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History of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Virginia Conference

by A. P. Funkhouser

CHAPTER XX

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MINISTERS

Some of these sketches are compiled from letters written about 1900. There has been no opportunity to bring them all up to date.

AMBROSE: William Ambrose was born in Maryland in 1770, but lived on Sleepy Creek, W. Va., from about 1789 until 1815, when he removed to Highland county, 0., where he died in 1850. He was licensed in 1792 and ordained in 1808. In 1812 he was with Bishop Newcomer during an extended tour in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and Kentucky. After going to Ohio he became a member of the Scioto Conference. A revival in his neighborhood in 1820 resulted in a strong church organization. The wife of Mr. Ambrose was a daughter of Christian Crum. Two of his sons became members of the Illinois Conference.

BAUGHER: Solomon L. Baugher was born at Swift Run, Va., licensed in 1895, ordained in 1898, and has been in the itinerancy 24 years, serving Fulton, Conshohocken, (Pa.), Portland, (Ind.), Big Pool, Pleasant Valley, Edinburg. While at Conshohocken, 234 were received into church membership, and 455 were enrolled in the Sunday School.

BEALE: Joseph R. Beale, son of Dr. George F. and Mary (Dickenson) Beale, was born near Pamplin's Depot, Va., Oct. 13, 1869, and was educated at Lafayette College and Union Theological Seminary (New York City). He was licensed in 1897 and ordained in 1900. Mr. Beale was 12 years a Presbyterian minister in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Nebraska. He joined the United Brethren Church in 1916, and was two years on the West Frederick charge. He had taught several years before joining the teaching staff of the Shenandoah Collegiate Institute in December, 1917.

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BERRY: William R. Berry, second son of Archibald and Elizabeth Berry, was born near Mount Clinton, Rockingham county, Virginia, and died at Dayton, July 30, 1906. In 1870 he was converted at a camp meeting held near Singer's Glen. He was licensed in 1874 and ordained in 1881. In 1878 he finished a two years' course of study in the Institute at Dayton. Mr. Berry was in the ministry twenty-eight years, serving Pleasant Valley, New Creek, South Branch, Mechanicstown, Hagerstown circuit, Berkeley Springs, Lacey Springs, Singers Glen, Dayton, and Frederick circuit. Ill health compelled him to locate, but he lived only a few weeks in a home of his own. Mr. Berry was a faithful minister, and few members of the Virginia Conference were more highly esteemed. In 1882 he was married to Miss Margaret Taylor of Hampshire County.

BOVEY: Henry A. Bovey was born near Leitersburg, Maryland, in 1831, and was converted on his twenty-second birthday. He was licensed in 1859, and in 1861 was assigned to Highland circuit. In 1870-73 he was presiding elder of Hagerstown district. In 1877 he removed to Westerville, Ohio, where three sons and three daughters graduated from Otterbein University. Mr. Bovey was a son of Adam I. Bovey, an active local preacher who preached in both German and English. Jacob A. Bovey was another son. Still another was Daniel R., who did not enter the ministry until about 50 years of age.

BRANE: Commodore I. B. Brane was born in Frederick, Maryland, Christmas Day, 1848. His father was poor and he had to help support himself. During the war he worked in the Bureau of Printing and Engraving at Washington. He was converted in 1870, licensed 1872, and ordained 1876. His fields in this conference territory were Potomac mission, New Germany, Berkeley Springs, and Dayton. He was presiding elder of the Shenandoah district, 1885, and in 1891 delegate to the Methodist Ecumenical Conference. Mr. Brane has held other important positions in the Church, and for a number of years was the Washington correspondent of the "Religious Telescope."

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Within 30 years of ministerial work he received about 1000 members into the church. Dr. Brane died April 7th, 1920, at Dayton, Ohio, where he was serving as associate editor of the "Telescope."

BRASHEAR: Theodore F. Brashear, born about 1826, learned the trade of shoemaker. He was a member of the Virginia Conference from 1848 until 1864, when he was sent to Elkhorn circuit in the Rock River Conference. His first work in the Virginia Conference was as a junior on the Hagerstown circuit. He was scrupulously honest, thoroughly conscientious, and deeply sincere. His retentive memory enabled him to improve rapidly, both in preaching and in general knowledge. He served some of the best charges in Iowa, and was many years a presiding elder. Mr. Brashear was an able preacher, but from his unsuspecting nature he could not see the point of a joke soon enough to dodge it, and in consequence was often victimized. It is said of him that while attending a quarterly meeting and staying Saturday night at the home of the steward of the church, he felt the need of having something more under his head. So he made a search in the darkness and used something he found hanging on the wall. After breakfast the two men started to church, taking a part of the elements with them and leaving the rest for the housewife to bring later. She failed to come because she could not find the dress she wished to wear, and believed some rival had stolen it. When it was too late to go to meeting she attended to the house work, and found the dress under the preacher's pillow. After leaving Virginia Mr. Brashear lived mainly at Vinton, Benton county, but died in Nebraska, whither he had removed.

BRIDGERS: Lucius Cary Bridgers was born in Northamton county, N. C, and was educated at the Shenandoah Collegiate Institute. He was converted in 1897 and licensed in 1918. He has been serving Ridgley five years.

BRILL: James William Brill was born near Capon Springs, W. Va., Dec. 13, 1859, and is a son of John A. and

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Eliza Brill. He was licensed in 1894, ordained in 1901, and has been an itinerant 25 years. He has served Lost River, Pendleton, East Rockingham, Prince William, and Bayard.

BRUNK: Jacob Brunk, a Mennonite and the ancestor of the Brunk family, came in 1795, from Maryland and settled near Pennington's store in Frederick county. Bishop Newcomer made his home a stopping place. George Brunk, a grandson, lived on Brunk's hill on the road from Brock's Gap to Broadway.

BRUNK: John Henry Brunk, son of Hugh A. and Nancy (Heatwole) Brunk, was born in a log house seven miles west of Harrisonburg, Va., April 3, 1861. His education was gained in the state normal schools. He was converted in 1879, licensed the same year, ordained in 1900, and has been an itinerant 22 years. His charges have been New Creek, Elkton, Singers Glen, Keyser, Harrisonburg, and Berkeley Springs. Mr. Brunk is a trustee of Lebanon Valley College, which gave him the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1917, and was a member of the General Conferences of 1913, 1917, and 1921. He built churches at Antioch, Swift Bun, Mount Hebron, and Singer's Glen, and a parsonage at Berkeley Springs. He began life as a carpenter, and taught 17 years in the public schools. Until the age of eighteen he was a Mennonite.

BURGESS: George Burgess was born at Laurel Dale, Mineral county, W. Va., October 17, 1864, being a son of Edwin and Ellen Burgess. He was educated in the free schools, and in 1879 was converted under the preaching of Jacob Roderick. He was licensed at Lacey Springs and ordained at Keyser. His charges have been Moorefield, South Branch, New Creek, and Elk Garden. Mr. Burgess spent two years as an evangelist.

BURTNER: Henry Burtner was born in 1800 in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and came to Dayton in 1843, settling on a fine farm close to the southwest border of the town. He entered conference in 1820, but as his education

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was wholly in German, he at length retired from active work in the ministry. Mr. Burtner was a prosperous farmer and a man of much business ability. He was a man of more than medium size, and had a fine countenance and a very penetrating eye. In his home he was pleasant and very hospitable. His preaching was of depth and power. He died at Dayton in 1857.

