Hoping this church information might help someone. I was delighted to
find it a few years ago on my Lyon ancestors.
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
------Source:http://www.rootsweb.com/~inowen2/salemchurch2.txt
Debbie Jennings wrote:
Barb
You ask some very interesting questions, and I am not certain that I can
answer them.
I myself am still searching for these churches today.
One of the earliest Presbyterian Churches that I have come across was the
Bethany Presbyterian in Montgomery township in the year 1820.
The first sermon preached in the county was by Hugh Barnes, a Methodist
preacher at the house of John Hudson in 1818.
A few different things need to be looked at in searching these churches
especially with the information you have on your ancestors residing in
Washington township.
If you look at the link I have for maps in Owen county, the earliest one is
in 1819 and the county was divided simply into only 3 townships.
Montgomery township in the northern 1/3.
Washington township just below that and the Franklin township in the
southern 1/3.
Common sense dictates that a church could well be in Montgomery township by
the line and still be accessible by someone just over the line in Washington
township, most especially if this was the only church in the area of their
denomination. Some early churches were simply held in the homes of people.
For further information on these churches you might wish to check different
links on my website.
Check the one for Bible and Church Records- this shows the membership of the
Bethany Presbyterian Church.
Check the one for the Owen maps to see the different townships.
Down further on the front page, check the link for "Church Histories."
Most of the listings I have for church members I have gleaned from
obituaries or from biographical texts on these people.
There are a few that I actually have the listings for such as Bethany
Presbyterian, Alaska Christian as well as Little Mount Baptist.
Many of these memberships will come in piecemeal such as the ones listed in
Alaska Christian church's history that transferrred to Olive Christian
church I can list as members of that second church; I don't however have a
comprehensive listing.
Anyone having information where their ancestors attended church, please send
it in for inclusion in these listings.
Debbie Jennings
----- Original Message -----
From: <PalTia(a)aol.com>
To: <inowen(a)rootsweb.com>
Sent: Thursday, July 02, 2009 7:31 PM
Subject: [INOWEN] Researching Old Churches
> How does one go about finding which churches existed in the 1800's?
>
> My 3nd G. Grandfather John Dunn and his wife Margaret Carr (Karr, Karn)
> came to the area in 1817 and were instrumental in founding Owen county.
> GGG
> Grandfather John Dunn was the first Judge in Owen Co, started the first
> Ferry and my GG Grandfather, John R. K. Dunn was the first white child
> born in
> the area. They lived pretty much in Washington Township, but I have also
> read that they helped found Spencer too. They were staunch Presbyterians.
> How
> would I go about finding the Church they attended?
>
> Barb
> **************Dell Summer Savings: Cool Deals on Popular Laptops – Shop
> Now!
>
(
http://pr.atwola.com/promoclk/100126575x1222696924x1201468348/aol?redir=h...)
>
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