Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1893-06-29
For the Herald and Tribune.
Historic Sketch Of Salem Church.
BY A. S. N. DoBsoN, NJ. D.

oaiem was the nrst Presbyterian
Church founded west of the heAlleghanies,
in the great valley of the Tennessee
River. Its history is intimately inter.
woven with that of Washington College,
because they were both founded by the
same man, at the same time and place;
and they have ever since continued to
be perennial fountains of true Presby-
terianism and sound education. Dr.
Samuel Doak, the Scotch Irish "Apos-
tie of religion and education in the
West " was the founder of both these
time honored institutions. The ses.
siOnal records of Salem Church prior
to 1898, have been lost, but the time
of its organization is shown by statisti-
cal report of Abingdon Presby terry,
published in the Minutes of the General
Assembly of the Presby Church
for the year 1897. DIR. Doak was the
commissioner from that Presby terry
that year, and the following report
was made, viz: "Salem, on Nola-
chuckv, number of families, fifty;
ability in dollars, 200 +; times of forma-
tion, 1880; Rev. Samuel Doak, pastor;
settled in 1889 s; revival, 1884," From
this we learn that prior to 1850 DR..
Doak preached at Salem, although the
country was yet q wilderness and held
by hostile tribes of indians, and also
during the trying times of the Revolu
tionary war. The Tennessee Riflemen
(of whom the members of Salem con
gregation were a part, met at DR..
DOak's, and he went with them to the
camp Of Col. John Sewer, where they
gathered before marching to Kings
Mountain. Before they started across
the mountains, DIR. Doak offered payer,
asking the God of battles to give them
victory, which he most signally did,
turning the tide ofthis memorable strug
Cling in favor of American indepen
dence. When the congregation gath
cred upon the Sabbath morning their
small log cabin church to worship
God, the fathers and sons, brought
their rifles along and stacked them at
the door, placing sentinel on gard,
ready at any time to repel the attack
of the Indians. On one occasion
while DR.. Doak was preaching at Salem,
man rode up at full gallop to the
church, exclaiming: Indians! In
dians! Ragdale's family are all mur
dered." DR.. Doak Immediately closed
his discoures, offered prayer for pro
lection, snatched his rifle and led in
pursuit of the savages.
Soon after DR.. Doak came to this
church, he had to leave his home and
go some thirty miles in the direction
of Abingdon, Virginia, for supplies
leaving his family alone. His wife
saw the Indians approaching, anC
fled with her infant son, John Whit
field, TO place of concealment, where
she saw the savages plunder theil
rude home and then consign it to thu
flames. Had the babe awoke anC
cried, they both would have beer
killed. She then fled to block
house, where her husband found hel
on his return. At another time h,
dismissed the school and led his stu
dents twenty FIVE miles distant to Col
John Sewers camp. Under sucl
circumstances the first Presbyterian
institutions were founded and main
tanned in the Mississippi Valley.
Among the first elders of Salen
were Alex. Mathes, Alex. McLin
Jonathan McCallum, John Cunning
ham, George Crookshanks, John Mel
son, Thomas Telford, Andrew Han
nah, John Cowan, William Patton
Edwin Mcclure. G. w. Telford, etc.
Rev. j. E. Alexander D. D., i
writing of the field and its population
says: I'm reviewing DR.. Doak as th
Apostle of religion and learning, W
ought to consider the character of th
population which he found in hi
chosen field of labor. His success Q
a master builder, under God, depende
partly on his own endowments an
partly on the material furnished
his hands. The first settlers of Ea
Tennessee, were probably more of on
kind than those of any other part {
the great West. In nationality an
religious views they were comparativ
ly hOmogeneC us, and in sympathy wit
Dr.Doak and his work. They came frol
different settlements east of the moul
tains and some of them from Scotlan
and the north of Ireland common
called Scotch-Irish. The people we
/, largely Presbyterians well indoctri
ated and strongly attached to the churt
n of their fathers, a hardy, enterprisil
and industrious race, liberty lovii
and useful to the country in both pea,
' and war as were perhaps no other rae
Wherever they settled they establish
and fostered churches, institutions
: learning, and the principles of ci,
and religious liberty. Among su,
!. people DR.. Doak readily found abun
: ant material suitable to build up Sale
: congregation. Many united by lett
@ from the Atlantic slope. Salem W
abundantly blessed in the great reviv
of 17S4-'92 which was characteriz
by large congregations at sacrament
J occasions, and also by the establit
ing of camp meetings, where the fan
lies gathered for twenty miles arou
and spent two or more weeks in pi