BURTNER: William H. Burtner was a son of the Rev. Henry Burtner, and came to Dayton, Virginia with his father. He was converted early in life and gave the church of his choice a loyal support. He was progressive and ever ready to aid any worthy enterprise. Mr. Burtner was never an itinerant, yet did much preaching, especially in revivals. During a number of years he was an active trustee of Shenandoah Institute. His home was a Christian home. At the time of his death, at his home near Mount Clinton in Rockingham, May 25, 1894, nine of his twelve children were living and were members of the church. Three of them were in the active ministry. These were L. 0. Burtner, superintendent of our church on the west coast of Africa, N. W. Burtner, pastor at Muscatine, Iowa, and 0. W. Burtner of the Virginia Conference.

BURTNER: Luther 0. Burtner, a son of William H. Burtner was born at Dayton, Va., December 9, 1858. He was a student at Union Biblical Seminary, 1885-87, joined conference, 1882, and was ordained 1889. He preached at Keedysville and Frederick before going to Africa as a missionary, where he spent over six years. After his return he was presiding elder of Maryland Conference.

BURTNER: Otto W. Burtner was born at Mount Clinton, Virginia, in 1873. He was licensed in 1893, and during the next six years served five charges, receiving 157 members into the church.

BYRD: Rudolph Byrd was born near Ottobine, Rockingham county, in 1859, and was licensed in 1884. During the next 16 years he was on the Front Royal, Dayton, Edinburg, Toms Brook, Berkeley Springs, Myersville, and

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Hagerstown charges. In this time he built one church and one parsonage, and received 375 into the church.

CHILDRESS: W. Lomax Childress, born in Roanoke county, Virginia, in 1867, was converted while studying law in the city of Roanoke. He first joined the Methodist Protestant Church and served three charges therein, besides being conference evangelist. In 1894 he joined the Virginia Conference, and served Dayton circuit, Lacey Spring, Berkeley Springs, and Rohrersville. In 1895 he was married to a daughter of William Burtner and has several children. Mr. Childress has a poetic gift and is the author of several volumes of verse.

CLARY: William H. Clary was born in Frederick county, Maryland, July 22, 1834, and died at Deer Park, in the same state, October 29, 1913. He was converted in 1865, and was licensed by the Virginia Conference in 1870. After serving in a local capacity he was sent to the Deer Park charge in 1879. His subsequent circuits were Westernport, Jones Springs, Toms Brook, and Elk Garden. Despite limited educational advantages, Mr. Clary was a good preacher and very successful evangelist. He always saw the bright side of life, had an active mind, and possessed a determined will to succeed. His was the happy faculty of adapting himself to circumstances and making friends wherever he went. He was married in 1863 to Eliza M. Wheat of Morgan county, West Virginia, and had ten children. In 15 years he built two churches and received 620 members.

CLIFFORD: Theodore K. Clifford was a free-born negro who ran away from home at the age of fifteen, and soon afterward enlisted in the regular army of the United States. After the close of the war between North and South, he returned to Hardy county, West Virginia, and preached eleven years in the Methodist Episcopal Church. But having lived among United Brethren people, and, realizing the pressing claims of the United Brethren Church upon his race, he joined the Virginia Conference in 1887,

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and served its freedmen's mission until the day of his death. He was a man above the average of his race, and so deported himself as to win the respect and esteem of the best people of both colors. His upright life was never questioned, and he manifested his appreciation of genuine kindness in every proper way. He was a good preacher and singer. He always attended the sessions of the conference, but never took part in its discussions unless called upon. His people were poor and backward, and his work required long drives to sparsely settled localities. Mr. Clifford died in Harrisonburg, March 16, 1908, at the age of sixty-three, having been pastor of the mission twenty-five years. He had eight children and one of his sons took up his work.

COLLIS: Joseph Romain Collis, son of John M. and Lucy M. Collis, was born in Berkeley county, W. Va., August 1, 1887. He was educated at the Shenandoah Collegiate Institute, converted in 1903, and licensed in 1912. He has preached six years at Reliance and Singer's Glen.

COURSEY: William R. Coursey was born in Rockingham county and joined the Virginia Conference in 1833. He preached in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and Illinois. He died in Maryland while revisiting the East, July 2, 1881. As circuit preacher and presiding elder he wrought great good in the bounds of this conference. In 1841 and again in 1849 he was a member of the General Conference. As a preacher, Mr. Coursey was eminently clear, logical, and convincing, kind, gentle, and enticing. His musical voice, and his countenance, such as one loved to look upon, gave a charm to his pulpit ministrations.

CRABILL: Samuel A. Crabill, a son of Samuel and Mary Crabill, was born in Rockingham county, in 1862, and was licensed in 1888. His early pastorates were Pendleton, Toms Brook, and Inwood.

CROWELL: Charles Henry Crowell, son of John and Hester J. Crowell, was born in Clearfield county, Pa., May 14, 1850. He was educated in an academy at Church-

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ville, Va., was converted in 1868, licensed in 1874, and ordained in 1882. He has been an itinerant 46 years, serving Rockbridge, Page Valley, Augusta, Myersville, Boonsboro, Edinburg, Frederick, Harrisonburg and Dayton, Roanoke, Berkeley Springs, Lacey Springs, and Great Cacapon. Mr. Crowell was four years Presiding Elder of Winchester District.

CUPP: N. F. A. Cupp, son of Daniel and Rebecca Cupp, was born near Mount Sidney, Va., September 22, 1862, was a Lutheran until the age of fourteen, when he joined the United Brethren. He was licensed in 1885, ordained in 1887, and has been an itinerant 33 years, serving Singer's Glen, South Branch, Winchester, Frederick, Berkeley Springs, Edinburg, Lacey Springs, Elkton, Shenandoah City, Petersburg and Greensburg.

DAWSON: S. D. Dawson was born near Keyser, West Virginia, in 1864, and was licensed in 1862. His relation to the conference prior to 1900 was local.

DAY: Albert Day was born and converted in Pendleton county, West Virginia. He was licensed in 1883 and traveled the North Fork mission for $50 a year, but considered the experience worth many times the money. Three years later he did very successful work on the Alleghany circuit, receiving four times his first salary. In 1892 he joined the Huntington Presbytery, passing a most rigid examination, and was pastor at Mannington, West Virginia, and Marietta, Ohio. By 1900 he had been in synod and General Assembly, acting as moderator in some of the sessions of the latter. Mr. Day had four children.

DONOVAN: John D. Donovan was born of religious parents in Rockingham county, Virginia, May 10, 1855. His call to the ministry was clear, and he entered it in 1877, being ordained in 1881. His pastorates were Bloomery, Dayton circuit, Boonsboro, Martinsburg, Berkeley Springs, Lacey Springs, Singers Glen, and Staunton mission. Also, he was seven years presiding elder of the Winchester district, and was twice in General Conference. Mr. Donovan

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easily made friends, and among the railroad men he was a great favorite. He was an interesting preacher and untiring pastor, and a most successful evangelist. During the last months of his life, true to his wish to help others, he cared for an aged blind man in whose home he lived in Martins-burg, West Virginia, and where he died April 22, 1905. His wife was Miss Lillian V. Croft, of Staunton. He had an only son.

EVERS: Abram M. Evers was born near Port Republic, Virginia, in 1837, and was converted in 1855. His circuits to 1900 were South Branch, Rockbridge, Keezletown, Boonsboro, Myersville, Hagerstown, Frederick, Martins-burg, and Churchville. After 1887 he was a member of the Maryland Conference. In this period he was seven years presiding elder, three times a delegate to the General Conference, and built four churches. A daughter married the Rev. D. E. Burtner of the Congregationalist Church.

EWING: William O. Ewing was born July 13, 1866, and died at Churchville, October 15, 1898. He joined the church when fourteen years old and the conference when twenty-three. His pastorates were Winchester, Vancleavesville, Singers Glen, Cross Keys, Dayton, and Churchville.

