Marysville in Union County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)

New California Church

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, March 28, 2016

1. New California Church Marker

side A close up

Inscription.
Side A
The New California Church was organized in 1826 at a time when the congregation was called the Associate Congregation of Darby and represented Presbyterians whose ancestors came from the "Seceder" tradition of Scotland. Seceder Presbyterians were so named because they left or "seceded from" the mainstream Pres- byterian Church when the English Crown claimed the right to name ministers. Their desire for religious freedom brought them to America where they were one of the earliest denominations to condemn slavery. The congregation met at members' homes until building its first church in 1833, a log structure. The first minister to serve this congregation, the Reverend James Wallace, who served from 1832-1841, was an outspoken opponent of slavery, and this congregation maintained that anti-slavery stance under later ministers. The present church was built in 1904.

Side B
On April 24, 1861, in the sanctuary of the second Presbyterian church built on this site, a congregational meeting was held to respond to the call from President Abraham Lincoln for volunteers to defend the Union. On the pulpit

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lay the "Bible and munitions for war," and behind the pulpit stood the Reverend B.D. Evans who delivered a stirring patriotic address and sermon. As a result more than forty men came forward to volunteer for military service. David Taylor was the first to enlist. He served for three years and was killed on a battlefield in Georgia. Before the Civil War ended, more than 367 men from Jerome Township served the Union cause, giving it one of the highest per capita rates for military service in the nation. Seventeen Civil War veterans are buried here in the New California cemetery.

Erected 2009 by Jerome Township Trustees Union County Historical Society The Ohio Historical Society. (Marker Number 8- 80.)

Topics and series. This memorial is listed in these topic lists: Abolition & Underground RR • Religion & Religious Structures • War, US Civil. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1826.

Location. 40° 9.416′ N, 83° 14.26′ W. Memorial is in Marysville, Ohio, in Union County. It is on Industrial Parkway (old

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, March 28, 2016

2. New California Church Marker

side B close up

US 33) (County Route 1), on the right when traveling south. Marker is located in front of the New California United Presbyterian Church. Touch for map. Memorial is at or near this postal address: 10089 Industrial Parkway, Plain City OH 43064, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this memorial is in the Till Plains

and in the Columbus Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American Midwest

and in the Corn Belt.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

and the Northwest Territory.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Jerome Township Soldiers' Monument (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Jerome Township Veterans Wall of Honor (about 400 feet away); Jerome Township Civil War Memorial (about 400 feet away); Jerome United Methodist Church/Company E, 30th Ohio Volunteer Infantry (approx. 3.3 miles away); Jerome Township Veterans Memorial

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, March 28, 2016

3. New California Church Marker

full view of marker

(approx. 3.4 miles away); Joshua Ewing (approx. 3.4 miles away); Old Indian Trail (approx. 3.6 miles away); Plain City Town Clock (approx. 3.7 miles away).

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, March 28, 2016

4. New California Church Marker

marker can be seen at a distance

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, March 28, 2016

5. New California Church Marker

Church sign

Photographed by Rev. Ronald Irick, March 28, 2016

6. New California Church Marker

Cemetery sign, marker can be seen in far background

Photographed by Craig Doda, November 1, 2025

7. New California Church Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 28, 2016, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 1,008 times since then and 81 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 28, 2016, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. 7. submitted on November 3, 2025, by Craig Doda of Napoleon, Ohio. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.