Salem Township Churches and Religous Societies

Salem Township Churches

Adamsville Methodist Episcopal Church
Beulah Baptist Church
Cumberland Presbyterian Society
The Fourier Society
Good Hope Lutheran Church
New Hope Lutheran Church
Salem Methodist Episcopal Chapel
Salem Baptist Church

Adamsville Methodist Episcopal Church

The Methodist Church at Adamsville was formed around 1840 by Rev. Thomas Ruckel. The initial meetings were held in homes and sometimes even in a barn that belonged to Noah Honnold. The first building to house the congregation was erected in 1842 on the west side of Main Street on lot 20. It was updated in 1866 and sufficed until the turn of the century. A much larger building was then built on land donated by Mr. Honnold in 1908 and was dedicated by Rev. J. D. Nulton. The church was remodeled in 1980 with a new wing added and is still in use.

The intial members included:
	Joseph and Sarah Stiers Mr. and Mrs. Michael Ellis Michael Ellis Ruth Ellis	Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Bailey Mr. and Mrs. Noah Honnold Ann Armstrong Thomas Roe

Some of the pastors serving Adamsville M. E. included:
	Rev. A. W. McVicker Rev. W. I Conts

The following sketch description of the old Adamsville M. E. Church appeared in The Adamsville Register Tuesday 12 March, 1901. It was Sketched and Stereotyped by Dr L F Long:

Since the Adamsville M. E. Church society are talking of constructing a new place of worship in the near future, it will be of interest to many of the Register Readers to know something of the history of the old church building now used as a place of worship. The building as shown above was completed in October 1842 and dedicated free of debt by Rev John J Swaze of the Coshocton Circuit. The site on which the building stands was donated by Noah Honnold. He also gave all the timber and stone needed and took the contract to construct a frame building 40x58 feet for $1000. Of this amount Mr Honnold gave $300 himself. Thomas Rose paid $200 and the other $500 was contributed by other members of the church. No definite action has yet been taken by the members of the Adamsville M E Church to erect a new church building but it is very probable that such action will be taken within the present year.

Beulah Baptist Church

This church stands about a half mile east of the Salem Methodist Episcopal Chapel. Organized about 1872 by Elder E. W. Daniels, it was the result of a series of revival meetings in the township. An acre of land was purchased, January 11, 1874 by Rev. Thomas Powell and bult a house of worship. other pastors have been Revs. Dunn, Barbour, Jordan, Skinner, Erwin and Daniels. The congregation has been without a minister for years and it is not known whether services are still held.

Some residents who first attended included:
	Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Darner Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Bowman Mr. and Mrs. Dolphin Winn R. J. Winn J. A. Winn H. N. Winn Hattie A. Winn Mary M. Winn William P. Winn Robert Scott	Mr. and Mrs. John Whitcraft J. W. and Elizabeth Bratton Lizzie Hunter Mary A. Bowman Emma Hardy Emeline Williams Mary Huff Lucy Williams Jared C. Williams Austin Lehew

Cumberland Presbyterian Society

The Cumberland Presbyterian Society was organized about 1845. It held it's first meetings in the Adamsville School house during inclemant weather and in a nearby grove during the summer or weather permitting. The first pastor was Rev. Cleaver. After his resignation interest wained and the Society was disbanded. During it's prospering years, it was well attended by many of the young towns people. Included in it's fold were Mr. and Mrs. James Lynn, Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mowry, John Richardson, John Dean and many others.

The Fourier Society

A society was formed in Section 18 in the 1850's that by today's standard might be regarded as a cult or commune. All the groups property was owned in common. The leader of the Society was Dr. Giddings, who resided near the Muskingum River. Some of the members, citizen's of the Milligan's School district were William Evans, Phillip and Anthony Baker. The Society eventually lost all of their holdings and moved to Hancock County, Illinois where the faternity bought a large tract of land. It is still known as the old Gidding's land.

