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The history of New Salem Presbyterian goes back to the time of our Nation's birth. The first President of the United States was in office, busy making important decisions about things taking place for the first time in a new government, and appointing men to fill offices that had never before existed.
President Washington, having visited this area at an earlier time in his life, was well aware of the unsafe conditions that existed on the northwest side of the Ohio River. He tried to take steps to protect the Frontier Settlers from the Indians, but was unable to influence Congress to provide a trained army until 1794. An army was authorized that year with the condition that they be discharged as soon as peace was made with the Indians, who had been the only inhabitants on the northwest side of the Ohio River until this time and still were a great menace to the small band of Presbyterians on the southside.
General Anthony Wayne was appointed by the President to train the army well before he led it against the Indians. The success of these attempts helped to make it safer for families to move into the area.
Over a hundred and seventy-five years ago a small hand uI of Scotch-Irish Presbyterians found their way here to what is now known as Ohioville from Westmoreland County, Pa. They had left family and friends and all the comforts of home behind. Fond memories of the Salem Church in Westmoreland of which they were members probably led them to call this Church by the name, New Salem, which is of Old Testament origin.
It is thought that other members of this first congregation came from the south side of the Ohio River.
This land where they chose to settle, establish their homes and start a church of their belief was a rich land, watered with streams and springs, clad with noble forests of hickory, walnut, ash, poplar, sugarmaple, wild cherry, elm and oak trees. Deer, elk, squirrel, rabbits and wild turkeys were plentiful. As one of the early church members recorded, "Nothing is wanted but cultivation to make this a delightful country."
As John Buchanan put it, "These early settlers were a sturdy, strong, Scotch-Irish people. They were compelled to suffer many hardships and privations, of which now we have but little conception. The forests were to be cleared, the ground to be broken up, and that by insufficient implements. There was no food, until it was grown, frequently families were dependent for their food upon what could be obtained from the forests by their rifles until corn could be grown. It was impossible to get food from the East; the distance was too great, and the means of transportation too poor. They were dependent upon the East for the absolute necessities of life, such as salt and the like. In case of sickness there were no physicians; medicines were not to be had."
Remember there was no Beaver County until 1800. Beaver became a town in 1802 and Midland in September of 1906.
At a meeting of the Presbytery of Ohio at Chartiers Church near Canonsburg, Pa. on October 25,1796, the Reverends John McMillin and Thomas Marquis were appointed to supply on the northwest of River Ohio "on the second and third Sabbaths of October, 1796." The next October, the Presbytery of Ohio met at the same place and "supplications" were made for supplies by Mt. Pleasant and New Salem Churches, and Reverend Patterson was appointed to supply one Sabbath at each place. In April, 1798, supplies were appointed to Mt. Pleasant and New Salem. On April 16, 1799, a call was presented to Rev. Thomas E. Hughes from the Mt. Pleasant and Now Salem Churches; he was the first settled Presbyterian Pastor north of the Ohio River.
The service this October, 1796 was held in a tent not far from the Caughey burying ground. This is located at the left of the driveway leading to the homes of Gladys Cunningham and the Barney Davis farm. Services were held in the tent during the summer months and in the crude humble huts of the members in the winter. A rough log church was built not farf rom where the present building now stands.
The early settlers, while they gave their energies to cultivating the forests with the axe, were not negligent of the still higher duty of religious improvement. The Sabbath was not a day of mere animal rest; but while it afforded needed relaxation from the severe labors of the week, was improved for their instruction in divine things, and for the solemn worship of God. Possessed of few books, pious people gave their attention to the Bible-, and so a degree of familiarity with the sacred volume was acquired by these earnest Christians which is seldom found among professed Christians today. The New England Primer was found in most of these Presbyterian homes, and was the means of most of the children's religious and secular education. From this book the child learned his easy Bible question and answer lessons. The Shorter Catechism was used for the older children. It also contained the A, B, C's in verse and rhyme of good moral content. They sang and memorized the Psalms. Parents had not yet found the convenience of committing the religious instruction of their children to the teachers in the Sabbath school, and their earnest efforts to communicate instruction reacted upon themselves, giving them a clearer conception of divine truths than they could otherwise have obtained. Bible knowledge was not as much diluted then as now, and sturdy theologians grew up in the humble abodes of the earnest, sober, hard working people.
