Daily Baptist Encyclopedia Post by Jim Curran Bethel College is located at Russellville, Ky.,

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4h  · Daily Baptist Encyclopedia Post by Jim Curran Bethel College is located at Russellville, Ky., on the Louisville and Memphis Railroad, 148 miles southwest from Louisville. It was projected by Bethel Baptist Association in 1849. The main college building was erected, and a high school was ‘ opened in it, under the management of B. T. Blewett, A.M., Jan. 3, 1854. In 1856 a new charter was se- cured, and the institution entered upon its career as ‘la college, under the presidency of Mr. Blewett, in the fall of 1856. The institution was prosperous until the breaking out of the civil war. In 1861-62 the ,buildings were used for a hospital. In 1863 the college was reopened under the presidency of Rev. George Hunt. On the resignation of Mr. Hunt, in 1864, J. W. Rust, A.M., was elected president. Under his management the institution continued to gain strength, until he was compelled by impaired health to resign, in February, 1868. He was suc- ceeded by Noah K. Davis, LL.D. In 1872 the president’s house was built, at a cost of $7000. In 1873, Dr. Davis resigned to take the chair of Moral Philosophy in the University of Virginia, and the discipline of the college was committed to Prof. Leslie Waggener, as chairman of the faculty. In 1876-77 the northern long hall was built, at a cost of $20,000, ‘‘to furnish board to students at re- duced rates.” In 1877, Prof. Leslie Waggener was elected president, and is still in that office. Since the war Bethel College has steadily pros- pered, and is now one of the most flourishing insti- tutions of learning in the West. The faculty numbers 5 professors and 2 tutors, and the cata- logue of 1876-77 shows the attendance of 127 stu- dents. The college has an endowment in stocks, bonds, and real estate estimated at $100,000, besides the college ground and buildings.Bethel Female College is located in Hopkins- ville, Ky. It was erected under the auspices of Bethel Baptist Association for the higher educa- tion of women, and was chartered in 1854, The buildings cost about $30,000. Prof. J. W. Rust is and has been for several years past the president of this flourishing institution. The average number of students is about 100. The management and discipline of the college are excellent, and few schools in the country offer bet- ter facilities for the education of young ladies.(Note: the college became coeducational in 1951 and closed its doors in 1964. Ben Bogard was an alumni of this college) From the Baptist Encyclopedia by William Cathcart