Good Hope Lutheran Church

Not to be confused with New Hope Lutheran, Good Hope was organized in1868 in Adamsville by Rev. William Gilbreath. A frame house on East Street in what is none as "Cone's addition", was purchased and remodeled into a church. It was dedicated on November 5, 1871. It was updated again around 1923-24. The building sat on lot 7 and also served as the site of Henry Shirer's cabinet shop and unertaking establishment. The congregation dispersed in 1975 and stood empty until it was purchased by the Vensil-Orr Funeral directors and now serves as the only area funeral home.

It's charter membership included:
	Levi and Amanda Stotts Charles and Rachel Sturtz Sarah Wisecarver Elizabeth Wisecarver Elizabeth Wire John and Louisa Sturtz William W. Adams

Some of the pastors serving New Hope included:
	Rev. Anthony Weyer Rev. Samuel Kaemmerer Rev. H. K. Gebhart J. J. S. Rumbarger

New Hope Lutheran Church

New Hope Evangelical Lutheran Church was the first religous organization in the township. under the guidance of Rev. Anthony Meyer, the churches groundwork was laid in 1811. Charter members were:


	Jacob and Elizabeth Gaumer Philip and Maria Shroyer Peter and Susanna Werts Adam and Elizabeth Bainter Henry Bainter Samuel and Mary Shurtz Mr. and Mrs. George Shurtz Christian and Catherine Shroyer Jacob and Elizabeth Gaumer	Daniel and Hannah Gaumer Catherine Shurtz Margaret Shurtz Jon Shurtz John and Mary Ault Jacob Shurtz Abraham Shroyer Mr. and Mrs. George Stoner Mr. and Mrs. Anthony Slater

The first structure to house New Hope was built in 1814 on land donated to the church by Jacob Gaumer. The land was situated in the south western quarter of Section 12 and adjoined the Gaumer land. Jacob's wife, Catherine, was the first settler to die in Salem Township and she was buried on her husbands land. This land was donated to New Hope church in 1819 for use as a cemetery and was about 2 and a half acres adjoining the church.

The building was dedicated by Rev. Andrew Henkle in September 1814. The first elders of the church were Daniel Gaumer and Frederick Munnig (Minick). John Stoner and Jacob Gaumer were appointed Wardens. In 1833 the old structure of hewn logs was replaced which stood until the present frame structure was built across from the cemetery in 1870 on land donated by Jonathan and Mahala Gaumer.

The following is from the writings of E. S. Gaumer:

Jacob Gaumer, Sr. and his family and others founded a Church and Cemetery in Salem Township, Muskingum County, Ohio, known then and now as New Hope German Lutheran Protestant Church. The Church and Cemetery are located one and one half miles east of Adamsville, Ohio, on highway 75, running from Zanesville, Ohio to Coshocton, Ohio. The pioneers of the section of Muskingum County, Ohio, arrived in the year of 1806. They first located along the lowlands of the Muskingum River, where they became afflicted with ague, so frequently and seriously as to be forced to move to the hills. Here a more healthful location was found, the air more invigorating and plentiful pure water from perennial springs, issuing from almost every hillside.

They came from Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania; A number of these pioneers became Charter members of the New Hope Congregation. They were nearly all Lutheran or Reformed Church among whom the following family names were most prominent: Namely: Gaumer, Shroyer, Werts, Baintor and Sturts. These devoted people looked to their Sprirtual as well as their temporal welfare as they entered the dense forests to establish for themselves an earthly home.

They did not only entertain "New Hope" for their material prosperity, but, also, for their growth in grace. They were not here long before they sought to be administered unto the Word and Sacraments.

The New Hope Church was organized in the year 1811 by Rev. Anthony Weyer. This organization ante-dated all others of its kind, in a large scope of country in this section of Muskingum and adjacent counties, by several years.

The first Church was erected in 1814 and was dedicated by Rev. Andrew Henkel. It is maintained that the first funeral service in the neighborhood, Sept., 1814 was held in this Church. The congregation numbered about 40 communicants at the time, which gave proof of the need for a house of worship.

