In 1856 about one and one half miles East of the present site of Edison
was constituted a Baptist Church which was named Salem. At the time that this
organization began there were no towns nearby. The country round about was
very thinly populated but these people felt the need of a place where they
could go and worship God and learn more of his teachings. They, therefore,
constituted Salem Church, which served as a meeting place for a large territory.

The Presbytery consisted of Rev. B. Simms, John Martin and A. P.
Mitchell. Some of the charter members who are responsible for the organization
of this church are Wm. Norwood, Ellen Norwood, R. G. Thurston, John Adams,
Eliza Adams, Wm. Adams, M. M. Thurston, Martha A. Dyson, James H. Little, S.
Young, Ben Duke, Diluean Duke. M. B. Hargrove, Geo. W. Collins, Sarah Collins
and Susan Colston were received into the church in 1856 by letter. The records
show the list of those baptized in the first year of the history of the church
to be the following: A. E. Page, Mathew Page, Bryant Page, Thos. Saxton,
Josiah Saxton, Tobitha Saxton, Joseph W. Boswick, Mariah Colton, Catharine
Martin, Nancy Strickland. Those received by voucher were: Hiram S. Jones,
Isaac Colston, Reddin Strickland, Rachael Page, and George W. Martin.

Salem Baptist Church, newly constituted, made application to enter the
Bethel Association in 1856 and was admitted. B. Duke and N. Strickland were
the first messengers of the church when the Association met that year at
Blakely. The total membership of Salem for that year was 35, it having 34
white members and 1 black member. Since its admission into the Bethel
Association, Salem Church has had the Association meet with it four times,
namely in 1869, 1889, 1904 and 1917.

Rev. A. P. Mitchell, the first pastor of this church, served from its
organization in 1856 to 1861. 31 members were baptized during his service with
Salem Church.

Rev. W. M. Pope succeeded Rev. A. P. Mitchell and served as pastor of
Salem from 1861 to 1865. 29 new members were added during those years by
baptism.

For the next two years, 1865 and 1866, Salem had as its pastor, Rev. R.
Thornton, during whose pastorate 14 new members were baptized into the church.

Rev. T. H. Stout served Salem as its pastor during the years 1867 and
1868, baptizing 28 new members during that period.

Rev. J. L. Underwood as pastor in 1869 baptized 3 members.

The sixth pastor, Rev. Thomas Muse, who served Salem from 1870 to 1875,
baptized 53 members.

From 1875 to 1882, Salem Baptist Church had as its pastor, Rev. J. S.
Parker, and 30 additions were had by baptism during these years.

Rev. John Martin served as pastor of this church from 1882 to 1885
baptized 25 new members.

For the next eighteen years, J. S. Knowles was minister to Salem Baptist
Church. During his pastorate 138 were added to the church by baptism.

W. L. Culbertson, pastor of Salem from 1903 to 1911, baptized 134.

J. W. Watson served as pastor in 1911 and baptized 4 into the church.

W. L. Culbertson was again pastor from 1912 to 1916. 45 more baptisms
were added to his already long list of members baptized by him at Salem.

Bro. J. I. D. Miller served as pastor during the year 1916. No additions
by baptism were made.

In 1917 and 1918 Rev. H. L. Crumbley was pastor and baptized 15 new
members into the Church.

Rev. W. D. Hammack served Salem as pastor in 1919 and 1920. 3 additions
by baptism were made.

Rev. W. J. Barton served from 1921 to 1925. The total number of baptisms
during his pastorate was 28.

In 1925 and 1926, Salem had as its pastor, Rev. L. M. Jones, who baptized
into that church 6 members.

For the next three years, 1927, 1928 and 1928, Rev. W. E. Waterhouse
served as pastor and made 10 additions by baptism to the church.

The nineteenth and present pastor, Rev. M. B. Brown, began his services
to Salem Baptist Church in 1930 and baptized in 1930 and 1931 24 new members
into the church.

The Clerks of Salem Church are listed in the order in which they served:
R. G. Thurston, 1856; Rowan Green, 1857; Sam N. Lewis, 1858; T. H. Saxon, 1859
and 1860; R. M. McCorquadale from 1861 to 1867; B. C. Mitchell, 1867; T. H.
Saxon in 1868 and 1869; J. W. Bailey in 1870, 1871, and 1872; J. M. Brown, 1873
and 1874; J. G. Collier from 1875 to 1889; W. A. Manry from 1889 to 1900; I. B.
Hanry from 1900 to 1905; S. W. Manry from 1905 to 1915, W. E. Tanner from 1915
to date. He is the present Clerk of Salem Church.

The present membership of the church is 214.

A Sunday School was organized at Salem in 1878 with B. C. Mitchell as
Sunday School Superintendent and a total membership of 59 enrolled in the
school. Sunday Schools at Salem have been intermittent since that date.

The estimated value of church house and grounds belonging to Salem in 1931
is $4,000.00. Eight and one half acres of land belong to the church. In a
grove of pine, oak and cedar shade trees, Salem Baptist Church, a large white
frame building is situated. One of the oldest and largest cemeteries in the
County occupies that portion of the grounds East of the church.

The present list of deacons is given as follows: M. L. Holloway, W. B.
Lawrence, A. P. Cowart, G. W. Tanner and S. A. Turner.

Due to its proximity to the Edison Baptist Church, which is situated only
one and one half miles distant from the Salem Baptist Church, many of the
members of Salem have affiliated School, B.Y.P.U. and W.M.U. of Edison Church.
And although Salem does not have these organizations she is close enough for
her members to get the benefits offered by them at her sister church, Edison.

During the seventy six years that Salem Baptist Church has been in
existence, its blessings have been manifold and many souls have been led to
Christ.

(pages 255-257)



"History of Bethel Association - Including Centennial Meeting"
Centennial meeting held with Baptist church at
Edison, Georgia, October 25, 26, 27, 1932
A. L. Miller, Edison, Ga., Moderator.
W. H. Joyner, Coleman, Ga., Clerk

Compiled and Edited by
Alexander Lee Miller
Moderator of Association
1909 -- 1934



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