There was a lot of work to be done, work for everyone in the family. It hustled the men folk to cut timber for shelter against the storm and the wild beasts of the forest. Women and girls had to ration the supplies left from their trip along with the berries and herbs they were able to find close to the camp. Theirs was a fight against time to keep starvation from the door.
In the year 1822 the rough log church was torn down and replaced by a church built of hewed logs. The present building was erected in 1850. The grounds where the church now stands was given by George Foulks; later Andrew Glass gave a portion of the grove, including the church spring. The charter of the New Salem Church bears the date June 25, 1862, and is recorded at Beaver, in the deed book, vol. 43, page 198. William McMillin, Robert H. Barclay, James Cowan, Jesse M. Warrick, Andrew S. Glass and James AlCorn are named in the charter as the Board of Trustees.
Down through the years the faith of this congregation's Forefathers still stands firm. There has been no idle talk of God being dead. Their faith has been built on a strong foundation, the Bible. They have not been blown every which way by the wind, even though things have not always been easy. There have been periods of time when they had no pastor and the future looked dark. The pulpit has been filled during all these times by students from the Theological Seminary or by other available Presbyterian ministers. Even though there have been some drop out along the way the main core of believers were even drawn closer and have worked hard to carry on the Lord's work. The session has taken their work serious and seen that regular Communion Services have been observed, Sabbath School and Vacation Bible School were made available to the children of the congregation and the community, and elderly, sick and less fortunate have not been neglected.
First records of the Sabbath School in 1907 show the following officers: Superintendent Harry Derringer Assistant Superintendent J. Byers Brice Secretary & Treasurer Ross Alexander Assistant Sec'y. & Treas . Boyd Henderson Organist Leona May Caughey Sabbath School Teachers--1907 Samuel Parker Mrs. George C. Henderson George C. Henderson Mrs. J. Byers Brice Cyrus Caughey Miss Laura Cowan J. Byers Brice The earliest records of the Women's Missionary Society list 41 members in 1907. Mrs. J.W. Watterson, the last charter member died in 1955. This congregation has always been missionary minded. Records show that as soon as they had their roots firmly planted, they have been quick to see some way to help in spreading God's word. They respond quickly to the spiritual and physical needs of others. The following Ministers have served the Church: Rev. Thomas Hughes 1798-1807 Rev. Ezekiel Glasgow 1813-1814 Rev. Satterfield Stated Supply Rev. Valandingham Stated Supply Rev. William Reed 1820-1860 Rev. George Johnson 1861-1863 Rev. Albert Dilworth 1864-1865 Rev. D.L. Dickey 1866-1867 Rev. Alexander McGaughey 1869-1871 Rev. John R. Dundas Stated Supply Rev. William Kane 1875-1876 Rev. James Patterson Stated Supply Rev. Albert Dilworth Stated Supply Rev. Robert H. Allen 1901-1903 Rev. J. Byers Brice 1904-1908 Rev. H.M. Hosack 1909-1916 Rev. Alexander Gibson Stated Supply Rev. Charles R. Steffey 1917-1920 Rev. Earnest Mechlin 1920-1922 Rev. William Cowieson 1923-1925 Rev.Shannon 1927-1930 Rev. A.G. Montgomery 1931-1938 Rev. Francis Stewart 1938 Rev. Robert Knapp 1939-1942 Rev. D. Porter Williams 1943-1951 Student Supplies 1951-1954 Rev. Lucas Grile 1954-1958 Student Supplies 1958-1960 Rev. John Shearer 1961-1964 Student Supplies 1964-1969 Rev. Richard McCune 1969-1971 Student Supplies 1971-Present