County Spotlight: Marion County

 

Canyon Trail, Silver Creek Falls, Marion County

Thus saith the Lord, stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls…Jeremiah 6:16

Marion County was one of the original counties in Oregon, created in 1843 as Champooick District, then Champoeg County, then Marion in 1849. The county seat is Salem, which is also the state capitol.

The Methodists are well-documented in Marion County with Jason Lee’s mission established in the mid-Willamette Valley in 1834. The Methodists Episcopal Church had a strong presence in Marion County, but there are other religious groups who also played an important role in the early settlement of the Willamette Valley.

Marion County, OR

From the last decade of the eighteenth century to the mid-nineteenth century, America experienced the Second Great Awakening. While established Protestant denominations such as the Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians benefited from the increased interest in Christianity, the Awakening also gave rise to other groups. One was the Restoration Movement, more informally known as the Campbellites. The proponents of this movement were intent on restoring the church to New Testament simplicity and unity, hoping to move the Protestant church away from denominationalism. They wanted to be identified simply as “Christian” or “Disciples of Christ,” or “Church of Christ.” And, as such things go, those became denominations themselves. Nevertheless, their ideal was Christian unity. In researching Oregon history, one finds the Restoration Movement everywhere. Those converted in the Second Great Awakening in the Midwest and Southeastern United States, were also drawn to join the migration to the Oregon Territory, sometimes whole churches forming one wagon train.

Elijah Pope was a Baptist minister in Kentucky during the early days of the Great Awakening. He was part of a movement among the Baptists to adopt the beliefs of the Restoration Movement. One of his great-grandsons, Elias Cox, became a Christian at a young age and, obviously influenced by his family, became a Christian Church minister. He was born in 1823 in Indiana, moved to Illinois soon after, and then the family moved to Missouri. In 1843 he married Jemima Griffin and in 1846 they headed for Oregon by ox team with his parents. Jemima, sadly, did not survive the trip and Elias and his parents arrived in the Willamette Valley in 1846 without her. He caught gold fever in 1849 and went to California, returning the same year. In 1851 he married Lucia Tucker, a marriage that produced eleven children. Around the same time, he took a Donation Land Claim of 640 acres near Silverton, in Marion County, which became part of a community called Bethany. They lived there for 39 years, raising their children.

As was typical of members of the Restoration Movement, they started a church. Elias was known for his dedication to preaching the Gospel and was a minister for 50 years, establishing the first congregation of what eventually became the Silverton Christian Church. The first meetings were held in his home in 1851 with 27 members. In 1858 he donated part of his property as the location for the first church building at that time called Bethany Church. It is believed to be the oldest Christian Church building in the state. It stood for 90 years before being torn down in the 1940’s.

He and Lucia also donated the land for Bethany Cemetery which was near the church. A school was organized, again on land donated by Elias, now the site of Bethany Charter School, and there were plans for a college with land set aside across from the school site, and construction work begun, but lack of funds and a leader’s decision to support another college in Polk County derailed the project.

When Elias and Lucia officially donated the land for the church and cemetery, the deed stated: “To have and to hold forever and ever.”

There is an interesting twist to this tale, concerning the land Elias Cox dedicated to church, schools, and cemetery. There is a new church in Silverton, “Revival Church,” which is an offshoot of a parent church in Albany, a “Bible believing, Holy Spirit empowered” group dedicated to “the Ministry of Reconciliation.” My daughter, who visited the new Silverton group, asked why they chose Silverton as they knew nobody in town, just bought property and started services.

She was told the Lord told them to go there. The property they purchased, was – unknown to them – on the old Cox family land claim, just up the road – less than half a mile - from Bethany Pioneer Cemetery, Bethany Charter School, and the old Bethany Church site, land Elias Cox dedicated to the Lord, “To have and to hold forever and ever.”

God does not forget.

Marion County Commissioners are Kevin Cameron, Danielle Bethell, and Colm Willis. The Board mission is: Provide leadership on critical policy issues, ensure fiscal accountability, and promote citizen empowerment to enhance the health, safety and livability of our communities.

The Commissioners recently approved 1.9 million in funds to reopen G-pod of the Marion County Jail, overseen by Sheriff Joe Kast. This will add 55 beds to the facility by summer of 2023. G-pod was closed in 2011 due to shortage of funds, leaving the jail now only able to hold the most serious offenders. They are also hiring 15 more staff and upgrading infrastructure. The Sheriff’s Office is also committed to working with programs that keep people out of the criminal justice system and to finding alternatives to jail time.

How do we pray for Marion County?

And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation. II Corinthians 5:18

Pray for the Commissioners: Kevin Cameron, Danielle Bethell and Colm Willis that they have wisdom and discernment and are able to fulfill the Mission of the Board.

Pray for the Sheriff’s Office and Sheriff Joe Kast. Pray the expansion of the jail goes forward and is successful.

Pray for the churches of Marion County and the heritage of faith that was established in pioneer times. Pray the “old wells” will be reopened and for revival in the county.