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TABLE OF CONTENTS CHAP. 1 Apostolic Christianity before Otterbein, p. 1-7 CHAP. 2 William Otterbein and the German Reformed Church, p. 8-16 CHAP. 3 Martin Boehm and the Mennonites, p.17-20 CHAP. 4 German Immigration in the Eighteenth Century, p.21-31 CHAP. 5 The Evangelical Movement among the German Immigrants, p.32-39 CHAP. 6 Early Years of the Church, p.40-43 CHAP. 7 Planting the Church in Virginia, p.44-51 CHAP. 8 Extracts from Newcomer's Journal, p.52-65 CHAP. 9 The Early Preachers, p.66-69 CHAP. 10 Reminiscences of Some of the Early Preachers, p.70-88 CHAP.11 The Transition from German to English, p.89-93 CHAP.12 The Church in the War of 1861, p.94-98 CHAP.13 The Church in Recent Times, p.99-105 CHAP.14 Movements toward Union with Other Churches, p.106-112 CHAP.15 Concerning Slavery and Intoxicants, p.113-118 CHAP.16 Concerning Secret Societies, p.119-123 CHAP.17 List of Preachers: Chronological, p.124-130 CHAP.18 List of Preachers: Alphabetical, p.131-146 CHAP.19 Bishops, Missionaries, and Others, p.147-154 CHAP.20 Biographical Sketches of Ministers, p.155-189 CHAP.21 Early Deaths among Ministers, p.190-192 CHAP.22 Church Dedications, p.193-202 CHAP.23 Sketch of A. P. Funkhouser, p.203-213 CHAP.24 The Church and Education, p.214-219 CHAP.25 The Virginia Conference School, p.220-223 CHAP.[26] 27 A Digest of the Conference Minutes, p.224-309 CONFERENCE ROLL, 1921, p.310-312 NOTICE OF ATTRIBUTION Work originally published in 1921. Scanned, proofed and minor spelling corrections by the United Brethren Historical Center. Electronic edition ©2006 United Brethren Historical Center Suggested Citation: |
History of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Virginia Conference by A. P. Funkhouser |
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CHAPTER XXI EARLY DEATHS AMONG MINISTERS The proverb that death loves a shining mark seems applicable to the early deaths of those of our number whose light began to shine in early life. Peter Whitesel, whose father's house in Rockingham was one of the first preaching places of the German evangelists, became a companion of the early ministers, married a daughter of Bishop Brown of Pennsylvania, and after seven years of service laid down his life. His father gave the land for Whitesel's church, the first house of worship built by the United Brethren in Virginia. John Gibbons, a young, bashful boy, embraced religion at a camp meeting on the land of Peter Ruebush, near his home in Augusta, and immediately responded to the call to preach. This was in opposition to the wish of the family, who were not of the church he joined. Young Gibbons could preach from the start, and a most promising career appear to lie before him. Yet after only three years of ministerial service he died at Burlington, W. Va. Almost fifty years later the Conference placed a monument over his grave at the old stone church. In the same year,—1847,—Richard Nihiser died a most triumphant death at Chewsville, Maryland. We was reared and converted near Mount Hebron, Shenandoah county. He was great in prayer and song, pious and studious. His body was interred in the churchyard at St. Paul's, Hagerstown, Maryland, but was removed to help make room for the new church now covering the spot. Jacob A. Bovey, a West Virginian, fell a victim to typhoid fever, and was buried at Edinburg, Virginia, in November, 1859. His dying message was, "Say to my brethren I die in the faith I have preached." 191
Samuel Evers died in June, 1861, just as the war-clouds were gathering. He was undertaking an important work as teacher, and it had been only two years since joining conference. His health had been undermined in his efforts to secure a college education. He was buried in the cemetery of the Union Presbyterian church at Cross Keys. Under privations and with much toil, P. W. Weller was preparing for a career full of promise. Yet within a few weeks from the time when he was to receive a diploma from the college at Westfield, he was called to his long home. Dorsey Freed, son of the Rev. John D. Freed of Virginia and Maryland, spent several years in college, only to leave his first charge and die at his father's home in 1876. Charles M. Hott, the brightest of a bright family, an eloquent preacher and charming singer, a young man of splendid ability and great character, served but one pastorate. He was then called to become a college preacher in California, but after a few months was called home, leaving a wife and two children. James E. Whitesel, son of Simon Whitesel, and born in 1851, was a most conscientious and loyal Christian. He began a university course while yet in his teens, and after good work on several charges was sent to Churchville, where he built a church that was the best in the conference at the time. But overworking himself, his promising career was cut short at the age of twenty-seven by typhoid fever. His body rests at Whitesel's chapel. He left a noble wife and three little children. At the same place and in the same house, almost exactly twelve years later, died William O. Ewing, a victim to the same scourge. He also left three little children. His most estimable wife was a daughter of David Hott. J. E. Widmeyer, after being six years a member of the conference, fell asleep at Newtown, Virginia, and is buried 192
at Winchester. Never strong, he could not resist the insidious attack of disease following a winter of earnest revival work. His wife, a daughter of the Rev. John W. Howe, and two little children were sorely bereft. Kingsley Funk, son of E. W. Funk, of Singers Glen, was one of our brightest prospects for the ministry in later years. But while still in school he fell a victim to influenza and died a triumphant death in 1918. In contemplating these short careers one instinctively asks the question: Why these untimely deaths? Although the veil cannot be pierced to learn the answer, the labors of these men were not without result. "Their works do follow them." |
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