New Salem United Methodist Church 5837 Canal Road,  New Salem, Ohio Pastor Roger McElfresh ‘Open for All’ “The Wiseman Family and the Old Church at New Salem”    HISTORY OF THE OLD CHURCH    Where my father and mother and my grand parents, both paternal and maternal, worshipped, and adjoining the grave yard where they and many other kindred were buried. The Methodist society was formed at a very early day, perhaps prior to 1810, at the cabin of my grandfather, Tillman Lewis.   In 1822 a hewed log house of worship was built, where the society worshipped until 1838, when a new frame church was dedicated, and which is still a comfortable house of worship.  This church is just over the county line (Perry), near New Salem.   In these two houses of worship the eloquent voices of Gough, Findley, Jacob and James Hooper, Homer Clark, David and Jacob Young and Joseph Carper were often heard. The leading members of this church in the early years were:   Samuel Wiseman, Rev. John Wiseman, the Hoopers, Tillman Lewis, Jacob Ortman, Judge Swayze, Daniel Lewis, Daniel Swayze, John M. Snyder, Joseph Walmire, William Kenestrick, James Civil, John Hanby, George Williams, Benjamin Linnville, John Aldred, Isaac Wiseman, James Wiseman, Samuel Wiseman Jr., Geo. B. Wiseman, Simon Ortman, Jno. Goldthwait, Jno. Lafferty, Isaac Wiseman, son of Samuel, Judge Wiseman, Jacob G. Wiseman, Philip Smith Wiseman, Cornelius Diltz, Peter Sperry, George Norris, George Stinchcomb, David Cullers, Philip King, Abram Watson, C. Trovinger, Edward Berry, Sr., Edward Berry Jr., Lorenzo Dow Wiseman, Benjamin Wiseman, David Swayze, and many others whose names cannot now be recalled. To this list must be added the worthy Christian wives of these men, and many of the descendants. All have passed to the great beyond, and the Father of all has---                 “Taken them in immortal trust.                   Ashes to ashes, dust to kindred dust.                   Till the last angel rolls the stone away                   And a new morning brings eternal day.”   The first body buried in the grave yard was that of the wife of Christian Smith, the first owner of Grandfather Lewis’ farm.   Smith lost the farm on a foreclosure, and grandfather traded his Pickaway county farm with the purchaser.   Mrs. Smith said that if she could not own the farm she would at least be buried there, and she was.   No stone marks the grave.   About the year 1844, a young colored boy, son of old Perry Cooper, was buried there, but no stone marks the spot.   In 1837, this church society came very near being disrupted, and the trouble did not heal over for many years.   A new church was to be built, and those living in the village and their relatives favored building the structure down town.   Families were divided, and the contest was a very bitter, unchristian one.   Men who had been the best of friends did not speak for many months. The friends of the old location contended that the new church at the grave yard would cause greater care for the dead, and they prevailed by a large majority, and the majority paid for the church. Joseph G. Wiseman laid the foundation for the new church, and now, after 64 years, it is as firm as at first. The writer remembers with pleasure attending church in the old log meeting house, when common benches; without backs or rests of any kind were used for seats. In this old church he distinctly remembers the preaching of good old David Young.   This was 65 years ago.   The new church gave joy and comfort to the worshipers, and the membership was increased; notwithstanding the defection, for a time, of the Salem members. This church was always popular with the circuit and crowded to overflowing at quarterly meetings. Here we have seen and heard William Coulson and Daniel Baker of Rushville: Thomas and David Wilson, of W. Rushville: Zebulan Holliday and Dr. Evans, of Bremen: Father Elder, father of Hamilton Elder, of Perry County: Randolph Mitchell, of New Reading: the Kempers, of Thornville, and James Watson, of Mr. Zion, all brainy, pious, forceful men.   And last and best of all, Rev. Jesse Stoneman, the first circuit rider to preach in Perry county or Fairfield.   He was entertained by my father, and I cared for his good horse. It is now 100 years since he preached his first sermon in this county.   His dust reposes in the graveyard at Thornville, Perry county, O. How many people, who daily pass that graveyard are aware that it holds the dust of the first circuit rider appointed for this circuit by Bishop Asbury?   We are aware that Rev. James Quinn was his associate, but if we have read aright, Stoneman was the preacher in charge. Thoman Watson, a grand old Scotch-Irishman from the north of Ireland, came to Walnut township at an early day with his family.   He lived south of the Great Swamp, now Buckeye Lake.   He was one of the early members of the society, and in his cabin and that of Tillman Lewis the early preachers held their meetings. He died in 1822, and we believe he was buried in the old Salem graveyard.   We know that his son Richard was buried there and others of his family.   His son James remained upon the old home and was also called by one of the old preachers in his journal, Lewis Chapel.   A daughter of Thomas Watson married Hugh Andrews, father of the venerable John Andrews.   She with her family attended this church.   Whether she was a member or not we cannot state.   In addition to the names mentioned, James Miller and James Allen were early members, but later, in 1832, united with the Protestant church. Thos. Watson, the Hoopers, Tillman Lewis, Rev. John Wiseman, Samuel Wiseman, James Miller, James Allen and John Goldthwaite were undoubtedly the very early members of the society. James and Jacob Hooper were both preachers before the first church was built. John Goldthwaite was one of the earliest members of this society.   He was a class leader and a very zealous member of the church. He died in 1829, 73 years ago. We doubt if there is any one living who personally knew him.   His grave is marked by a modest stone about 30 feet north of the church. On this stone is inscribed his hope of immortality. He established the first nursery of grafted fruit in Fairfield county.   This was located about two miles from New Salem on the Lancaster road, on the left hand side.   A cottage stands upon the ground once occupied for the nursery. There are two or three apple trees there, and if we mistake not, grew up in the old nursery.  