manse was needed. On assurance that a parsonage would be built, he accepted the call. He rented a home at the foot of the church hill until the parsonage was ready for occupancy.
The parsonage was constructed across Bethel Church Road from the present church structure. The parsonage served the next two pastors and remained in use until the mid 1960's.
Dr. Wycoff witnessed many changes in the social life and surroundings of this community, but his spirit was ever young and progressive. He was continually visiting and ministering to his flock whom he loved and who loved him in return. He had the confidence and respect of the whole countryside.
Dr. Wycoff inspired the formation of the first Young Peoples Group in 1889. Our Christian Service Honor Roll includes six names from the period of Dr. Wycoff
=s pastorate: Rev. William Walker Morton, Rev. Kiddoo P. Simmons, Rev. Charles A. Larimer, Rev. William C. Johnston, and his brother, Robert M. Johnston, a medical missionary. He organized the Thirty-seventh District Sabbath School convention. He also taught a number of Normal Sabbath School training classes.