Thomas Jefferson Bell

Still helping First Baptist Church of Pine Castle to compile their history, and ran across these two old photos of the founding pastor.

Thought I'd share them with ye socks.

One is a standard portrait.

The other is a bit more interesting, in that it shows the good parson standing outside a recently erected temporary church structure composed of palm fronds . . . now that's old Florida!

If any of you out there in the blogosphere have similar images or additional info on the early Baptist ministers from this little corner of heaven, it would be greatly appreciated!

Help find 26 missing names!

As noted in previous posts, yours truly is trying to compile the history of First Baptist Church of Pine Castle and could use a little help.

More particularly, I have found several sources stating that, on 6 August 1887, Rev. Thomas Jefferson Bell organized several local families "who felt the need for a place to call their spiritual home into a Baptist congregation. Twenty-six names appeared on the first membership roll."

But, nowhere . . . nowhere! . . . have I been able to find those names!

Any help solving this little mystery would be greatly appreciated . . .