historicbethel.org | Historical Bethel German Colony

News & Events

Help Us Win 2024 Small Town Showcase!

May 16, 2023

Small town with the most votes wins... please VOTE DAILY for Bethel thru July 15th to help us become one of the final five in Missouri Humanities' Small Town Showcase. Click the link below to vote! FROM MISSOURI HUMANITIES: We strive to highlight the uniqueness of...

Show Me Shelby County!

May 9, 2023

Shelby County Missouri has much to offer to visitors and you are invited to come experience a week of events, ravishing meals, historical tours, golf tournament, and music shows. Show Me Shelby County Target week – June 26-July 1, 2023 Monday June 26, 2023 Day --...

Mid-America Fiddling June Events

May 9, 2023

Mid-American Old-Time Fiddling - Celebrating over 35 years of Fiddling in Bethel, Missouri Located on Highway 15 about 45 miles northwest from Hannibal, MO Sun June 11 – Fri. June 16, 2023 Bethel Youth Fiddle Camp Age 7 – 17 Study with Master Fiddlers • • • Friday,...

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Our History

Bethel, in North River Valley, five miles from Shelbyville, was founded in 1844 as a religious communal colony by Wilhelm Keil and his German-American followers. Keil (1812-1877), an independent preacher, called his adherents “Christians.” Without a written agreement, they shared their property and labor, though private earnings were allowed. Bethel community was early noted for its handicrafts and musical band.

Membership was about 650 in 1855 when Keil, fearing Bethel too subject to outside influence, led a group west and established Aurora Colony in Oregon. Their expedition over the Oregon Trail is unique for it was conducted as a funeral cortege. Keil’s son, Willie, died before he realized his father’s promise to lead the group and was carried instead in the head wagon in a metal box, alcohol-filled. After six months and over 2000 miles, he was buried at Willapa, Washington.

Keil never returned to Bethel, directing affairs there by letter. When the colonies disbanded, 1879-1881, they held property in common valued at $109,806. Bethel supplied $64,328 of this and owned 4267 acres.