Editorial note: I try and be completely objective about the data here on my Bloom township pages. I offer the internet user access to a huge database, maps, census records, and whatever else I can find pertaining to Bloom township. However, I feel the need to note here my experience while visiting the Salem Church. We had just left Rock Mill minutes before. I was somewhat bummed at the actual mill's condition, and was mulling it over while my husband drove and the golden retriever tried desperately to get in the front seat of our car. The sun was close to setting, and we were heading home when I hollered "Stop!" to my husband. On my left at the top of a hill sat a church, Salem Church, and I was awestruck. Perhaps it was the time of day, or the lighting was just right, but it was the first time I ever saw the church and I was overwhelmed by it's simplicity and beauty.
Salem Church sits atop a hill on a corner. A smattering of houses can be seen, but mostly farm fields. The church's yards all slope downward... two sides down to streets, and the back yard is the cemetery, called Slough Cemetery. The church is small, but it's significance seems much larger because you're always looking UP at it, making it seem larger than it really is. And I, the eternal sentamentalist since childhood, stood in various places on the grounds and wondered what ancestors had stood on this very same spot a hundred years ago.
The sun was starting to go down when these pictures were taken, so regrettably the photos don't do the church justice. The grounds were well kept, but many of the stones in the cemetery had fallen, were broken, or stacked. If you look at the brightest cemetery photo shown here, the trees on the left half of the photo are actually across the street, and the ones toward the right are at the back of the cemetery bordering a very small creek. Just a few feet out of sight to the right is what appears to have been perhaps an old tree removed; I really don't know. There was
some brush growing on it, and a large hole probably dug by a groundhog (and still obviously in use) which was a little unnerving considering it was right beside several tombstones.
It appears the church is still attended. The only history thus far I've been able to find is as follows:
In 1970 Charles Goslin writes, "The Salem United Methodist Church is one of the interesting and historical churches of Fairfield County. The inscription over the door carries the dates of 1862 to 1963. The later date is probably when an addition was added. We are not sure about the 1862 date. That might be the date of the building of this structure or when it became United Brethren in Christ Church. If the dates on the grave markers at the rear of the church are any indication, then the present church was not the first church to stand on this spot. The earliest date we found on these
markers in this small cemetery, once called the Slough Church Cemetery but now the Salem Cemetery, was 1817.
Maybe this was the site of the Salem Presbyterian Church mentioned in an early history but not verified by county records. Some say the land for this early church was given by John Rockey and his wife Elizabeth. John Rockey did acquire a quarter section of land in this section 10 from the government in December, 1812.
There are other original land owners of this part of Bloom Township interred in this small and well-kept cemetery in the shadow of Chestnut Ridge and almost within a stone's throw of the cracker-barrel postoffice known as Slough, named in honor of Judge Slough." Crossroads and Fence Corners, Charles Goslin, 1976 p 126.
Below is a list of individuals from the online searchable database that are shown being buried in this cemetery. This is NOT a tombstone transcription. Date of death and/or birth may have come from other records, such as probate or obituaries, or an approximate date figured from census records. Married females are listed in the left column under their MAIDEN NAME, if known, and spouse(s) name(s) are in the far RIGHT column.
Salem Church, Slough Cem. - those known to be buried there from my database - 12 Jun 2010
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Name Born Died Spouse(s) name(s)
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,E. Catherine 28 Dec 1775 12 Jul 1853 BENSON,Abraham
,Magdaline Abt Sep 1776 2 May 1854 ECKHART,Daniel
ALEXANDER,Jerry Eugene 15 Oct 1951 18 Oct 1951
ALEXANDER,Judy Ann 30 Jun 1949 7 Jul 1949
ALEXANDER,Paul Eugene 20 Dec 1923 23 Apr 1995 ZAAYER,Georgia S.
