Local History

Eleazer Snow, who became the first settler in the area in 1830, sold out to Moses Olmstead in 1831.  The town was first called Elizabeth, most likely named by Mr. Olmstead after Elizabeth, N.J., but the legislature, changed the name to Bethel, in 1838-39 (the word is Old Testament Hebrew for House of the Lord).  William T. Ammerman became the first postmaster on April 30, 1857, with the office operating in his home.

Informational excerpts from Michigan Place Names, by Walter Romig, L.H.D.

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