Delaware
Township |
Salem Presbyterian Church
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Formerly Upper Salem Presbyterian Church
The First Church in the
[Delaware] township, was Presbyterian, and during the early days of its
existence, was known as Upper Salem. It was organized in
1800. The first sermon in the congregation was preached on
the banks of the Shenango, near where Greenville now stands. Mr. [Samuel] Tait preached the
first Sabbath, and Mr. Stockton the next. After this
preaching was enjoyed at a tent near the site of the present Salem
Church. At the organization, J.
Stinson, Robert Mann, and Samuel
Williamson, were the first ruling elders. Mr. Tait was ordained as the
first pastor, November 19, 1800, in connection with Cool Spring.
This arrangement continued
until June, when Mr. Tait
was released, giving half his time to Mercer. In June 1813, Mr. Tait relinquished Cool
Spring, and gave a portion of this time to Salem, until the year 1826,
when he gave the whole of his time to Mercer. On the 13th of
October, 1828, Rev. James Alexander
was ordained and installed as the pastor of
Salem, in connection with Greenville and Big Bend. He was
released from this charge, June 15th, 1834. On the 12th of
April, 1836, Rev. James G. Wilson
was ordained and installed as pastor, in connection with Greenville. He
was released in 1851. Rev.
James H. Callen supplied the church a short time; also Rev. T. P. Johnson, until
1857. In 1858, Rev. James
Coulter supplied it, and in 1859 Rev.
David Grier. It has since been supplied by Rev. John W. McCune.
The present church is the third building. The first was of
logs, and situated a little below the present site. Samuel Caldwell, Sr., was a
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Churches
in Delaware Township in the 1800s
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Biography
of Rev. Samuel Tait
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very
active and prominent member, being, at different times, treasurer, and
a member of the session.
It
was customary to pay the early preachers in grain and other produce,
and Mr. Caldwell
states that his father used to collect it, and send him to carry it, on
horse-back, to Mr. Tait,
who resided near Mercer.
History of Mercer County, 1877, pg. 27
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