FADELEY: Green B. Fadeley, son of Abraham Fadeley, was born at Columbia Furnace, Shenandoah county, Virginia, March 3, 1859. He was converted at an early age and entered the Virginia Conference in 1886, his early pastorates being Bloomery, Elkton, Shenandoah, and Lacey Spring. In these fifteen years he built four churches, completed two parsonages, and received 549 members into the church. He was married to Charlotte Shipp in 1878 and had seven children. Mr. Fadeley has made a record as a good preacher, an industrious worker, a man loyal to his friends, who hold him in high esteem.

FEASTER: Thomas J. Feaster was born near Maysville, West Virginia, November 23, 1864, and died in the parsonage at Pleasant Valley, Virginia, August 20, 1906. His parents were religious and he was converted at the age

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of sixteen. Three years later he was licensed to preach and a year later yet he began teaching in the public schools of Grant county. In 1898 he entered the Virginia Conference and was ordained in 1901. His circuits were Pendleton, West Frederick, Toms Brook, and Pleasant Valley. He was one of the most promising young men of the conference; a forcible preacher, an earnest Christian worker, and successful evangelist. In 1889 he was married to Miss Alverda Hott. Their children were four.

FORD: John Henry Ford was born in Ireland in 1869, and was educated at Dundee, Scotland. He was converted in 1888, licensed in 1903, and ordained in 1912. During eleven years he has served Edinburg, Churchville, Martins-burg, and Roanoke. Before joining the Virginia Conference, Mr. Ford served two charges in Kansas.

FREED: A. D. Freed, son of the Rev. J. D. Freed, also of the Virginia Conference, was born October 15, 1850, and died in October, 1877. He was converted in 1867, and felt a call to preach, yet his diffidence and a sense of being unworthy led him for a long while to keep back his convictions from others. After two terms in Lebanon Valley, where he made commendable progress and occasionally preached, he was taken into conference, but the feebleness of his health compelled him to resign his work.

FRIES: William 0. Fries was born near Winchester, Virginia, in 1860, and was graduated with second honors from Lebanon Valley College in 1882. Two years later he completed a full course at Union Biblical Seminary. He was given an exhorter's license in 1878, and joined conference in 1881. After preaching at Hagerstown and Frederick, he was three years pastor at Buckhannon, West Virginia, and principal of the academy at that place, becoming then a member of the Sandusky Conference. To the close of 1899 he had received about 600 members into the church. His wife was a daughter of the Rev. J. K. Nelson. Four years he was a trustee of the publishing house at

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Dayton, Ohio. In recent years Dr. Fries has been editor of the Sunday School literature of the church.

GLOVIER: David Franklin Glovier, son of Legrand and Luvernie E. (Frank) Glovier, was born near Cherry Grove, Va., October 19, 1889, was educated at the Harrisonburg State Normal School, converted in 1902, and licensed in 1916. He has served the Augusta charge three years.

GRIMM: John W. Grimm was born at Rohrersville, Maryland, in 1839, licensed in 1861, and his first work was as junior on Frederick circuit in 1862. His later fields were Churchville, South Branch, Edinburg, Lacey Spring. After 1875 his field were north of the Potomac.

GRIMM: Jacob L. Grimm was born near Rohrersville, Maryland, in 1842. He was of a family of six boys and six girls. Three of the former and their father were members of the Virginia Conference. Jacob L. was licensed in the historic house of Peter Kemp in 1866, and made his three years course of reading in two years. His only pastorate in this territory was Rockingham circuit, 1869-71. In 1887 he was chosen editor of "The Weekly Itinerant" and manager of the Eastern United Brethren Book and Publishing House.

GREGORY: David Thomas Gregory, son of Joseph T. and Sarah E. (Fulk) Gregory, was born in Berkeley county, W. Va., July 16, 1889. He was educated at Shenandoah Collegiate Institute and Bonebrake Theological Seminary, was converted in a revival at Pleasant Plains United Brethren Church in Berkeley county, and was licensed at the annual conference of 1915. He was ordained 1920, and has been four years an itinerant, serving West Frederick, Jones Spring, and Bethany, the last circuit being in Lebanon county, Pa. The parents and grandparents of Mr. Gregory were among the most loyal of United Brethren, their homes being stopping places for Bishops Glossbrenner and Hott, as well as others.

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GROVE: Herman Jonas Grove was born at Mapleton Depot, Pa., March 17, 1899, and is a son of John H. and Rhoda (Gerhart) Grove. He was converted in 1915. New Creek is his one circuit thus far.

GRUVER: William Franklin Gruver, son of Jacob I. and Anna M. Gruver, was born in Franklin county, Penn., in 1865. He was converted in 1876, licensed in 1887, ordained in 1889, traveled Singer's Glen charge two years, Lacey Spring one year, Elkton one year, Edinburg three years, Dayton Circuit three years, Martinsburg Station eighteen and a half years. Assigned to Harrisonburg on September 19, 1921. Served as presiding elder three years and as Conference Superintendent three years, the two terms from March 1903 to March 1909. He was appointed Conference Superintendent again by Bishop Bell in November, 1921. The degree of Doctor of Divinity was given him by Lebanon Valley College in June 1910. He married Miss Nellie M. Ruby December 24, 1889, and has three children, Joseph, Pauline and Paul.

HAMMACK: Abraham Statton Hammack was born near Stribling Springs, Va., his parents being Rev. C. B. and Mary E. Hammack. He was converted at the age of twelve, and finished his education at Union Biblical Seminary. He was licensed in 1887, ordained in 1890, and became an itinerant 30 years ago. His charges were New Creek, South Branch, Augusta, Churchville, and Harrisonburg. He was then Presiding Elder four years, and for nearly thirteen years has been Conference Superintendent. Mr. Hammack was married in 1890 to Josie G. Huffman and has had six children.

HARMAN: George Harman was a native of Pendleton county, West Virginia, where he was born July 11, 1828. His parents, Joshua and Elizabeth Harman, died while he was still a youth, leaving him with little more than a good constitution and native talent. By dint of energy, efficiency, and hard work, he became wealthy and influential. In 1860 he removed to what is now Grant county and purchased a pleasant home near the county seat. Soon after this

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change of residence he was given quarterly conference license, and in 1869 joined the annual conference, being ordained in 1876. Although he did not enter the active itinerancy, he served to the end as a local minister, and in this field was very acceptable. He always commanded the attention of his hearers, and was often called upon to preach at funerals. In the political field he rose to local eminence and served in both houses of the legislature. At the time of his death he was serving as a member of the county court. He was a man of strong convictions and he had the courage to stand up for them. Mr. Harman was twice married, both wives being daughters of Jacob Smith of Pendleton county. He had five daughters and two sons.

HANEY: John Haney was born in York county, Pennsylvania, April 10, 1807, and at an early age was confirmed in the Reformed Church. In 1828 he was converted and joined the United Brethren Church, and the following year was licensed to preach. In 1833 he became presiding elder of the Virginia district.

HARP: Joshua Harp was born in Frederick county, Maryland, in 1825, was licensed in 1860, and ordained in 1864. He was a farmer of Washington county, Maryland, and his relation to the conference was local.

HENSLEY: James L. Hensley was born at Harrisonburg, Virginia, January 24, 1833, and began preaching at the age of twenty-three. He entered conference in 1859, and at the solicitation of Bishop Glossbrenner at once transferred himself to the Parkersburg Conference, in which he remained twenty-seven years, served with ability nine fields of labor. In 1885 he joined the Central Ohio Conference, and in 1900 was living at Marion in that state, holding a superannuate relation. During his ministry he built six churches, married 304 couples, conducted nearly 1000 funerals, and received more than 1000 members into the church. In his youth his educational opportunities were limited. Yet by studious habits he became a cultured man, and completed a medical course in 1867. He at length

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became a physician and as such was a member of several medical societies. Dr. Hensley served in the legislatures of both West Virginia and Ohio, and was a leader in securing the submission in the former state of a prohibitory amendment to the state constitution. His first wife was Eliza J. Stonebaugh of Augusta county, by whom he had five children.

