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OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS   Welcome to  Columbiana, County, Ohio   Source: HISTORY of SALEM And the Immediate Vicinity Columbiana County, Ohio By George D. Hunt Salem, Ohio: Published by Author 1898 (Transcribed by Sharon Wick) CHAPTER XXIII. CEMETERIES pg. 200.      DURING many of the past cemeteries all civilized people have held the custom of having a place for burial of the dead in close proximity to their places of worship.  All Christian people respect this custom.  The early settlers of Salem entertained this idea.  The Friends, being the first to build a house for worship, set off a small lot for this purpose.  This ground ceased to be used for burial purposes in 1817 or 1818.  It was small, and, by this time, found to be nearly full, and moreover, in the center of the town.  Wherefore a lot on Depot street was purchased by John Straughan.  This was used by Friends.  After the division it was used by both parties, and, so many others, that it became almost a "Potter's field."  About 1890 the front part of it was sold for building lots.  All corpses in this part were then exhumed, and reinterred elsewhere.  Some were placed in the rear part.      The old burying ground was sold to J. T. Brooks, and, on it, the Gurney block and some adjacent buildings were erected.  In digging for cellars and foundations for these, human remains were discovered, which were carefully gathered and reinterred in another place.  A good fence has been built around the graveyard on Depot street, and it is now used exclusively by the Friends.      Two lots on Depot street were deeded to the trustees of the Baptist church for a house of worship and for burial purposes.  This place is now filled with graves, and is no longer used for interments.  In this place some of the pioneer members of that church, and some of the Methodists, were buried.  This ground has been much neglected during late years.      About the year 1830, a plot of ground containing about an acre and a half was bought by the Methodists for a place of burial.  It was situated on Howard street.  This was used by them during several years.  Although many interments were there made, prejudice against it arose, and Hope Cemetery became more popular.  wherefore it went into dis-use, and was sold.  Persons having friends or relations buried there were requested to have them removed to some other place.  Not all here have thus removed, and the lot has, therefore, became a wild and neglected place.      In 1833 the Presbyterian society bought a triangular lot on the west side of the Canfield road.  There some of the prominent members of that church were buried.  But after some years it became a part of Hope Cemetery.      "The Salem Cemetery was laid out Dec. 6, 1853, and contained about two and a half acres.  Aug. 3, 1864, five acres were purchased at a cost of $275 per acre, and were also laid out into lots.  With the exception of the Presbyterian cemetery, the grounds were owned by Jacob Heaton, by whom they have been divided into lots.  The last purchased was on the north side of the Salem and Presbyterian grounds, and is called "Hope Cemetery."      This cemetery has not been intended for any party* or denomination.  And it has become the principal place of interment for the city and vicinity.  More than a thousand have there been buried.  Hence it is now in reality a city of the dead.  Some handsome monuments are there to be seen, and there are nice walks and drive-ways among the graves.  Many of these are kept in a nice condition and are beset with shrubbery appropriate for them.  The graves of some of those who fell in defense of the Union have here got their deserved attention.  There is a Soldiers' monument at the entrance; there is a family vault, and a pile to the memory of Edwin Coppock, ho was executed for being in John Brown's raid at Harper's Ferry.  Besides these there are many tombstones that might be regarded as emblems of family pride, as well as genuine affection for dear friends or near relations. A person with the genius of Hervey might here find some matter for "Meditations Among the Tombs." ----- *Columbiana County History < CLICK HERE to GO to  BIOGRAPHICAL INDEX > < CLICK HERE to GO to TABLE OF CONTENTS > .   CLICK HERE to RETURN to COLUMBIANA COUNTY, OHIO INDEX PAGE CLICK HERE to RETURN to OHIO GENEALOGY EXPRESS INDEX PAGE FREE GENEALOGY RESEARCH is My MISSION GENEALOGY EXPRESS This Webpage has been created by Sharon Wick exclusively for Ohio Genealogy Express  ©2008 Submitters retain all copyrights