Mahlon Bewley
MAHLON BEWLEY was born Abt. 1766 in Henry Co., Virginia, and died December 04, 1831 and buried in Bewley Cemetery, Scottsville, Pope Co., Arkansas. He married Jane REED Abt. 1801, daughter of Nelson REED. Parents of Mahlon are Anthony BEWLEY and Sallie PHILLIPS.. According to the book Bewley Roots in Tennessee legend says that three Bewley brothers came to Greene Co., Tennessee from Virginia. They are presumed to be Anthony (father of Mahlon) and his brothers Nathaniel and Christopher. Josiah Bewley states in his Tennessee Civil War Pension Questionnaire (v.1) that his "great grandfather, Anthony Bewley, came to Greene co. from Va. His parents from England .. I think Holland."
MAHLON BEWLEY comes to Arkansas:Rev. Mahlon Bewley, Methodist Minister came to Pope Co., AR from Virginia, then Alabama between 1826 and 1830. Arkansas, at the time was in need "regular conference members who could give full time to preaching. Most of these had to be recruited outside the state ... Among them in these years we find ... the Bewleys (Nelson, Mahlon, Robert), from Tennessee. In the fall of 1830 Mahlon Bewley was appointed to serve the Arkansas Circuit; but he became ill (and died) during the year, and his son, Robert a local preacher, was secured to take his place. Robert is quoted as saying later : The only church in the place [Little Rock] was a log cabin belonging to the Presbyterians. It was in this house [in 1831] that the first Methodist society was organized, and worshipped for a long time." (Methodism in Arkansas, 1816-1976) It is said that during these early years Mahlon Bewley and his sons, Nelson and Robert, pioneered Methodism in the northwestern part of Arkansas.
He settled in Boiling Springs. "One of the first settlements in Pope County was the Boiling Springs community which was located about a mile west of where the city of Hector now stands. A large camp meeting was held at Boiling Springs in the early 1830's. As an outgrowth of this meeting, the first Methodist church in Pope County was established by Rev. Mahlon Bewley and his four preacher sons: John M., Robert S., George W., and Nelson R. The church was organized and a log building erected in 1832. [The church and church records burned. A brush arbor and huts were built in this area for camp meetings but were burned during the Civil War. In 1970 the cemetery had 514 unidentified graves with native stone markers but no names.] (Courier Democrat 8/31/1988) Rev. Bewley is also credited with naming Boiling Springs. The name was given because the water seemed to just boil up out of the ground for no apparent reason and created a pretty good size branch. Boiling Springs is also called Boiling Springs Campground and by some simply Campground.
Rev. Mahlon Bewley opened the first school in the area. The school was first held in his home and later in the church building. Teachers were Rev. Bewley, his son, Robert, and his son-in-law Benjamin Langford." (History o f Pope County, Arkansas, v.1) It is also written that Boiling Springs was actually several small streams that boiled up through pure white sand. The spring provided natural filtration for the water. And that the Boiling Springs Cemetery was not a regular burying place until the Civil War, as in those pioneer times, only a few families resided in this area. (Letter written to Mrs. Ira Sparks, Russellville)
Many Bewley descendants still live in the area today. He died c1831and is buried in the Bewley Cemetery in Scottsville, Arkansas. There are "27 graves with sandstone markers, no names or dates. There are 6 pen rocks. The following information is from the memory of Jake Garrigus.." (Cemeteries of the Buck Mountain, Pine Hill and Scottsville Communities in Pope County, Arkansas, by James & Alta Ballard and C.L. & Lina Boyd.) "The following reference to the pioneer epoch is from the pen of Hon. John R. Homer Scott, of Russellville: ...I look back to the good old days with wonder, astonishment and sadness at the change ...that we might again realize and enjoy the blessings ... which were once very pleasant ... and have with us again ... such grand, congenial noble men for fellowship as ... Benjamin Langford ... Mahlon and John M. Bewley ... fondly remembered, but now no more, whose smiles, presence, company and counsel served to enliven, cheer and gladden our hearts. Peace to their ashes." (Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Western Arkansas, 1891)
Arkansas Gazette February 16, 1836
ADMINISTRATION NOTICE
The undersigned having obtained, on the 22d day of December, A. D. 1835, from the Clerk (in vacation) of the County Court of Pope county, and Territory of Arkansas, Letters of Administration on the estate of Mahlon Bewley, late of said county, deceased, hereby gives notice to all persons having claims against said estate, to present them to him, properly authenticated, according to law, within one year from the date of said Letters, or they may be precluded from deriving any benefit from said estate ; and if said claims be not presented, within five years from the date of said letters, they will be ever barred. Said estate is probably insolvent. All persons indebted to said estate, are requested to make immediate payment to the subscriber.ROBERT S. BEWLEY, Adm'r of the estate of Mahlon Bewley, deceased.
Pope county, Feb. 4, 1836. 9-3w