HICKS: James W. Hicks was born in Frederick county, Virginia, January 20, 1855. He joined the Methodist Church in 1869 and the United Brethren in 1876, at which time he was given quarterly conference license. In 1880 he was graduated from Union Biblical Seminary, and was ordained the next year. After serving Westernport, Edinburg, Churchville, and Myersville, he joined the Sandusky Conference in 1888. In 1893 he was a delegate to the Genera! Conference. He married Linnie C. Nelson at Martinsburg, West Virginia, and five children were born to them.

HISER: Carl William Hiser, son of William F. and Ida R. (Mouse) Hiser, was born near Petersburg, W. Va., April 17, 1900, and has studied at the Shenandoah Collegiate Institute and Lebanon Valley College. He was converted in 1912 and licensed in 1915. Mr. Hiser preached his first sermon in Staunton when only sixteen years old, and has done itinerant work three years. He was class valedictorian at Shenandoah Collegiate Institute in 1919. Graduated at L. V. C. 1922.

HOOVER: A. Hoover was born March 10, 1839, and died at Roanoke, Virginia, February 10, 1901. He became an itinerant in 1870, and was ordained the year following. His circuits were Hagerstown, Rockbridge, Straight Creek, Page Valley, South Branch, and Lacey Spring. Ill health compelled him to quit the active ministry, but he hoped to be able to enter it again. Mr. Hoover lived a life of Christian consistency. He left nine children.

HOTT: Jacob F. Hott lived eight miles north of Winchester, and the door of his comfortable home was ever open to the ministers and laymen of his church. He was

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a self-made man of excellent qualities and sterling character. For a number of years he was a local preacher, but is better remembered as the father of several eminent members of the Virginia Conference. Jane, the wife, was a woman of deep piety and earnest devotion. Mr. Hott was converted at the age of fourteen, and joined the church at the same time with Jacob Markwood, whose name was often on his lips. He was soon licensed to preach, and in 1857 he joined the Virginia Conference, sustaining honorably a local relation the remainder or his life. Though not an itinerant, he traveled a wide field, preaching in barns, mills, groves, and private houses. Mr. Hott was a man of social attractiveness and sparkling wit. His comfortable home was a hospitable one. He was deservedly popular as a preacher. He never left the commanding heights of written revelation for the low grounds of uninspired thought, and every pulpit effort was earnest work for God. He was not a man of strong physique, and at the time of his death, August 31, 1884, he had not quite completed his sixty-fourth year.

HOTT: John H. Hott, a son of Peter and Tamson (Scott) Hott, was born in Frederick county, Virginia, in 1835, but about ten years later his parents moved to what is now Grant county, West Virginia. In 1864 he was converted and took up Christian work. Before being licensed by his quarterly conference, but with the sanction of several ministers, he held several successful revivals and established a number of churches. These congregations still endure. Mr. Hott entered Conference in 1877 and was ordained in 1883. His circuits prior to 1897 were Bloomery, Elkton, Madison mission, Rockbridge, Franklin, and South Branch. He died in Augusta county, December 22, 1916. While somewhat short in scholarship, Mr. Hott was a hard worker, a good speaker, and a pleasant companion. He was three times married and had eight children.

HOTT: George P. Hott, a brother to Bishop Hott, was one of the four preacher-sons of Jacob F. Hott, and was

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born March 13, 1854. After teaching three years in his native county of Frederick, he entered the United Brethren School at Dayton, Virginia, passing to Dayton, Ohio, where he graduated in 1882 from Union Biblical Seminary. He was given the honorary degree of Master of Arts by Lebanon Valley College. Mr. Hott was converted at the age of fifteen, was licensed as a preacher in 1877, and entered Conference in 1879, serving for twenty-seven years a number of charges in Virginia and West Virginia. He was six years a presiding elder, and thirty years the secretary of the Virginia Conference. Four times was he sent to the General Conference.

In 1890 he published "Christ the Teacher," which has had a large sale and is in the course of reading for licentiates. As a writer of hymns he possessed much ability, writing nearly five hundred religious songs and a number of melodies. Nearly all of these have appeared since 1900. For many of his hymns he wrote both the words and the music. Perhaps the best known is "Glory Gates." He also composed programs for Sunday school entertainments.

For eleven years he was principal of Shenandoah Collegiate Institute, and for twenty-five years a trustee. To him much credit is due for the success of that school. Mr. Hott died at Dayton November 28th, 1914, having been in feeble health several years. His wife was Carrie M. Robinson, also of Frederick. He left a son and a daughter.

HOWE: George W. Howe was born in Rappahannock county, September 14, 1831, and died at Mount Clinton in Rockingham, March 10, 1889. He joined the church in 1807, and became at once an active and earnest worker. In early life he was a teacher. His circuits were Berkeley Springs and Winchester, and in both were extensive revivals. In 1869 he was married to Sarah J. Ryan of Augusta county. During the last fifteen years of his life he was an invalid.

HOWE: John W. Howe was born in Rappahannock county, Virginia, December 4, 1829, and died at Dayton,

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Virginia, June 17, 1903. When a youth of fifteen he was bound to a man who was ever afterward his friends. This was Samuel Crabill, then living near Strasburg. He remained with Mr. Crabill until he was of age. During these years young Howe was strong and willing, but wild and reckless. When twenty-two years old he married Julia Stickley of the same neighborhood. Soon afterward he was converted and then became a colporteur and student. In 1858 he was licensed as a preacher. The next three years he preached in Augusta, Highland, and Pendleton counties, building one good country meeting house and receiving a large number of persons into the church. After the Civil War broke out he was transferred to Shenandoah county. Our denomination was then badly disorganized, but Mr. Howe preached to his people and the soldiers as opportunity offered. After the return of peace he devoted himself zealously to the task of rallying the scattered membership, particularly with the help of revivals and camp meetings. In these efforts he was very successful.

In 18(58 he was made a presiding elder and served in this capacity seventeen years, although he was on several circuits between the various terms. In Staunton he organized a congregation and built a church. This was his last charge. He believed in the itinerancy and would not consent to serve longer than four years at one time as elder or pastor. Beginning with 1869 he was in every General Conference, and in that body he was a great worker, especially on committees. Finance was his strong point, and when he was present the taking of a collection fell upon him. He was several times offered important places in the financial work of the Church, but preferred staying in Virginia.

His home for some years after the war was at Singers Glen, and being himself a good singer, he was there in touch with kindred spirits. He used new and popular songs with great effect, and helped to get up a small song book for use in camp meetings. It took well and a large and better printed book was called for. A company was formed

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for the publication of a new book, which sold at a profit. Thus started the publishing house of the Ruebush-Kieffer Company, Mr. Howe being a member, and deriving from the business a considerable income. He was a good business man, and even under trying conditions he was resourceful. Twice his home burned during his absence, yet he would at once set about recouping the loss. He always saws success ahead. Withal, he was liberal, and in the last twenty years of his life scarcely a church or parsonage was built in the conference to which he did not contribute. Mr. Howe was always a friend to Shenandoah Collegiate Institute, and was one of the first men to contribute $500 toward the purchase of the school by the Church. It was through his counsel and help that the Howe Memorial Building was erected in front of where he lived. He was a leader in his conference for many years, and during this time nearly every important selection of men was made with his approval. Mr. Howe was a leader of men, a fine organizer, and a tireless worker. He was as competent to manage a state as a conference. It is to him more then any other one man that is due the recovery of the Church from the disasters of the war. His second wife was Rebecca Hancher of Frederick county. There was five daughters by the first marriage.