The first Church was described as follows: It was a plain log structure, with the usual clay fillings. The walls on the inside similar to those on the outside. The dimensions were 24 by 36 feet. There were two windows on each side. It faced the east and was situated on the highest elevation of the present cemetery ground towards the southside. The benches were made of slabs hewn with an axe. A narrow five or six inches wide served as a back for the bench. The floor was made of like material as the benches. There was a gallery to the rear and sides which was reached by a stairway similar to our step ladders. The floor boards as the gallery were loose and when one would walk over it the usual noise followed, often times to the annoyance of others. The young people occupied the gallery. Frequently there was not sufficient seating room, when the children would be required to stand as well as behave.

We can clearly understand how crowded the Church must have been when we learn that as many as 105 (one hundred and five) were present at one service. The pulpit was in the center of the west end. It was a high structure built of narrow boards, running up and down on the exterior. On the one side of the pulpit, were the stalls for the Church Officers. The two (2) acres of ground now the Cemetery was deeded by Jacob Gaumer, Sr., in 1819 for a consideration of four (4) dollars.

At this time, the following persons were trustees;
Phillip Shroyer, George Stoner, Daniel Gaumer and Frederick Yerian. The Ground also served as a burial ground and was the first public Cemetery in Salem Township, Muskingum County, Ohio.

Maria Catherine Gaumer, wife of Jacob Gaumer, Sr., was the first person laid to rest in its hallowed soil, which is now sacred to many by reason of the large number of people who have been interred there. She was buried in 1814. A simple illustration of the stone which marks her grave is given in the history of the Church.

The first trustees were elected in 1816. The following persons stand on record with that honor: Jacob Gaumer, Sr., Adam Bender, Daniel Gaumer, Phillip Shroyer, Jacob Gaumer, Jr.

The first pastor was Anthony Weyer who served from 1811 to 1814. He resided at Washington, Guernsey County at the time he served New Hope Church. Services were held every 3 or 4 weeks. Rachel Gaumer Bell (daughter of Jacob Gaumer, Jr. and his wife Elizabeth) and Grand-daughter of Jacob Gaumer, Sr. and his wife Maria Catherine, maintained that he conducted the first funeral service, which was her Grandmother, Maria Catherine Gaumer, the first person to be buried in New Hope Cemetery.

The fourth (4th) pastor was Sammuel Kaemmemer. He was requested to take charge of a congrregation in Zanesville, Ohio, and a number of others in Muskingum, Morgan and Coshoston Counties. He acceded to this request and took charge of eight (8) congregations, scattered over three counties, some of which were sixty (60) miles apart. Each year he had to travel three thousand (3,000) miles.

He remained pastor of New Hope Church forty (40) years, until the time of his death. The log Church gave way in 1838 to an imposing brick edifice. The large and growing congregation under Rev. Kaemmerer's care demanded a larger place of worship. The bricks for the Church were molded by Daniel Gaumer on his farm just south of the cemetery. Daniel Gaumer bought his fathers (Jacob Gaumer, Sr.) farm after Jacob, Sr. died and Daniel's son, Anthony owned the farm after his fathers (Daniel) death.

The brick Church was erected on the site of the log church and in some respects, especially as to interior arrangement is was modeled after its predecessor.

It was about 36 by 48 feet in dimensions and was plainly constructed of straight walls without any pilasters. There is a picture of this Church printed from a plate made from a drawing in the History of the Church, published in 1913.

The third (3rd) Church (as the brick Church was not strongly built) began to show signs of giving way. It was re-enforced several times, but, in 1870 the present Church was built. During the closing year of Rev. Bartholomew's pastorate. The one and one half acres of ground upon which it stands was donated to the Church by Johnathon Gaumer.

