New Salem United Methodist Church 5837 Canal Road,  New Salem, Ohio Pastor Roger McElfresh ‘Open for All’ The religious interests of the early settlers were not neglected.  Soon after the advent of the first pioneers, Rev. James Quinn, a noted and zealous minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church, made his appearance in Walnut, as well as several other of the townships of Fairfield County.  He frequently held meetings at the cabin of William Murphy.  At a very early date in the history of this township, the Methodists erected a small log church on the farm of Job McNamee.  Among the early members of this church were the Murphys, and others.. Revs. Charles Waddle, Abner Goff and James Gilruth were also early Methodist ministers, who proclaimed the glad tidings of salvation to the pioneers here. The Baptists also entered the field of missionary work here at an early date.  Elders John Hite and Eli Ashbrook were the first of the township.  It is probable that the first church structure in Walnut Township was built by the Baptists, under the auspices of Elder George Debolt about 1814.  It was a rude log building, situated near the first Methodist church referred to.  Of the early members of the Baptist Church were Thomas and Isaac Cherry, the Hites, Debolts, Ashbrooks and others.  These rude log structures have long since disappeared and not a trace remains to mark the spot where they once stood. About 1827, and soon after the formation of the Methodist Protestant Church, ministers of the denomination came into the township and preached a various places.  They were instrumental in causing many of the members of the Methodist Episcopal Church to withdraw their membership from that church and join the Protestants.  Ministers of other evangelical denominations occasionally held meetings, but were not successful in organizing churches of their creed. ‘ There are three villages in Walnut Township, viz: New Salem, Millersport, and Hadley Junction; also, about one-third of the village of Pleasantville is in the township. New Salem was laid out by Abram Hashbarger about 1832.  It is located in the southeast part of the township, and is a pleasant village of about three hundred inhabitants.  The first house in the village was built by John Pride, and was occupied by Abram T. Sweazy for a store.  This structure was on the corner where Linville’s store now stands. John Pennell built the second house; and Benoni Hoagland, the third one. The first hotel was built on the Ortman corner, and John Spitler was the proprietor.  This hotel enjoyed a very good patronage during the good old days of the stage coach, and hotel keeping in New Salem was a more profitable business in those early days than now. The first physicians in the village were Drs. Brock and Loomis.  David Smith was the first blacksmith and Richard Dean the first wagon maker.  The first post office was established about 1839, and David Sweazy was the first postmaster.  This mail route was from Lancaster to Jacktown, in Licking county, and the mail was conveyed by the stage coach.  The first school taught in the village was by Christopher Trovinger.  He held his school in a small tailor shop, which stood on the site of the present hotel building.  John Fix, now residing in New Salem, attended this school.’ The Methodist Episcopal church of New Salem was erected in the year 1838.  It is a substantial frame edifice, and cost about thirty-five hundred dollars.  Prior to 1838, and about the year 1820, the society now known as the New Salem Church was organized, and meetings were held in the houses of Thomas Watson and others of the early members.  About 1822, a log church was built, in which the society worshiped until the completion of the present frame edifice.’ John Wiseman, James Miller, James Allen, Thomas Watson, Tillman Lewis, George Stinchcomb, Samuel Wiseman, Elizabeth Hill, and Jacob Hooper and wife, were of the early members.  Rev. James Quinn, Abner Gough, Charles Thorn and Charles Waddle, noted pioneer Methodist ministers, were among the first who preached to this class.  About 1840, during the pasturate of Rev. Martin Kellogg a remarkable revival of religion occurred and about one hundred were added to the membership of this church.  In the winter of 1850 another great revival was had, and near one hundred conversions reported.  Rev. Levi Cunningham was pastor during this revival.  The present membership is 120 and Rev. F.S. Thurston is pastor at the present time.  A Sunday-school in connection with the church was organized about 1830.  Samuel Wiseman is present superintendent of the school, which is in a very flourishing condition.  There is a cemetery also in connection with the church laid out about 1822, which is the last resting place of hundreds of the early and later residents of Walnut and Thorn Townships.  A Mrs. Smith was the first buried in this cemetery; date of interment not known.  The cemetery is very neatly kept, and the grounds beautifully decorated with evergreen, shrubs and flowers.’ The Methodist Protestant Church of New Salem was instituted in 1832, by Rev. William B. Evans.  About the time of its organization, a log church building was erected on the site of the present church.  The society held their meetings in this church until 1856, when the present church edifice was built at a cost of about sixteen hundred dollars.  Among the first members of this society were James Miller and wife, William Hill and wife, William Shaw and wife, Jonathan Hill and wife. Revs. Sanford, Clark and Flowers were of the first pastors.  About 1833, a great revival was had, which added materially to the membership of the church.  There are about fifty members at present who belong to this charge.  A cemetery in connection with the church was laid out about 1834.  Mrs. Shoup was the first person interred in the cemetery.’ The village of New Salem at the present time contains one dry goods store, one drug store, one grocery, one harness shop, one carriage manufactury, one millinery shop, one shoe shop, one blacksmith shop, two butcher shops, two physicians, one undertaking establishment, one Masonic hall, and one brick school house, the school being under the superintendence of Prof. William Henry. Salem Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons was instituted in 1842.  The charter members were M.D. Brock, S. Baker, W.C. Galleher, Caleb Coplen, Joseph Linnville, J.Baker and J.H. Baker.  The present membership is about one hundred.’