HUFFMAN: George Huffman died at his home at Mount Zion, Augusta county, October 22, 1888, aged about eighty-two years. "Uncle George," as he was familiarly called, had been a member of the Conference fifty-nine years, and at its special invitation he gave a talk at the close of a half-century of ministerial life. His early experiences and memories were such as the United Brethren, even of thirty years ago, were rarely privileged to meet. In the permanent growth of the denomination, he watched with a jealous eye every departure from established customs and habits. He always took sides and was strong in his convictions. Everybody knew where to find him. Yet he sometimes chose his friends from among those who differed with him. He selected for his funeral text,

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"Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death 1 will fear no evil; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

HUFFMAN: Sylvester J. Huffman, a son of John R. and Mary P. Huffman, and grandson of the Rev. John W. Howe, was born in Staunton, Virginia, in 1869. He went to Iowa in 1885, joined the Des Moines Conference in 1891, and was ordained 1895.

HUTZLER: Charles W. Hutzler was born at Whitehall, Virginia, in 1853, and was licensed in 1877. Berkeley circuit was his only charge in this conference.

JONES: Henry Jones died at his home at East Point, Rockingham county, Virginia, August 23, 1889, aged nearly fifty-three years. He entered Conference in 1875, and labored on Elkton, Front Royal, and Dayton charges, and was for a while agent for Shenandoah Institute. Failing health caused him to retire from active work. He was a man of strong convictions, and would make no compromise with what he looked upon as evil.

JONES: William O. Jones was born in Madison county, Virginia, in 1874, and was educated at Lebanon Valley College and Shenandoah Collegiate Institute. He was licensed in 1894, and his early fields were Berkeley Springs, Prince William, and Churchville. He is now serving in the Nebraska Conference.

JUDY: Ida MaBelle Judy, daughter of Joel and Ellen Judy, was born near Petersburg, W. Va., June 19, 1873. She was educated at the Fairmont Normal School, the Shenandoah Collegiate Institute, and the Moody Biblical Institute. Miss Judy was converted in 1895, licensed in 1899, ordained in 1901, and has been seven years an itinerant. Her charges have been Franklin, Westernport, Dayton, and Petersburg. She has for some time been a member, of the faculty of the Shenandoah Collegiate Institute.

KETTERMAN: J. G. Ketterman died at his home on Lost River mission, December 11, 1884, aged fifty years. After the close of the war of 1861 he was given quarterly

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conference license, and was a faithful itinerant the rest of his life. He was a sound and forcible preacher, and was loved and respected by all.

KIRACOFE: J. W. Kiracofe was born near Stribling Springs, Virginia, and died at Hagerstown, Maryland, September 29, 1914, aged seventy-three years. Five of his six brothers were also ministers. He entered conference in 1864, and preached in Highland, Rockingham, Rockbridge, and Frederick counties. After the formation of the Maryland Conference, he was pastor of some of the largest churches in its territory, such as Hagerstown, Boonsboro, Frederick, Keedysville, Boiling Springs, Newville, Mechanicstown, Potomac, and Mount Alto. In 1912 he retired and made his home in Hagerstown. He was an able pulpit orator and long a powerful factor in the church. He had eight children.

KIRACOFE: Nimrod A. Kiracofe was born at Stribling Springs, Virginia, April 17, 1850. He was converted in 1868, licensed 1872, and joined conference in 1886. After serving West Augusta and South River missions, Lost River circuit, Williamsport mission, Deer Park circuit, and Rockbridge circuit, he joined the Pennsylvania Conference. During the 14 years after admission he built three churches, and in one meeting had 93 conversions to report. On one occasion he baptized 40 persons.

LAWRENCE: P. J. Lawrence was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, in 1859, was licensed in 1879, and joined conference in 1882. He served Bloomery circuit seven and one-half years as his first charge. The members taken into the church in 18 years were about 450.

LUDWIG: S. R. Ludwig was born at Rio, West Virginia, in 1859. After serving South Branch and Lacey Springs, he joined the Miami Conference.

LUTZ: Lewis W. Lutz was born near Middletown, Maryland, in 1872, and graduated in 1897 from Otterbein

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University, joining the West Virginia Conference the same year. His first work in this conference was South Branch.

MAIDEN: Arthur Lee Maiden, son of Rev. J. W. and Polly A. Maiden, was born near Elkton, Va., August 31, 1886, was converted in 1899, licensed in 1905, and ordained in 1912. He has been five years on the Shenandoah, Prince William, and Westernport charges, graduating from Bonebrake Theological Seminary 1922.

MAIDEN: John William Maiden, son of James G. and Mary A. (Wyant) Maiden, was born in Rockingham county, Va., November 19, 1844. He was converted in 1869, licensed in 1875, and subsequently ordained. He has preached 40 years, serving Rockbridge, Pleasant Valley, Albemarle, Shenandoah, Churchville, Winchester, Tom's Brook, Great Cacapon, Potomac Fountain, and other charges.

MANN: Andrew Brown Mann was born in the shire of Linlithgow, Scotland, of Presbyterian parents, and was educated in his native country. He was licensed in 1911 and ordained in 1918. His charges have been Bayard, South Branch, and Staunton. Mr. Mann spent three years in Y. M. C. A. work, and one year in Canada in special mission work.

MARTIN: William L. Martin was born near Thurmont, Maryland, in 1845, and was licensed in 1871, joining conference in 1881. His pastorates to 1900 were Clarke, Mechanicstown, Frederick, Myersville, Williamsport, Boonsboro, and he built a church at Myersville.

McMULLEN: Edgar W. McMullen was born near Singers Glen, Virginia, February 5, 1863, and died at Dayton, Virginia, December 11, 1917. He was graduated from Otterbein University, which conferred on him the degree of Master of Arts. He was ordained in 1889, but because of a weak constitution and poor health he never entered the active ministry. His pulpit was his class room in Shenandoah Collegiate Institute, where he was one of the faculty. His life was a heroic fight against physical odds.

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McNEIL: William Grady McNeil was born in Mississippi, in 1889. He was converted in 1907, licensed in 1908, ordained in 1913. His fields have been Fountain, Elkton, and Franklin.

MESSICK: Lewis Henry Messick, son of William R. and Mary E. (Hartman) Messick, was born at Mount Clinton, Va., June 13, 1883, and was educated at Bridgewater and Dayton. He was converted in 1902, licensed in 1907, and has been an itinerant seven years. His charges have been West Frederick, Elk Garden, Swoope, and Manassas.

MILES: James W. Miles was born in Frederick county, Maryland, in 1818, was converted in 1835, and was licensed in the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1841. He joined the United Brethren Church in 1843 and its conference the next year. He was ordained 1846 and in 1850 was presiding elder of the territory that became the Parkersburg Conference, with which he was identified after its organization. His second wife, Mary E. Jackson was a cousin to Stonewall Jackson.

MILLER: Charles Miller was born in York county, Pennsylvania, December 6, 1824. He professed religion at the age of seventeen and joined the Evangelical Association. In 1850 he was ordained. Some time earlier than this he was sent to Virginia as a missionary. He located at Purgitsville, Hampshire county, West Virginia, where he was married to Miss Louisa High of that place and reared a large family. Soon after coming here Mr. Miller connected himself with the United Brethren, and in 1874 became an ordained elder. He was an exceptional man. Although a local preacher, he frequently traveled a circuit thus serving several large charges in reach of his home. As a preacher he was clear, logical, and scriptural. As a layman he was much respected and wielded a good influence. He provided well for his family, yet gave a tenth to the cause of the Church. He was forty-five years a minister.