After Goldthwaite’s death his family moved to New Salem.   They lived on the lot just north of the German Reformed church.  About the year 1837 his son Oliver, mother and two sisters moved to Marion, Grant county, Indiana.   A man named Hogan, who was a tailor and lived on the old Dr. Brock corner, moved with them. The grand children of Goldthwaithe live in Marion and are highly respected, influential citizens. Mr. Goldthwaite was a native of Springfield, Mass. He came to this county as a teacher from Marietta in 1802. He taught in Athens in 1801. Jacob Ortman, the grandfather of Benson Ortman, was one of the leading members of this church. He was a quiet, modest, unobtrusive man; but his influence was very great.   He was not a noisy mixer, nor was he much of a visitor, even among relatives.   The church and the sick received his undivided attention.   He was a great reader and owned good books. Everybody respected Jacob Ortman for his modest demeanor, his integrity and his every-day Christian life. His daily life demonstrated to everyone what his Christian profession meant.   I recall his gray head, near the window, on the front seat of the west side amen corner.   Tillman Lewis, the father of this society, being quite deaf, usually sat in a chair within the altar.   But he was often to be seen on the seat in the rear of the preacher in the pulpit. He was a man of fine taste for his opportunities, and was scrupulously cleanly in his person and always well dressed.   He spoke good English, but could only read the German language, and this put him to some disadvantage at times.   When in good health he was a regular attendant at all church services, and frequently led in prayer meeting.   His talks were interesting at such meetings, and effective.   He was the grandfather of the late Homer C. Lewis. David Swayze, one of the old members named, was a merchant on the corner now owned by Frank Andrews, and built soon after the town was laid our by Abraham Harckbarger in 1832, by a man named John Price.   Swayze lived in Lancaster before moving to New Salem.   He had earlier lived in Rushville.   His wife was a daughter of John Walter, an old citizen of Lancaster.   He left New Salem early in the forties in company with Isaac Wiseman, son of Samuel, who married his daughter Elizabeth. He moved to Kalamazoo, Mich., where Wiseman in a year or two died.   His funeral, for the benefit of the Wiseman family, was preached at New Salem by Rev. Jacob Young, who said that whenever he came to New Salem he was greeted by the warm hand of Isaac Wiseman.   In the year 1839, Swayze was returning from Lancaster and took refuge from a storm under the shed of the Fetter barn at the foot of Fetter’s hill.   Lightning struck the barn and killed his horse, and in falling partly fell upon Swayze.   Mrs. Fetter, mother of George, and her daughter, ran to his assistance and extricated him from his perilous position, and carried him to a safe place.  The rain descended upon the apparently lifeless man, he revived, and was removed to his home where he soon recovered. We learn that his daughter Elizabeth is dead, but Mrs. Emma A. McCarty and her sister Caroline live in Aurora, Illinois.   They were handsome, refined, elegant young ladies, and became leaders in the society of their new home. David Swayze was born in Morris county, New Jersey, January 10, 1796.   Before he was 21 years of age his father, who was a brother of Judge Swayze, settled on a farm near Rushville, this county.  He moved to Lancaster in 1822, and lived where the family of C. Winter now live.  He came to New Salem about the year 1836, and was the first regular merchant.   Daniel Lewis had previously opened a small store on the hill, near the Methodist church. Judge David Swayze and John Sakes Manly in early times belonged to the first society-able to build a church, in Fairfield county, at Richland Chapel on the farm of Daniel Stevenson.  Swayze lived there on the Noah McNaghten farm.   He afterwards owned the Linville farm, and he built the house where Dr. Baker lives.  On Bishop Asbury’s second trip to Ohio he spent at least one night with Judge Swayze.  On the third or fourth visit of the Bishop he rested several days with John S. Manly, who then lived where Caleb Ruffner now lives.  We believe we are correct in stating that Manly in after years joined the Salem society.   He and his wife are buried in the old graveyard. The church record has not been preserved and we have written the names of old members from memory chiefly.   We had the help of some old members before they went to their long home. The journal of Bishop Asbury is authority for the foregoing statements pertaining to his visits. Henry Nicely, R.D. Dean and Jacob M. Shade were members prior to 1839 of this church. Some old preachers who were known at New Salem.   Jesse Stoneman, James Quinn, John Meek, Asa Shinn, James Axley, Ralph Lotspeich, James B. Findlay, Charles Waddle, Michael Ellis, and Abner Gough were the most famous men who preached in the cabins of Tillman Lewis and Thomas Watson. The log church was completed in 1822.   Abner Gough was preacher in charge, assisted by Henry Matthews, who in a short time became a Lancaster merchant. They organized this society in 1820. James Gilruth was preacher in charge when the church was dedicated and Jacob Young was presiding elder.  In the years following 1822 and up to 1838 such men as Leroy Swormstead, David Young, Z. Connell, H. S. Fernande, Samuel Hamilton, Homer Clark, James Hooper, Joseph Carper, James T. Donahoe, Moses A. Milligan, Charles W. Swain, and James T. Hand preached there;   James B. Gurley and F.H. Jennings in the new church in 1838.   Kellogg, Carroll, Jacob Young and Dr. B.B. Cassett followed them.   Robert O. Spencer and James B. Findlay were presiding elders.   Rev. James T. Hand was an Englishman.   He owned a fine, gentle, sensible gray horse, and he told Simon Ortman that he believed that his horse had been converted. From 1840 to 1850 Daniel Lewis, Simon Ortman, Joseph Walmire and Daniel F. Linville were the most active members of the younger set of men.   Samuel Wiseman, Sr., Samuel Wiseman, Jr., and L.D. Wiseman were the fine singers of the society, but not the only good ones.   An entire new generation has taken their places. May they prove worthy of the great trust in their charge.