A History of the Salem Church
Written by Misses Laura and Ethel Anderson
Read at the Homecomings Sept., 5, 1926 and July 10, 1927

Salem Church, as we now speak of it, was known to our forefathers, the 
pioneer Methodists, as Ebenezer.
We have no record of the exact time this first church called Ebenezer was 
built, but probably about the year 1826.
It was located about a half-mile north of the present site, near an old 
tan-yard on the farm now owned by Frank
Montgomery. This first church was built of logs hewed by the men of the 
neighborhood. Mr. William Payne and wife
were members of this first church, joining it about 1831. We have no record 
of the ministers nor of any other
members of this church.
A short time afterward this church burned, and on May 7, 1836  Robert and 
Mathilda Dean deeded to Joel
Richardson, Valentine Lyon, John Dean, Robert Dean and Martin Gillaspy, 
trustees in trust of the Salem meeting
house-- a part of the S.E. Quarter on the N.W. quarter section 11, township 
11N, Range 3 west. (James Killough,
justice of the peace.)

Upon this plot another log church was built where the present church stands 
and was called Salem. Mr. Valentine
Lyons family, Marcus O'Rear family, Robert Dean family, Mr. & Mrs. Wm. Payne, 
Martin Gillaspy, John Dean and
Joel Richardson were members of this church. There is no account of the 
ministers unless it was Rev. Daniel
Anderson. 

About seven years later this building was torn down. Mr Hughes bought the 
logs of the old log church and built a
barn on the farm now owned by Jewell Evans.

About the year 1845, the present church was built. Many people donated money 
and work and the building was soon
completed. The people were so eager to hear the word of God proclaimed that 
they came for miles. There were very
few churches in the neighborhood then, Salem being older than Gosport, 
Quincy, Mt. Zion and Wesley Chapel.
Rev. Daniel Anderson was a circuit rider, and preached at this church. His 
territory included the following counties:
Owen, Clay, Parke, Putnam, Greene, Monroe, Montgomery and Vermillion. He was 
also Presiding Elder, his salary
was very small, often receiving nothing more than a new suit of homespun 
clothes. He died in 1851 and lies buried in
Salem church yard.

Old Salem was noted for its wonderful camp meetings. James Lyon and wife, 
William Anderson and wife, John
Cradick, George Cradick, W.W. Cradick and many others were prominent members 
at that time. There is no record
of the ministers of that early period, however Rev. J. W. Culmer was pastor 
in 1876. The first record shows in the
minutes that Salem was on the Indianapolis District with J.D. Crane as 
pastor. In 1897 we were changed to the
Bloomington District while Rev. Telfer was pastor. We have had such ministers 
as L.B. Johnson, J.T. Edwards, R.A.
Kemp, F.A,. Eller, M.C. McKown, J.F. O'Haver and a number of other good 
pastors.

In 1912 we were taken off the Gosport  work and put on the Quincy charge 
under the pastorate of Rev. T.M. Heaton,
O.B. Young was the last pastor while we were on the Gosport work.

Many repairs have been made such as painting the outside and inside, a new 
floor and windows. The storm in 1919
made it necessary to re-roof and plaster a part of the building. The ladies 
Aid bearing the greater part of the expense.
So now in 1927 after nearly, or exactly one hundred years of service we still 
have a place to worship, for which we
are thankful, and glad a few remain faithful to our inheritance.”

Submitted by Mike Dean