MITCHELL: William Davis Mitchell was born in Montgomery county, Va., was educated at Roanoke, converted

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in 1894, and licensed in 1905. He has been an itinerant 14 years, serving Roanoke, Staunton, Harrisonburg, Cumberland, and Inwood.

NEGLEY: J. A. Negley was born at White Hall, Virginia, December 23, 1831, and died at Arthur, Grant county, West Virginia, December 27, 1898. He was converted when about twenty-three years old, and joined the Virginia Conference in 1872. His circuits were Clarke, New Haven, Berkeley, Front Royal, Lost River, Moorefield, and Franklin. His education was meager, yet he often preached with great power, the plainness and simplicity of his utterances being readily understood by his hearers. He therefore often succeeded where others might have failed. His last year in the ministry was perhaps his best, since there were more than one hundred conversions to report. As a token of its appreciation the Conference ordered that a monument be placed over his grave at Mount Carmel church, Grant county.

NIHISER: J. W. Nihiser was born in Shenandoah county, and died at Keedysville, Maryland, February 26, 1893, aged sixty-six years. He was a brother to the Rev. Richard Nihiser, and it was through the influence of the latter that he joined the church. Very early in life he took an active part in the work of his class. He was a fine singer at revival meetings and was powerful in prayer. As an exhorter he was surpassed by few. He traveled South Branch, Alleghany, New Creek, Franklin, Augusta, Dayton, and Winchester circuits, on most of which he had extensive revivals. For several years he had been on the supernumary list, making his home with his son, Dr. W. M. Nihiser.

OBAUGH: William B. Obaugh, son of Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Obaugh, was born near Churchville, Va., December 6, 1892, and studied at the Shenandoah Collegiate Institute and Bonebrake Seminary. He was licensed in 1916, has spent three years on Fountain and Edinburg circuits, and was graduated from Bonebrake Seminary 1922.

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PERRY: John W. Perry was born at Chewsville, Maryland, in 1825, studied at Mount Pleasant College, and joined conference in 1850. He was a member of the Parkersburg Conference from 1857 to 1889, when he removed to Philadelphia to be with his son.

RACEY: Calvin Jackson Racey, son of Morgan and Rebecca Racey, was born at Old Fields, Hardy county, W. Va. He studied two years at the Shenandoah Collegiate Institute, was converted in 1883, licensed in 1905, and ordained in 1912. Mr. Racey taught 12 years in his native county, holding a Number One certificate at the age of eighteen. He has been an itinerant 18 years, having served West Frederick, Winchester, Swoope, Pendleton, Elk Garden, and Westernport. His wife was Cora S. High, and he has four children.

RACEY: Lee Allen Racey was born near Moorefield, W. Va., March 28, 1869, and is a son of Morgan and Rebecca Racey. He was ordained in 1903, and has been an itinerant 23 years. He has served Prince William, Elk Garden, Franklin, Tom's Brook, South Branch, Pleasant Valley, Winchester, Bayard, Great Cacapon, and Inwood. He relates that he was reared in a Christian home, and does not remember the time when he did not consider himself a member of the church.

RAU: William Samuel Rau, son of John V. and Sarah E. Rau, was born August 19, 1858, at Edinburg, Va., was converted in 1876, licensed in 1900, ordained in 1908, and has been an itinerant 20 years. He has served Albemarle, Rockbridge, Elk Garden, Bayard, Augusta, Elkton, Lacey Spring, and Shenandoah. He has built several parsonages and remodeled still more.

REXROAD: George W. Rexrode was born in Pendleton county, West Virginia, January 4, 1821, and died near Port Republic, Virginia, March 25, 1898. He joined the Virginia Conference in 1858, and was a member of it forty years, generally occupying a local relation, and preaching

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mostly in his native county. He supported his large family by following the trade of shoemaker. He was a consistent Christian and exerted a good influence. In Bible doctrines he was well informed and he was powerful in prayer.

RICHARDSON: Harvey Eugene Richardson was born at Buckeystown, Md., June 22, 1865, and is a son of James A. and Margaret E. Richardson. He was converted when twenty-one, licensed in 1891, ordained in 1898, and has been an itinerant since 1893. His charges in the Virginia Conference are Berkeley Springs, Great Cacapon, Rockbridge, West Frederick, Bayard, and Winchester. Mr. Richardson has served several charges in Maryland and Iowa. He had to begin making his way at the age of twelve, and his has been largely a self-education. He has made quite a name as a pulpit orator.

RIDENOUR: Jacob R. Ridenour was born near Myersville, Maryland, in 1849. He was the first student to enter Lebanon Valley College from south of Mason and Dixon's line, and he pursued the scientific course to the senior year. He was licensed in 1874, and joined conference the next year. In 17 years of pastoral work he served New Creek, South Branch, Hagerstown, Winchester, Berkeley Springs, Keedysville, Martinsburg, and Dayton, and was two years presiding elder of the Winchester district. In 1893 he took a superannuate relation because of failing health.

RODERICK: Lewis Roderick was a Dunkard preacher who came to what is now Grant county, West Virginia, from Frederick county, Maryland. This was about the close of the Revolution, and he was accompanied by his brother-in-law, Nicholas Leatherman. He moved on to Coshocton county, Ohio, and died there at the age of ninety-six. His son Peter came back to visit his uncle, married in 1816, and remained. Jacob M., son of Peter, was born in 1817 on a farm near Burlington, West Virginia. When eighteen years old he began teaching in the winter season, still working on the farm in the summer. He was converted in 1843, under the preaching of John Ruebush, and

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was ordained in 1861. Alleghany mission had just been formed to favor some thirty or more members who had moved into Garrett county, Maryland, mostly from Somerset county, Pennsylvania. Benjamin Stickley was given $50 in missionary money and sent to travel it six months. Mr. Roderick then took charge, finding fifteen appointments and 210 miles to travel each month. He added two appointments. His salary was $52 for the first six months, $500 for the fourth year, by which time there were 400 members. He then served Alleghany, Bath, New Creek, and Bloomery circuits. Though not a born orator, he was a revivalist of some note, and several of his converts became ministers. It was a maxim with him that "the fear of hell never helped anyone very far on the road to the Kingdom." He had a fine education and was an authority on ancient and biblical history. When asked by Bishop Hott to be examined at Union Biblical Institute for the degree of Doctor of Divinity, he replied that he could do more for the Master as Uncle Jake than as Dr. Roderick. In 1861 he was secretary of a mass meeting that was instrumental in placing the boundary of West Virginia east of the Alleghanies. This action cost the chairman and one other member their lives, but Mr. Roderick was never molested.

ROUDABUSH: George J. Roudabush was born at Seville, Virginia, December 1, 1846, and died December 17, 1916. He was converted at Shady Grove, Rockingham county, in 1866, and was licensed in 1868. Despite the limited educational advantages of his early years, he read many books and was considered a minister of splendid ability. He traveled East Virginia mission, Elkton, Lacey Springs, Augusta, Dayton, Mechanicstown, and Boonsboro, built three churches and two parsonages, and received about 500 members into the church. For several years he was presiding elder of the Maryland Conference.

