Page 25 - History of UB Church by A. Funkhouser Ver 1
P. 25
CHAPTER VII
PLANTING THE CHURCH IN VIRGINIA
The German immigration to America made its earliest home in the southeast of Pennsylvania.
The county of Lancaster, in that state, is, more than any other, the first seat of United Brethrenism.
Like all other immigrants, the German wanted plenty of elbow room. To be nearer than half a
mile to a neighbor was considering crowding. A mile was thought near enough to be comfortable.
And there seemed to be plenty of elbow room, for the continent appeared to stretch interminably
westward.
So, as their numbers increased, the German families flocked over the colonial boundary into
Maryland, and thence into that part of the Valley of Virginia lying between Winchester and the
vicinity of Harrisonburg. The district next the Potomac, on the Virginia side, was rather avoided
because of the litigation between Lord Fairfax and Joist Hite, and the consequent difficulty of
getting good titles. The country south of Harrisonburg was at first peopled only by the Scotch-Irish,
but it was not long until German settlers moved onward as the more restless Scotch-Irish pressed
still farther to the south and west.
The German settlers were partial to good lands, such as the limestone belts in the Valley of
Virginia. Also, they were unwilling to make a home unless it could be near a good spring.
Furthermore, they were conservative. They did not want change. They wanted to do as they had
been used to doing, and they held to the old even at the cost of becoming unprogressive. And so
far as they adhered tenaciously to their mother tongue they remained foreigners in feeling.
Among the Germans coming to the Shenandoah country were families who had taken part in
the great meetings in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Some of them were related to Geeting,
Newcomer, and others of the early preachers. So the preachers they had known north of the
Potomac followed them and held great meetings in the Valley, particularly near Mount Jackson.
The site of Keedysville, near Antietam Creek in Maryland, was the home of George Geeting,
Otterbein's chief adviser. His home was also a headquarters for Boehm, Newcomer, and other
preachers. At Beaver Creek, a dozen miles eastward across the mountains, was where Newcomer
lived. Farther east were the Kemps and others. A few miles farther north were the Draksels,
Mayers, Baers, Browns, Hersheys, Russells, and others, while on the Virginia side of the Potomac
and within a day's ride were Ambrose, Strickler, Senseny, the Niswanders,—Isaac and Abraham,
and the three Duckwalds,—Ludwig, Henry, and Frederick. Still others were the twin brothers,—
Henry and Christian Crum. Thus there were gathered at Antietam, as a central point, those who
were fired with a common spirit. The great religious experiences they had enjoyed were told in a
wonderful way to the throngs attracted by interest and novelty.
Strong congregations were soon formed around Winchester, at Sleepy Creek, and east of the
Blue Ridge in Loudoun county. The last named locality was often visited by Bishop Newcomer. But
by reason of emigration this flock passed out of existence more than a century ago.
Before 1815 there was quite an exodus of these people across the Alleghanies into Ohio and the
west of Pennsylvania. It came thus that the Miami, the first daughter conference, was organized
largely by the preachers who had come from the East, for up to this time, the whole work was
embraced in the Eastern, or original, conference. The families who settled in the west of
Pennsylvania, especially in Westmoreland county, were active and loyal, and laid the foundations
for the present prosperous United Brethren Church in that favored region.
Almost the only record we have of the early work of these circuit riders is found in Newcomer's
Journal, published in 1835. It was not intended for publication, and its brevity is often
disappointing to those who would like more complete information. The Journal, after its publication,
was evidently sold by the itinerants.3
3 The copy owned by A. P. Funkhouser was purchased by his paternal grandfather in 1837, as
witnessed by his autograph signature and the date.
Chapter VII 25 Planting the Church in
Virginia
PLANTING THE CHURCH IN VIRGINIA
The German immigration to America made its earliest home in the southeast of Pennsylvania.
The county of Lancaster, in that state, is, more than any other, the first seat of United Brethrenism.
Like all other immigrants, the German wanted plenty of elbow room. To be nearer than half a
mile to a neighbor was considering crowding. A mile was thought near enough to be comfortable.
And there seemed to be plenty of elbow room, for the continent appeared to stretch interminably
westward.
So, as their numbers increased, the German families flocked over the colonial boundary into
Maryland, and thence into that part of the Valley of Virginia lying between Winchester and the
vicinity of Harrisonburg. The district next the Potomac, on the Virginia side, was rather avoided
because of the litigation between Lord Fairfax and Joist Hite, and the consequent difficulty of
getting good titles. The country south of Harrisonburg was at first peopled only by the Scotch-Irish,
but it was not long until German settlers moved onward as the more restless Scotch-Irish pressed
still farther to the south and west.
The German settlers were partial to good lands, such as the limestone belts in the Valley of
Virginia. Also, they were unwilling to make a home unless it could be near a good spring.
Furthermore, they were conservative. They did not want change. They wanted to do as they had
been used to doing, and they held to the old even at the cost of becoming unprogressive. And so
far as they adhered tenaciously to their mother tongue they remained foreigners in feeling.
Among the Germans coming to the Shenandoah country were families who had taken part in
the great meetings in Pennsylvania and Maryland. Some of them were related to Geeting,
Newcomer, and others of the early preachers. So the preachers they had known north of the
Potomac followed them and held great meetings in the Valley, particularly near Mount Jackson.
The site of Keedysville, near Antietam Creek in Maryland, was the home of George Geeting,
Otterbein's chief adviser. His home was also a headquarters for Boehm, Newcomer, and other
preachers. At Beaver Creek, a dozen miles eastward across the mountains, was where Newcomer
lived. Farther east were the Kemps and others. A few miles farther north were the Draksels,
Mayers, Baers, Browns, Hersheys, Russells, and others, while on the Virginia side of the Potomac
and within a day's ride were Ambrose, Strickler, Senseny, the Niswanders,—Isaac and Abraham,
and the three Duckwalds,—Ludwig, Henry, and Frederick. Still others were the twin brothers,—
Henry and Christian Crum. Thus there were gathered at Antietam, as a central point, those who
were fired with a common spirit. The great religious experiences they had enjoyed were told in a
wonderful way to the throngs attracted by interest and novelty.
Strong congregations were soon formed around Winchester, at Sleepy Creek, and east of the
Blue Ridge in Loudoun county. The last named locality was often visited by Bishop Newcomer. But
by reason of emigration this flock passed out of existence more than a century ago.
Before 1815 there was quite an exodus of these people across the Alleghanies into Ohio and the
west of Pennsylvania. It came thus that the Miami, the first daughter conference, was organized
largely by the preachers who had come from the East, for up to this time, the whole work was
embraced in the Eastern, or original, conference. The families who settled in the west of
Pennsylvania, especially in Westmoreland county, were active and loyal, and laid the foundations
for the present prosperous United Brethren Church in that favored region.
Almost the only record we have of the early work of these circuit riders is found in Newcomer's
Journal, published in 1835. It was not intended for publication, and its brevity is often
disappointing to those who would like more complete information. The Journal, after its publication,
was evidently sold by the itinerants.3
3 The copy owned by A. P. Funkhouser was purchased by his paternal grandfather in 1837, as
witnessed by his autograph signature and the date.
Chapter VII 25 Planting the Church in
Virginia
