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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 XXV THE VIRGINIA CONFERENCE SCHOOL The country about Dayton, Virginia was settled long before there was any village at this point. The little stone building on the east border, between the Harrisonburg pike and Cook's creek, was built as a fortified house, and was surrounded by a stockade. It is supposed there was a covered way leading to the stream, and a condition in the crown patent to the land on which the lower mill stands is that the Burtner fort shall have enough water for its use. Even before the Revolution there was an Episcopal chapel adjacent to the town cemetery. On the ground now occupied by artificial Silver Lake was a Presbyterian church. The early population of the vicinity was Scotch-Irish and English and not German. As a hamlet, Dayton was first known as Rifetown or Rifeville. In 1833, Dayton was made a town by an Act of Assembly. The first dwelling within the town site was the Rife house, a rough-coat building that stood on the Institute campus. Previous to its being torn down by Dr. Funkhouser, the occupant kept a wagon yard. The Harrisonburg pike was built in 1833, and in 1840 there were 26 houses in the village. The union brick church now owned by the Church of the Brethren was built about 1858. Prior to this the only preaching place was a long shop building. Bachtel had a steel triangle made, and this was beaten with a hammer to give notice of the preaching hour. The discovery of gold in California made money plentiful, and Dayton was on somewhat of a boom. Property was in demand, houses were built, and in 1852 the place was incorporated. Shenandoah Seminary was founded in 1875 and incorporated one year later. In 1879 it was named Shenandoah Institute. Its first habitation was the building on Main street near the entrance to the street leading to the railway station. It is at present the store and residence of Mr. Stine- 221
spring. The next home of the school was the building since known as Ladies' Dormitory Number One and Dining Hall. Until then this was a store and dwelling house. In 1885 an annex was attached to this building. In the same year the campus was purchased and maple trees planted on it. In 1901 the Howe Memorial Building was erected on the campus, and in 1912 the Administration Building, opposite the Boarding Hall, was completed. Including two residences, occupied by the manager and Professor W. H. Ruebush, there are now six distinct buildings on the lands owned by the institution, and the total value of the plant is about $60,000. The school began with 20 students, and there were many recitations in private homes. A primary school was at first connected with Shenandoah Academy. The manager, the instructor of the primary department, and a teacher of music made up the original faculty. The following persons have successively been at the head of the school: A. P. Funkhouser (1875-1885); J. N. Fries (1885-1887); G. P. Hott (1887-1895); E. U. Hoenshel (1895-1910); J. H. Ruebush, since 1910. In 1902 the institution took the name of Shenandoah Collegiate Institute and School of Music, and by this title it has since been known. There are now ten members of the academic faculty, and eight of the department of music. The curriculum embraces Bible study, English, History, Mathematics, Natural Science, Agriculture, Latin, German, French, Elocution, Domestic Science, and the Fine Arts, in addition to the work of the Shenandoah Business College. Music has always been a strong adjunct. In the school year, 1918-19, there were 115 students studying music, 101 were taking Bible study, 94 literature, 35 expression, 18 art, and 2 domestic science. There were 44 in the commercial courses. The school year, divided into two semesters, continues 36 weeks. Tuition is $50 in each music course, and $50 to $75 in the academic courses. 222
In 42 years over 6,000 students have had partial training in this institution. Jay N. Fries was born at White Hall, Virginia, December 13, 1850. His early life was spent on his father's farm. In the fall of 1869 he began teaching, and in 1876 was graduated from Otterbein University with the degree of Bachelor of Arts. He had already been licensed to preach in 1871. In the year of his graduation he opened a high school at Dayton, Virginia, teaching it four years, and then teaching in Bridgewater and Harrisonburg. For 12 years Prof. Fries was at the head of Shenandoah Institute, and his term was marked by thorough, conscientious, and successful work. Elmer U. Hoenshel was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, being one of the nine sons of George and Mary Hoenshel. He was converted at the age of nineteen and decided to be a teacher. But he received a license from a quarterly conference in 1889, joined the Alleghany Conference in 1891, and was a graduate of Shenandoah Seminary in 1892. Prof. Hoenshel is very well known in the Valley of Virginia as an educator and lecturer, and also as an author. He has traveled in Europe and Palestine. James H. Ruebush was born at Singers Glen, Virginia, October 17, 1865. Until the age of fourteen he lived on his father's farm. The family then moved to Dayton in the same county, where the son attended Shenandoah Institute five years. His studies in music was continued at Otterbein University, the Conservatory of Music at New York, and such summer schools as Silver Lake and Lake Chautauqua. In these he was a pupil of some eminent teachers. After teaching five years at Kee Mar College, he returned to Dayton in 1898, becoming Musical Director in the Institute. In 1910 he was put in control of the school. Mr. Ruebush is the author of several song books, the first of which is "Gems of Gladness." He is a person 223
of great energy and activity, and brings these qualities to bear in everything in which he is concerned. Several times has he been a member of the General Conference of the United Brethren Church, and he has held several other high positions in his denomination. |
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