RUEBUSH: John Ruebush was born in Augusta county, Virginia, in 1816, was converted in 1834, and in the year licensed by a quarterly conference. He joined the Virginia Conference in 1841, and in 1844 traveled in

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the section of the state beyond the Alleghanies, opening up new work. In 1850 he became a presiding elder, the boundary line of his mountain district being pressed westward. Mr. Ruebush was a born leader, fearless, energetic, and. enterprising, and of broad vision. While not a profound thinker, be loved and apprehended the truth of the Bible and the ways of God. He knew the lessons of love, faith, and obedience, and preached and enforced them with power. When in 1856 the Virginia Conference decided to open a mission in East Tennessee, Mr. Ruebush was chosen to lead the enterprise. In his first report he says: "I have found thirteen members scattered over a large territory. My congregations are very large and attentive. I have my work arranged in the form of a three weeks' mission circuit. Last Sabbath I preached in the woods to a large congregation; in the afternoon at a Methodist church, but the people could not all get in the house." He soon announced that he had more calls than three men could fill. His preaching was mainly in the counties of Washington, Greene, and Johnson. His success closed the doors of other churches to him. He was advised to leave the state on pain of personal violence, and though subjected to much annoyance because of the anti-slavery record of his church, he remained in his field until the war of 1861 had broken out. He then said that "as soon as the war is over there will be a ripe harvest for the United Brethren Church in East Tennessee.' He did go back after the return of peace, and in November, 1866, the Tennessee Conference was organized by Bishop Glossbrenner. Mr. Ruebush and two other ministers were present. There were only 209 members, but in 1908 there were 5000 in Tennessee, Georgia, and Louisiana. In 1869, Mr. Ruebush returned to Virginia, served Lacey Springs and Edinburg, and in 1874 he was made a presiding elder. He was afterward on the Boonsboro and Myersville circuits, but after being transferred to the Hagerstown circuit, he died at Leitersburg, Maryland, in 1881. He was strong as a revivalist, and few ministers had so much power over an audience.

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RUPPENTHAL: Harry Preston Ruppenthal, son of Henry M. and Ida C. Ruppenthal, was born at Berkeley Springs, April 27, 1893. His education was completed at Lebanon Valley College. He was converted in 1905, licensed in 1920, and his one charge thus far is Shenandoah City. During the recent war he was in radio wireless service at Richmond, Va.

SALT: Michael A. Salt was born in Powroun, England in 1811. While yet a boy he became a sailor and during his nine years on the sea had many thrilling experiences. He was converted at 18 and united with the Wesleyans. He had an impression that he should preach, and once dreamed that he was preaching in a strange land. The dream was fulfilled 21 years later at a camp meeting in Augusta county. In 1871 he came to America and in 1880 joined the Virginia Conference.

SAMPSELL: William Hamilton Sampsell was born in Stephens City, Va., January 13, 1850. He is a son of Nicholas and Margaret A. Sampsell. He was licensed in 1879, ordained in 1885, and has been an itinerant 41 years. He has served Franklin, Elkton, South Branch, New Creek, Cross Keys, Frederick, Churchville, Edinburg, Berkeley Springs, Tom's Brook, Jones Springs, Pleasant Valley, Elkton, Lacey Spring, Winchester, West Frederick.

SCOTT: Snowden Scott was born in Loudoun county, Virginia, December 3, 1821, and died at Seymoursville, West Virginia, May 2, 1901. He was converted at the age of fourteen years, and was transferred to Mount Hebron, Grant county, West Virginia, seven years later. His relation to the conference was that of local minister. Because others could not afford to work there, he built a church at Mount Olivet, Hardy county, and preached in it regularly many years. Possessing good judgment and strong convictions, Mr. Scott was an invaluable counselor to the young minister. In his hospitable home the pastor always received a royal welcome. One of his daughters

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is the wife of the Rev. A. J. Secrist. His wife was Elizabeth, daughter of the Rev. Adam I. Bovey.

SCOTT: John D. Scott was born in Floyd county, Virginia, February 29, 1829, and died at Roanoke, Virginia, December 28, 1907. He was converted in early life, and received his first license to preach from the Methodist Episcopal Church, South. In 1874 he united with the Methodist Episcopal Church and was ordained in 1879. In 1896 he established his home in Roanoke, and in 1905 was received into the United Brethren conference as an ordained elder. He was active and useful as a local preacher, assisting the pastors in their work and often having preaching places of his own. His breadwinning profession was that of physician and dentist, in which he was very skillful. He administered to the poor, regardless of the matter of compensation. He was consistent in his life and diligent and earnest in the performance of all duties.

SECRIST: Arthur Jacob Secrist, son of Thomas J. and Frances V. (Hawk) Secrist, was born February 13, 1872 in Grant county, W. Va. His education has been that of the free schools and the Shenandoah Collegiate Institute. He was converted in 1891, licensed in 1893, and ordained in 1896. Mr. Secrist has been in the ministry 28 years, and has served the charges now known as Hardy, Elkton, Churchville, Pleasant Valley, New Creek, Inwood, Cumberland, and Dayton. He built churches at Cumberland and Pleasant Grove, and a parsonage at Cumberland. Previous to entering the ministry, he taught five years in Grant county. He was married in 1895 to Leona C. Scott and has two living children.

SENSENY: Dr. Peter Senseny came from York, in Pennsylvania. He was walking in a field in his riding costume, while Bishop Boehm was preaching, and heard these words, which were suggested by his presence: "Some sinners are going to hell with boots and spurs on." He was converted and became a preacher. He died in 1804.

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SHUEY: George A. Shuey was born near Churchville, Virginia, June 7, 1815, was educated in a classical academy at Staunton, and was married to Martha Goldsmith, whom he met in a camp meeting in Franklin county, Pennsylvania. He had six children, of whom Theodore F. was chief stenographer in the Senate of the United States. John Ludwig Shuey, grandfather of George, was born in Bethel township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and came to Middle River, 1795. Like his ancestors, who came from the Palatinate, he was of the Reformed Church. Of his nine children, John, born 1787, married Catharine Funkhouser and moved to New Goshen, Indiana. Christian, born 1792, died 1862, married Catharine, a niece to George A. Geeting. One of his four children was the Rev. George A., mentioned above. Another was Maria, wife of Bishop Glossbrenner. For several years Mr. Shuey was an efficient itinerant, but at length chose to become a local preacher. As a counselor he was prudent and safe, and was often in official position in his church. His home near Churchville was one of extended hospitality.

SKELTON: Silas D. Skelton was born at Mount Crawford, Virginia, in 1860, and was converted when thirteen. After teaching seven years, he joined conference in 1885, and in 14 years built two churches and took 728 persons into the church. In 1914 he was granted a local relation and lived in Dayton and now is serving Manassas charge. He was married to Maggie C. Heatwole in 1882. In 1907 he attended the 5th World's Sunday School Convention, which met in Rome, Italy, and finished up the trip by a tour through Central and Northern Europe.

SMITH: William Henry Smith, son of H. W. H. and Flora V. (Rockwell) Smith, was born at Great Cacapon, September 5, 1886. He studied at the Shenandoah Collegiate Institute, was converted in 1912, and licensed in 1914. His charges have been West Frederick, Dayton, and Singer's Glen.

SNYDER: Josiah F. Snyder was born at Keedysville, Maryland in 1866, and licensed in 1888. His first pastorates

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were Lost River, Bloomery, Augusta, Berkeley, Martins-burg, Edinburg, and South Branch.