The Church and Cemetery are now on separate pieces of land, but adjacent to each other. The building committee consisted o the following: G. W. Slater, F. Bainter, A.A. Bainter, Charles Beck, Dr. P.A. Baker, S. L. Slater, G. W. Ball, A.A. Shirer, J.O. Shrigley, Riley Gaumer and Johnathan Gaumer.

The building is a massive wood frame structure 42 by 70 feet. It was built in a grove of native trees and its site as to beauty and loveliness can hardly be equaled, certainly not excelled.

It is said to be the largest and in every way the finest Church in Muskingum County outside of Zanesville, Ohio. I (the writer, E.S. Gaumer) visited this Church and Cemetery in the summer of 1951 and found a strong congregation. The cemetery was the most beautiful one that I have seen in central Ohio.

Salem Methodist Episcopal Chapel

A historical sketch of the Salem M. E. Church by S. N. Daily published in the Adamsville Register, March 1, 1904:

Salem Church was organized about the year 1830. The preliminary meetings were held at the homes of two families by the name of Spragg and Johnson. Mr. Johnson became the first leader, and the society bore his name until Salem church was built. In 1850 the need for a new church became so apparent that the question began to be considered in private conversation and public assembly. Subscription papers were circulated, and the building of the church became a possibility and an assured fact. Bids for the contract were solicited. Jacob Honnold being the lowest bidder, the erection was committed to him. In September 1852 the work was completed and in October following the church was dedicated, free of debt. On this the brother who sent in these historical items comments, "It seems if there is a will, there is a way." The first three leaders are long ago deceased. Those who built the church have nearly all passed to their reward. The few remaining are Susan Johnson, Mary Lacey, and S. H. Daily, all of near Adamsville, Wm. Daily, of Iowa, Jane Taylor, of Illinois. The third named united with the society in 1843, and is still a member of the same class. Rev. Weller was the first pastor, and Rev. W. H. Dallas was the pastor when the church was built. The church which now stands was built two or three years ago. Rev. Peoples is the present minister.

A cemetery used by the church lies west across the road from the church. It is now full and a new cemetery, Heavan's Gate, was opened down the road to receive any new burials.

The initial class consisted of:
	Richard and Eliza Johnson Mr. and Mrs. Benajah Spragg Mr. and Mrs. joseph Stiers Mr. and Mrs. Goodhart Trusler Mr. and Mrs. Solomon Baughman Mr. and Mrs. John Daily Joseph and Ruth Johnson Nancy Crane

Some of the pastors serving Salem M. E. included:
	Rev. Cartwright

Salem Baptist Church

The second oldest religous organization in Salem Township was the Salem Baptist Church. It was organized in 1818 and a primitive log structure was erected in 1822 near William Spencers property southeast of Adamsville. Two more structures were to replace the original building, one in 1838 and another in 1872 on the same site. The church was disbanded in 1924 and the building was eventually torn down about 1948. The Cemetery now known as Adamsville Baptist Cemetery is supported by endownment by the church.

The Charter members were:
	William and Catherine Spencer Jesse and Lucy Williams William and Elizabeth Cooksey John Laurence Amos Stackhouse Philip Shoff Sarah Shoff Elvira Shoff Mordecai and Hanna Adams	Isabelle Ackerson Rebecca Tennis Lucy Babcock Ethelinda Denison Rachel Jordan Susannah Hickman Sarah Whittenberry Lucretia Slack

One noted minister of the Salem Baptist Church was William A. M. Sedwick who also is buried in the Baptist Cemetery in Adamsville. He also preached at many other Baptist churches in the area of Muskingum and Guernsey counties as was the custom back then as there were many churches but few preachers. William, along with his brother George Cook Sedgwick, also a Baptist minister, founded Dennison University in Granville, Ohio in neighboring Licking Co. George Sedwick also started a Girls Acadamy in Zanesville. The family had more than it's share of men of the cloth. The following links relate to William Sedwick's family including a letter written by his own hand. Thanks to Nola Rodgers for sending me the links.

Last Updated on Sep 21, 2021

Denny Shirer