ALSPACH,Caleb 16 Oct 1846 21 Oct 1901 SMALTZ,Elizabeth
BROSSMAN,Rachel Elizabeth
ALSPACH,Elizabeth 4 Jun 1849 1 Aug 1849
ALSPACH,Elizabeth Abt Feb 1875 21 Apr 1875
ALSPACH,Elizabeth Abt Jun 1849 Abt Aug 1849
ALSPACH,Mary or Maria 29 Mar 1839 27 Mar 1909 HUMMELL,William W.
ALSPACH,Peter 13 Jun 1853 3 Jul 1856
ALSPACH,Sarah 18 Nov 1837 22 Nov 1920 HUMMELL,Daniel W.
ANNESHENSLEY,Minnie 19 Jan 1868 14 Feb 1930 THRASH,Noah Elsworth
ARNOLD,Christiana Catherine 25 Feb 1824 31 Jul 1874 GEARHART,Eli
BALL,Clarence R. Abt Dec 1894 18 Jun 1896
BENSON,Abraham 05 Mar/Dec 17 22 Jan 1846 ,E. Catherine
BENSON,Daniel 20 Dec 1840 8 Jan 1841
BENSON,Daniel 2 Mar 1834 25 Feb 1917 HEDRICK,Elizabeth
FISHPAUGH,Matilda A.
BENSON,Jesse 17 Aug 1809 12 Mar 1887 RUNKLE,Anna
SAVAGE,Hannah
BENSON,Katherine 21 Nov 1843 11 Mar 1844
BENSON,Sarah Ann Abt 1856
BENSON,Susannah 22 Sep 1806 2 Sep 1832 MILLER,John
CARNEY,Emma Mary 25 Mar 1862 22 Aug 1862
CARTER,William 27 Jun 1808 12 Feb 1863 ,Sarah Ann
CLISE,Magdaline 12 Mar 1825 30 Jul 1830
CLISE,Simon Peter Oct 1835/1838
COFFMAN,Nancy Anna 6 Aug 1794 3 Jul 1858 SHOWALTER,George
COLEMAN,Dorothy 10 Jun 1805 25 Jun 1866 SMALTZ,Michael
CONWAY,Lester L. 22 May 1910 14 May 1911
CRITES,Elizabeth 29 Nov 1828 12 Aug 1858 SWOYER,Jacob
CRITES,Francis E. Abt Nov 1861 10 Sep 1862
CRITES,John E. 1859 13 Sep 1862
CROSS,Charles 1861 1883
CROSS,Delbert 1877 1884
CROSS,John Edwin Sep 1859 1925 ,Lillie V.
CROSS,John T. 1830 1883 HOWARD,Catherine
CUPP,Esther 11 Dec 1803 16 Apr 1873 FOOR,George
DARRH,Mary Ann Abt May 1812 5 Aug 1849 SMALTZ,George
ECKHART,Daniel Abt 1782 15 Mar 1860 ,Magdaline
ECKHART,Jemima C. Abt 1799/1808 3 Aug 1886 RUSSELL,Joseph A.
FINNEY,Frank Albert 6 Aug 1882 1 Mar 1963 ZAAYER,Mary Alice
FLICK,Magdalene Abt May 1775 1 Apr 1857 SMALTZ,John
FRENCH,Margaret 6 Jun 1818 10 Jul 1847 SHOWALTER,Samuel C.
GEARHART,Eli 13 Apr/Nov 18 28 Jul 1873 ARNOLD,Christiana Catherine
GEARHART,Louisa 12 Mar 1842 15 Jun 1853
GIERHART,Ann Marie 5 Jul 1850 24 Jun 1852
GIERHART,Arthur T. 30 Jan 1865 13 Feb 1867
GIERHART,Bertha I. 12 Jun 1879 6 Oct 1885
GIERHART,Carl G. 15 Jan 1887 12 Feb 1888
GIERHART,Carrie B. 17 Sep 1868 2 Oct 1880
GIERHART,Lillie D. 31 Jan 1885 27 Jun 1886
GIERHART,Minerva Abt 1845 1 Nov 1860
HASTINGS,Nancy E. 9 Dec 1858 10 Feb 1859
HEIMBAUGH,Elizabeth 13 Dec 1815 18 Jun 1849 ALSPACH,John D.
