Page 30 - Pictorial History of EUB Church by Glovier
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30 HISTORY OF THE VA CONFERENCE, E.U.B. CHURCH—D.F. GLOVIER
his family later moved to Vigo County, Indiana, where his descendants are
among the pillars of the strong church now in that section. The preachers
then went to the camp meeting on Beaver Creek, just opposite the home of the
late John Whitmore. Mrs. Maria Paul attended this meeting, being then a
girl, and remembered the Bishop as tall, spare. and clean-shaven. During one
of his discourses, a large, fat man walked into the congregation and stood
leaning against a tree. His name was Koogler, and he was a paper-shaver with a
reputation not very savory. Newcomer pointed him out, remarking, ‘Oh Me, if
that man would become converted, how much religion he could hold.’
“At the close of the camp meeting, Newcomer and his companions rode to
Peter Whitesell’s, where Brown preached in German and Newcomer in
English. Simon, father of J. D. Whitesell of Harrisonburg. was then but eight
years old, yet preserved to the end of his life a clear recollection of the visit.
Whitesell’s Church had been built here the year previous. It was the first or
second United Brethren Church built in Virginia, and a most influential center
for many years. This house of worship grew out of the meetings at Hoffman’s
and Peter Myers’. Passing through Harrisonburg to the head of Brock’s Gap,
the party took dinner with Henry Tutwiler, a brother-in-law to Whitesell, and
a tanner of buckskin. He was Postmaster at Harrisonburg thirty-one years.
Tutwiler was a zealous class leader of the Methodists, and was the father of one
of the first graduates of the University of Virginia. Years afterward, he died
shoutingly happy after a sudden illness, the day after holding a Watch
Meeting on New Year’s Eve.
The next day found Newcomer at a camp meeting on the land of Jacob
Lentz, at the head of Brock’s Gap, four miles above Dovesville. Lentz had
come from Loudon County years before, bringing his United Brethrenism with
him, and though he was more than thirty miles from the County Seat, he was
not too far away from his old friends to find him. Near him at Dovesville,
was another United Brethren, Frederick Doub (Dove), who had come from
Frederick County, Maryland. The post office was named after him. The
descendants of the Lentzs and Doves, and the intermarried families form a
large element of the population in this vicinity. The present Caplinger Chapel,
near here, was dedicated November 27, 1858, by Jacob Markwood, then a
Presiding Elder. It was built through George Keplinger, another early United
Brethren.
As late as 1850 there were but three church buildings of the United Brethren
in Virginia, even though there were many preaching places, such as in
homes and at camp meetings. In 1860 the total membership
his family later moved to Vigo County, Indiana, where his descendants are
among the pillars of the strong church now in that section. The preachers
then went to the camp meeting on Beaver Creek, just opposite the home of the
late John Whitmore. Mrs. Maria Paul attended this meeting, being then a
girl, and remembered the Bishop as tall, spare. and clean-shaven. During one
of his discourses, a large, fat man walked into the congregation and stood
leaning against a tree. His name was Koogler, and he was a paper-shaver with a
reputation not very savory. Newcomer pointed him out, remarking, ‘Oh Me, if
that man would become converted, how much religion he could hold.’
“At the close of the camp meeting, Newcomer and his companions rode to
Peter Whitesell’s, where Brown preached in German and Newcomer in
English. Simon, father of J. D. Whitesell of Harrisonburg. was then but eight
years old, yet preserved to the end of his life a clear recollection of the visit.
Whitesell’s Church had been built here the year previous. It was the first or
second United Brethren Church built in Virginia, and a most influential center
for many years. This house of worship grew out of the meetings at Hoffman’s
and Peter Myers’. Passing through Harrisonburg to the head of Brock’s Gap,
the party took dinner with Henry Tutwiler, a brother-in-law to Whitesell, and
a tanner of buckskin. He was Postmaster at Harrisonburg thirty-one years.
Tutwiler was a zealous class leader of the Methodists, and was the father of one
of the first graduates of the University of Virginia. Years afterward, he died
shoutingly happy after a sudden illness, the day after holding a Watch
Meeting on New Year’s Eve.
The next day found Newcomer at a camp meeting on the land of Jacob
Lentz, at the head of Brock’s Gap, four miles above Dovesville. Lentz had
come from Loudon County years before, bringing his United Brethrenism with
him, and though he was more than thirty miles from the County Seat, he was
not too far away from his old friends to find him. Near him at Dovesville,
was another United Brethren, Frederick Doub (Dove), who had come from
Frederick County, Maryland. The post office was named after him. The
descendants of the Lentzs and Doves, and the intermarried families form a
large element of the population in this vicinity. The present Caplinger Chapel,
near here, was dedicated November 27, 1858, by Jacob Markwood, then a
Presiding Elder. It was built through George Keplinger, another early United
Brethren.
As late as 1850 there were but three church buildings of the United Brethren
in Virginia, even though there were many preaching places, such as in
homes and at camp meetings. In 1860 the total membership
