Like most Churches, in America, their history can be traced back generations.  The Church of Christ of South Salem, Indiana is no different.  For 173 years, South Salem has endured and faithfully served God's purpose.  Though much of its history was never written down or what was, has been destroyed, there is a lot of it that has been handed down from generation to generation and with that in mind, we present our story.

 

In the early - mid 1800's, before the Civil War, there thrived a little town called South Salem.  Records show that the first meeting house in Randolph County was placed at South Salem and people have been worshiping the Lord here ever since.

 

South Salem, Indiana is not a town anymore and has not been a significant area for settlers since the railroad decided to build a junction about 4 miles, as the crow fly's, northeast in what is now Union City.  South Salem was a small community situated on the Fort Wayne-Richmond Highway about 2.5 miles north of what was the first stop for those coming into Indiana from Greenville, Ohio but now best known for its restaurant, Bartonia.  The land was rich in timber and the people lived a simple life.

 

The following history is handed down from Charles Whitesel, Ralph Wasson, Norma Jean Wasson and updated to the present by George Caster, based on their recollection as told to or experienced in life.

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Charles Whitesel:

 

In the early years of the 1840's, there were living, in South Salem, a few members of the Church of Christ who decided to establish a church.  The church, being its members, first used a building which later became a barn for Vernie Polly who owned land along the east side of the highway or what is now called Arba Pike.  During the winter months, they would meet in their homes.  After a time, they began to meet in a room over David Polley's store.  In 1851, shortly after the establishment of the Post-Office, they built the first church building, which was later used as a barn by Harvey Bowman.  They met each Lord's Day and worshiped by singing songs, prayer and talks by the men of the congregation.  On July11, 1857, in a business meeting, it was decided they needed to clean up the building and furniture with "white-wash" and paint as well as pay off the old debt of $10.00.  By the use of pledges, that night they raised the necessary monies, having exceeded $36.00.  The following men took part conducting the meetings, held each Lord's Day:  Uriah Ballstock, John Hartman, Silas Gist, David Polley, John Harlan, W.D. Stone, Barnhill Polly and E.S. Polly. 

 

On February 20, 1859, W.D. Stone proposed a levy on a man's valuation in order to defray the expenses of the church.  A levy of $5.00 per $1,000 of a man's valuation was agreed upon and so levied.  Three days later, the committee appointed to nominate officers, did so and the nominees were accepted.  Harlan Harrison was called on to preach three-months of the year with the accepted Elders performing the remainder of the time.

 

During the Civil War, the women and children as well as the men who were left in the community met regularly and held together the best way they could.  On February 2, 1865, the people met in mass to try and arouse the community to its religious duties.  They elected officers and extended a call to Aaron Adams to preach God's word.  The first Revival Meeting ever recorded in Salem was held on January 27, 1866 by Hardon Harrison & B. Polly.  They added six to their number that week.  Beginning on October 28, for nine days, another revival was held that added 77 to their number of which 62 were through Baptism and the rest through a renewal of faith.  They again met before Christmas and through the New Year adding to their number another 11.  On January 9, 1867 $154.50 was raised to defray the expenses for the rest of the year.

 

W.D. Stone, who had been helping to hold the church together all these years, promised, on April 7, 1868, to preach three-months of the year for $50.00 upon which he would donate to those in need.  In August, 1868 word came from Aaron Adam's home that he was not in good health and the brethren took him communion each Lord's Day until September 8 when the Lord called him home.  Soon thereafter W.D. Stone resigned and moved to Michigan and his work was taken up by Enos Polly and on Christmas Eve 1868, with the assistance of Hardin Harrison, began a meeting that added 4 more to their number however, was forced to close due to an epidemic in the community.

 

Now between 1870 and 1919, many ado happened or did not happen at South Salem due to various things, one being World War I, which caused a sharp reduction in attendance.  Various men of God were called to this place to include W.D. Stone who returned in 1871 from Michigan and labored for the church when it was needed and in 1875 had one of the most successful meetings of the church.  It began with Mr. Brown in 1870, followed by W.D. in 1871.  J.H. Vinson, then a young man, came to us in 1880.  At that time, the meeting house was getting old and J.H. continuously reminded and campaigned for a new house of worship.  In 1882 I.P. Watts, of Winchester, got the call and with Henry Ohler and Samuel Shockney, raised the $2,100 needed to raise a new building which was dedicated on November 4, 1883.  Between 1884 and 1887, W.D. Stone, again was laboring for God at this place and it seemed to lag until an Evangelist, B.F. Aspy, was sent to "liven up" the congregation however, no significant success was ever noted.  Fermont Harter held a successful meeting the next four years and in 1893 a man named David Gary of New Castle began laboring for the next three years.  It is noted that he did good for the cause of Christ during this time.  1896 saw Alonzo Beard, again a young man, from Salamonia, took over and again was noted to have had a very successful revival.  Now from this time until 1900 there was really no real regular preaching done at South Salem however, there was a time when Emory Thompson, from Ohio, who had moved to a place in the vicinity of New Lisbon who did come and preach occasionally.  There was however a time when arrangements had been made for him to have a more full time presence but alas, he too moved on when he accepted a call to Illinois.  W.J. Howe, of Richmond, was called to replace Mr. Thompson and remained here for three years and did much good for the community.  1904 saw South Salem and New Lisbon call a man to labor for both churches.  They sought someone who could live on the field and not to commute to services each Lord's Day.  In 1905 saw B.F. Aspy back and in December of that year he began an evangelistic meeting only to have it come to a close on the 14th due to the death of Jason Williams daughter due to diphtheria.  January 1, 1906 saw B.F. Aspey began again where he had left off and saw one of the most successful meetings of the church.  He stayed with the church until he resigned in 1908 and T.A. Renold, of Muncie, took over.  It is noted that Mr. Renold's call came with an increase in salary of which Salem had ever seen.  1910 saw W.A. Guy, who at the time was preaching at Carnahan, Ohio, accept a half-time (six-month) preaching at Salem.  In 1911, J. Crocket Mullen, of Parker City, came when the committee could best send him.  Spartanburg and Salem called a man, by the name of Stancel, for one year.  O.P. Snodgrass accepted work and moved to Union City but soon was called to be with his maker.  A young man from Anderson by the name of Knome finished his time.  In 1916, the ladies of the church had Matthew Small come and preach part of the year and E.C. Nicholson preached occasionally.  In 1918, Spartanburg was richly blessed by the coming of a man of God into their midst by the name of M.R. Scott.  The burden of the Lord's work laid so heavily on his heart that he could not rest with the doors of the church closed and no services.  He found himself coming to Salem and preaching at every opportunity and held a series of meetings in 1919 without any notable results.  On December 19, 1920, due to a death in his regular church, services were cancelled and he came to Salem to preach.  At the invitation, six young people came forward.