HEMPLEMAN,Adam George [Rev] 9 Sep 1822 12 Mar 1907 HILLING,Angeline
HEMPLEMAN,Hannah E. 7 May 1843 15 Aug 1912 THRASH,Levi
HEMPLEMAN,John E. 3 Sep 1844 21 May 1895 ROCKEY,Angeline
HEMPLEMAN,Sarah C. 3 Jul 1864 7 Jul 1897
Name Born Died Spouse(s) name(s)
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HILLING,Angeline 27 Apr 1818 24 Nov 1901 HEMPLEMAN,Adam George [Rev]
HOSHOR,Magdalina D. "Lena" 4 Dec 1872 5 Aug 1942 BEATY,John P.
HOWARD,Catherine 1837 18 Oct 1891 CROSS,John T.
HUMMELL,Aaron 12 Sep 1853 8 Oct 1853
HUMMELL,Alice Jane May 1869 16 Jan 1889
HUMMELL,Anise S. 27 Aug 1880 23 Jan 1883
HUMMELL,Chauncey F. 5 Aug 1875 11 May 1880
HUMMELL,Daniel W. 14 Jan 1835 4 May 1914 ALSPACH,Sarah
HUMMELL,Fannie S. Jun 1865/1870 19 Jan 1888
HUMMELL,Isaac 23 Oct 1803 30 Apr 1884 MILLER,Mary Magdaline
HUMMELL,Julia Ann 6 Jan 1842 13 Dec 1847
HUMMELL,Julia M. 11 Jan 1872 16 Jan 1883
HUMMELL,Rufus L. 5 Oct 1861 15 Dec 1867
HUMMELL,William W. 20 Apr 1861 1 Aug 1863
HUMMELL,William W. Jul 1832 5 Aug 1903 ALSPACH,Mary or Maria
HUSTON,Mary Margurite 18 Oct 1899 18 Nov 1976 THRASH,John Albert
JACKS,Maelan Reid 13 May 1905 6 Aug 1905
LEIGHTNER,Margaret E. 31 Aug 1901 3 Jul 1956 ZAAYER,Leroy "Pete"
MILLER,Mary Magdaline 15 Sep 1810 22 Feb 1878 HUMMELL,Isaac
MORRIS,John P. 22 May 1815 1 Apr 1899 LUTZ,Harriet
THRASH,Susanna
MCPHERSON,Louisa Ann
MORRIS,William P. 10 May 1871 14 Apr 1877
POWELL 30 Aug 1850
POWELL Bef Apr 1843 1 Apr 1843
POWELL,Elizabeth 15 Oct 1841 15 Jan 1843
POWELL,Henry Wilson 21 Nov 1845 18 Jul 1849
POWELL,Mary Isabella 29 Dec 1851 2 Feb 1852
POWELL,Peter 8 Jan 1817 1841 SAVAGE,Hannah
ROCKEY,Angeline 17 Jul 1844 8 Jan 1897 HEMPLEMAN,John E.
ROCKEY,Catherine Elvina Abt Feb 1848 27 Feb 1884 HEDRICK,Rufus
ROCKEY,Daniel 29 Sep 1788 9 Jun 1852 BRODERSTONE,Kitty
SMALTZ,Catherine
ROCKEY,John Abt 1783 24 Oct 1824 SNYDER,Elizabeth
DAVIS,Hannah
ROCKEY,John Abt Jun 1820 3 Apr 1853 WEISER,Sarah A.
ROCKEY,Samuel 14 Feb 1842 25 Jan 1856
RUNKLE,Anna 28 Aug 1815 4 Mar 1846 BENSON,Jesse
RUSH,Rebecca Abt 1800 10 Nov 1880 THRASH,Michael
RUSH,Susan Abt 1820 19 Dec 1875 SHULTZ,John
RUSSELL,Joseph A. 26 Dec 1806 12 Feb 1881 ECKHART,Jemima C.