STATTON: Isaac K. Statton was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, December 25, 1830. He was a son of Jacob, who in 1812 married Margaret C. Highof. Their children were James H., John F., Nancy J., George W., N. Green, Amelia, Isaac K., David E., Margaret C., Mary C., and Elizabeth. Isaac K. grew up as free as the fowls of the air or the deer of the forest. He worked on the farm, and at times with his father and an older brother at carpentering, this making him a fairly good mechanic. His educational opportunities were limited, yet his brother John finished an academic course without a teacher and with only a final examination. I. K. entered the Virginia Conference in 1850 and was ordained in 1853. He was first placed on the Hagerstown circuit as junior. Next year he was on the Winchester circuit. Sixteen appointments were filled every five weeks by each preacher, and though the work was hard, there was the beginning of a useful life. Mr. Statton then served Mason, Buckhannon, Churchville, and Meyersville. He was next appointed a missionary to Kansas and solicited donations to build a church in that new country. The appointment was reconsidered because of political excitement and border warfare. For the rest of the period before the civil war his fields were Frederick and Hagerstown. 1858 was a banner year on the Frederick circuit, there being 150 conversions and over 100 accessions. Late in March, 1861, he took a train for Le Harp, Illinois, and in July bought forty acres at St. John, Missouri, intending to retire from the ministry. Before reaching their destination the family ran upon small squads, both of Confederates and Unionists, and were compelled to turn back, leaving much of their effects in the road. After sundry discomforts and some experiences with bills emanating from broken banks, they got back to Le Harp, their personal effects now reduced to one trunk and one small box. Joseph Watson, an old friend, sent him an invitation to take Pine Creek circuit, Rock River Conference. Mr. Stat-

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ion accepted at once, but the elder had given the place to another man. He then worked in the harvest field, and three months as a supply for a minister smitten with sore eyes. For the latter service he received five dollars in money, one ham, a few potatoes, and one sack of flour. At the conference Bishop Markwood replenished his empty purse, and had him put on Princeton station, where there were nine members and a debt of $1,000. But he had a good year and the largest salary he had yet enjoyed,—$400. He remained in the West, preaching in Illinois, Iowa, and California. In a ministry of almost fifty years, he had preached over 6000 times, married 815 couples, and conducted 1,627 funerals, some of suicides, and some of men killed in battle. He built five churches and five parsonages. He had moved twenty-three times, was five times in General Conference, and entertained that body once,—at Lisbon, Iowa. Mr. Statton remarks in his letter that if all the people to whom he had preached were "gathered in one congregation, he would certainly be overwhelmed with awful thoughts of his responsibility."

STOVER: George Washington Stover, son of Joshua H. and Frances M. Stover, was born near Mount Pisgah Church, Augusta county, Va., June 5, 1862. He studied two years at the Augusta Military Academy, was converted in 1892, licensed in 1893, ordained in 1896, and has been an itinerant since 1896, serving Prince William, Jones Springs, Staunton, and Winchester. Mr. Stover studied medicine and passed an examination in 1893.

TABB: Theodore B. Tabb was born near Hedgesville, West Virginia, and was drowned June 17, 1909, while bathing at a seabeach in Japan. He was converted at the age of fourteen, and was graduated from the Shenandoah Collegiate Institute in 1901. He then began to preach, having been licensed 1899. In 1907 he was graduated from Vanderbilt University. While studying here he felt it his duty to labor in Japan, and volunteered for that field a few weeks after his graduation, sailing for Yokohama in July

of the same year. He was installed as teacher of English in Hagi, a city of 20,000 on the north coast of the principal island. He taught here two years meanwhile conducting Bible classes among the students. His only white acquaintances in the city was an old French Catholic priest who became greatly attached to him. About one month before his untimely death he accepted the principalship of a large school in Korea. By the Japanese he was held in high esteem, and the impression he made on them was excellent.

TALLHELM: Henry Tallhelm died May 30, 1902 at the age of seventy-eight. He joined the Virginia Conference in 1854, and a year later was appointed to Berkeley Springs circuit. His next charges were Woodstock, Lacey Springs, Rockingham, Pleasant Grove, Frederick circuit, Tuscarora, East Virginia. In 1874 he was granted at his own request an honorable dismissal from the church and conference. He then entered the ministry of the Reformed Church, but in 1900 he returned to the denomination of his first choice, spending his last years at Edinburg, Virginia. In 1859 he was married to Marry E. Koontz. Mr. Tallhelm was good, humble, peaceable, and faithful.

THOMAS: P. H. Thomas was born in Frederick county, Maryland, February 25, 181G, and died near Jones' Springs, W. Va., February 13, 1889. Between 1867 and 1877, he served successively, Winchester, Martinsburg, Singers Glen, Back Creek, and Opequon. Being subsequently in feeble health, he took a local relation.

UMSTOT: Zimri Umstot was a native of what is now Mineral county. He was converted when about twenty years old, and received quarterly conference license in June, 1863. He was kind and persuasive, a good man and fine preacher. He was of fine judgment and firm in his opinions. Mr. Umstot died August 26, 1883 at the age of forty-three.

UNDERWOOD: I. M. Underwood was born in Tyler county, West Virginia, in 1851, converted in 1867, and in

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the same year licensed. He entered the Parkersburg Conference in 1870 and three years later was transferred to this conference. Mr. Underwood made himself a record as a firm prohibitionist, and as a congressional candidate of the Prohibition party in 1890 received a majority of the votes in the town where he was living.

WALTERS: J. William Walters was born at Luray, Virginia, August 18, 1842, and died in his native county, July 12, 1910. He was converted late in life, but soon was given a quarterly conference license, and sometimes had charge of a circuit. He was a fluent speaker, but was guarded in his social conversation. Also, he was a tireless worker and built two churches, one in Page county and one in Warren. In 1893 he joined the Virginia Conference and was ordained before completing his course of reading. But though old and feeble, he kept his promise and at the last conference he attended he presented his papers on the fourth year's course of study.

WALTON: Arthur P. Walton was born near Mount Solon, Virginia, in 1876, and converted at the age of sixteen. He was licensed in 1896 and in the next three years had built three churches.

WELLER: P. W. Weller was eight years a member of this conference, and was held in great esteem by its other members. He was a young man of earnest and faithful piety and high ideals. His elevated purpose led him to enter Lebanon Valley College, and then to continue his studies in Westfield College in Illinois, where he supported himself by teaching music. He died a member of the senior class in the spring of 1880. The Virginia Conference made an appropriation to place a tombstone over his grave.

WIDMEYER: Joseph E. Widmeyer was born July 24, 1856, and died May 8, 1883. He was converted at the age of fifteen and became a member of this conference in 1876. His fields were Alleghany, Highland, and South Branch circuits, and Westernport and Martinsburg stations. His

CHURCH HISTORY

last year was the most successful. In 1879 he was married to Miss Belle Howe.

WILT: William Abraham Wilt was born in Snyder county, Penn., September 1, 1888, his parents being John D. and Susan (Birkhart) Wilt. He completed his education at Susquehanna University and Bonebrake Theological Seminary, graduating from the latter in 1915. He was converted in 1904, licensed in 1912, ordained in 1915, and has been four years an itinerant, serving Harrisonburg and Keyser.

WINE: Samuel K. Wine was born in west Rockingham in 1852, and died at Fayettesville, Penn., January 21, 1911. In 1875 he graduated from Lebanon Valley College, but studied also at Otterbein and Princeton universities. Among his charges in this conference were Ottobine, Mount Clinton, Dayton, Harrisonburg, Strasburg, and Winchester. After removing to Pennsylvania he served several charges there. Mr. Wine married Miss Lizzie Keys, of New Erection and had three children.

YOUNG: Robert Newton Young was born at Wolverhampton, England, Augusta 18, 1885, and was educated in Scotland. He was licensed in 1912 and ordained in 1921. His charges have been South Branch, Bayard, Edinburg, Reliance, and Churchville. The wife of Mr. Young is a native of Scotland. Their three living children were born in the United States.

ZAHN: John Zahn was a member of the General Conference of 1829, and was present in the Virginia Conference when the whole Church in the East was embraced in the Hagerstown Conference. He preached at the funeral of Bishop Newcomer. When the church in the East was all in one conference he was one of its most promising ministers. At the time of his death,—April 14, 1861,—he was one of the oldest preachers in the church.

ZEHRUNG: Samuel Zehrung, born May 9, 1812, died June 6, 1849, was buried in the Funkhouser burying ground on Mill Creek near Mount Jackson.



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