Salem / Mud Creek Presbyterian Church
The Salem (or Mud Creek) Presbyterian Church was one of around 4 or 5 churches created in Boone County in the 1830's prior to the founding of FPC in 1840.
This church began the same year as the Hopewell Presbyterian Church and was located about 6 miles to the northeast of Hopewell, a little north of Elizaville.
Emigrants of Scottish-Irish blood, Associate-Reformed and Presbyterian faith settled in the Mud Creek woods of Clinton Township, Boone County, and chose a site for a church and cemetery. Indiana Presbytery organized the congregation of 18 charter members in 1837. Logs were hewed for the building and boards were split for pews and a minister's platform. In 1854, a new frame building seated 500. The last building was erected and dedicated in 1899, shown below in a picture probably taken circa 1970.
The 1899 Mud Creek Church Building
A stone memorial at the
Salem - Mud Creek Cemetery
Salem - Mud Creek Cemetery
A Centennial Celebration was held in 1937 with an active roll of 110 members. Following World War II, membership dwindled as young families moved because of jobs. In 1972, the church was closed. The building was razed, but Mud Creek Cemetery remains. Several members joined First Presbyterian Church, Lebanon.
Here is the marker placed at the site of the cemetery in 1979.
Among the families that joined FPC after the close of Salem are the Goodnight and Flanary families.
Salem - Mud Creek cemetery 2024.mp4A 2024 video of the cemetery and former church site.