SAVAGE,Hannah 10 Sep 1816 16 Aug 1885 POWELL,Peter
BENSON,Jesse
SCHNEIDER,Chester 14 Apr 1885 1886
SHOWALTER,Elizabeth A. 15 Nov 1828 23 May 1854
SHOWALTER,Ephraim S. 14 Sep 1824 18 Nov 1852 THRASH,Susanna
SHOWALTER,Malinda Abt Aug 1841 30 May 1845
SHOWALTER,Margaret 9 Nov 1852 26 May 1853
SHOWALTER,Mary Ann 17 Jan 1823 23 Sep 1908 SMALTZ,Elias
SHOWALTER,Samuel C. 17 Jun 1818 20 Oct 1846 FRENCH,Margaret
SHOWALTER,Sarah C. Abt Aug 1839 12 Oct 1880 WRIGHT,Sylvester
SHOWALTER,William E. 21 Oct 1850 6 Mar 1864
SHULTZ,John 4 Jul 1808 21 Jul 1856 RUSH,Susan
SLOUGH,Susannah Martha Abt 1835 Abt 1859 FOOR,Solomon Louis
SMALTZ,Catherine 18 Jun 1800 13 Feb 1873 ROCKEY,Daniel
SMALTZ,Elias 11 Oct 1818 1 Jul 1891 SHOWALTER,Mary Ann
SMALTZ,Elizabeth 12 May 1851 25 Feb 1875 ALSPACH,Caleb
SMALTZ,John 19 Aug 1805 30 Sep 1817
SMALTZ,Margaret 9 Oct 1821 14 Apr 1835
SMALTZ,Michael 27 Dec 1796 17 Nov 1863 COLEMAN,Dorothy
SMALTZ,Nancy 13 May 1848 15 Jul 1849
Name Born Died Spouse(s) name(s)
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THRASH 15 Nov 1863
THRASH 20 Jun 1866
THRASH,America 1867 1881
THRASH,Buddy Elsworth 1 Jul 1890 9 Sep 1968
THRASH,Charles Leroy 29 Mar 1887 17 Feb 1979 HUMMELL,Maudella F.
THRASH,Eliza C. 20 Jul 1861 23 Dec 1911 CRAMER,Daniel
THRASH,Emma 1 Dec 1873 10 Jan 1960 ZAAYER,Virgil H.
THRASH,Freddie 5 Sep 1903 3 Mar 1907
THRASH,John Albert 23 Feb 1901 24 Mar 1972 HUSTON,Mary Margurite
THRASH,Laura 4 Jan 1870 9 Sep 1871
THRASH,Levi 22 Feb 1843 28 Sep 1924 HEMPLEMAN,Hannah E.
SWITZER,Emmaline
THRASH,Mary 1884 1885
THRASH,Michael Abt 1774 9 Jun 1863 WIANT,Barbara
RUSH,Rebecca
THRASH,Noah Elsworth 1 Apr 1863 13 Sep 1895 ANNESHENSLEY,Minnie
THRASH,Susanna 13 Aug 1830 20 Sep 1874 SHOWALTER,Ephraim S.
MORRIS,John P.
WILLARD,Charles A. 18 Nov 1880 15 Jan 1961
WILLARD,Miles Edwin 16 Mar 1883 17 Dec 1935 SWEET,Ida M.
WILLIARD 1 Jun 1909 1 Jun 1909
WILLIARD 1 Jun 1909 1 Jun 1909
WILLIARD,Pearl David 30 Jun 1916 10 Aug 1917
WRIGHT,Mary Abt May 1858 9 Nov 1874
ZAAYER,Georgia S. 31 Oct 1927 29 Apr 2004 ALEXANDER,Paul Eugene
ZAAYER,Gustena Amelia 11 Nov 1923 15 Feb 1926
ZAAYER,Lewis Levi 30 Sep 1912 2 Apr 1913
ZAAYER,Mary Alice 28 Nov 1890 6 Mar 1975 FINNEY,Frank Albert
ZAAYER,Virgil H. Aug 1862 20 Sep 1942 THRASH,Emma