Page 26 - History of UB Church by A. Funkhouser Ver 1
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When eighty-one years old, Newcomer attempted a trip into Virginia. Sunday, March 1, 1830,
he rode to the home of Michael Thomas at Boonsboro, nine miles from his own house, and lodged
there for the night. Next morning he was too ill to go on and he returned. Wednesday, he wrote
thus: "This forenoon I tried to write in my journal, but alas! I find that I am not able to perform the
task, so 1 lay down my pen. The Lord alone knows whether I shall be able to resume it again. The
Lord's will be done. Amen. Hallelujah."
It is this record of Newcomer that gives early circuits in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and
Ohio. It is not by any means a complete record, as it gives only the tours by himself and his
companions, for he seldom traveled alone.
Just before the first annual conference at Kemp's, in September, 1800, Newcomer made a tour
of the Virginia circuit. This time he was accompanied by Martin Boehm and his son, Henry. Another
preacher, Christian Crum, lived at Pleasant Valley, eight miles northeast of Winchester, on what has
since been known as the Jacob Hott place. For years this was the first stopping place of the
German preachers, and here these three men held their opening service on the Virginia circuit.
They arrived Monday night, September 1, and the elder Boehm preached. He preached again at Dr.
Senseny's in Winchester, and a Methodist preacher followed with an exhortation. Wednesday, they
held a meeting at Abraham Niswander's, near Middletown, and then rode to the house of A.
Boehm, a relative to the bishop, where Newcomer preached and was followed by Henry Boehm.
Thursday forenoon they preached at Jacob Funkhouser's west of Fisher's Hill, riding thence to
Woodstock and lodging with one Zehrung, who, by the way, gave a lot for a church in Woodstock.
This gift was made more than a hundred years ago. The bishop preached in a church at Woodstock
Friday morning, and then they rode to Jacob Rhinehart's, where Newcomer preached. Saturday and
Sunday there was a meeting at the widow Kagey's on Smith's Creek. Bishop Boehm preached in
German and was followed by his son Henry in English. Then they rode to a Mr. Bender's, where
Newcomer preached. After they had retired, Bender's wife began moaning aloud. They arose and
prayed with her.
The preachers turned out very early Monday morning, September 8, and rode to the house of
John Peters near New Market, where Newcomer and Boehm preached in German and Henry Boehm
in English. After dismissing the people, the crowd continued to stand around in groups, crying and
moaning, so another meeting was held. Bender's wife had followed them to this place, was
converted, and made shoutingly happy. The preachers then rode to Homan's in Brock's Gap. In the
afternoon they accompanied Strickler to his home sixteen miles away, arriving late at night. Their
next stopping place was at Peter Bibey's in Augusta county. Passing through Staunton, they called
on the Methodist pastor and went on to the house of Christian Hess.
On Saturday the 13th, a great meeting began at Henry Menger's on the side of the mountain,
southwest of Swoope's Depot. In the afternoon they rode to a Mr. Harris's. Next day, returning
through Staunton, they dined with the Methodist pastor, and then rode seventeen miles to
Widore's. Tuesday morning Newcomer preached at Zimmerman's in Keezeltown, and then the party
rode sixteen miles to John Peters' near New Market, where the bishop was again the preacher. Next
day they crossed the mountain into Page, spending the night with Christian Fori, near the South
Fork. Thursday, Bishop Boehm conducted a funeral service at Woodstock, and the night was spent
with John Funkhouser west of Fisher's Hill. Saturday a sacramental meeting began at Niswander's
near Middletown.
Continuing their return journey the party reached Newcomer's home, Tuesday the 23d, just two
days before the opening of conference. The Boehms must have gone on to Kemp's, for there was
not time to reach their own homes and be at conference on the first day, this being the time when
Newcomer found them there.
The next visit to Virginia was two years later, in June, and it occupied eight days. Otterbein,
Newcomer, Cram, and Strickler were the preachers and they traveled together. Their first point was
a sacramental meeting at Jacob Funkhouser's west of Fisher's Hill. The services Sunday night were
at Christian Funkhouser's. The place was appropriately called Funkhouser Hollow, since there were
seven families of this name, all with farms adjoining. They all spoke the German language, built
their houses alike, each one over a spring, professed the same religion, and yet each family had its
own burial ground on a hillside. Their relationship has never been traced by any one of the present
Chapter VII 26 Planting the Church in
Virginia
he rode to the home of Michael Thomas at Boonsboro, nine miles from his own house, and lodged
there for the night. Next morning he was too ill to go on and he returned. Wednesday, he wrote
thus: "This forenoon I tried to write in my journal, but alas! I find that I am not able to perform the
task, so 1 lay down my pen. The Lord alone knows whether I shall be able to resume it again. The
Lord's will be done. Amen. Hallelujah."
It is this record of Newcomer that gives early circuits in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia, and
Ohio. It is not by any means a complete record, as it gives only the tours by himself and his
companions, for he seldom traveled alone.
Just before the first annual conference at Kemp's, in September, 1800, Newcomer made a tour
of the Virginia circuit. This time he was accompanied by Martin Boehm and his son, Henry. Another
preacher, Christian Crum, lived at Pleasant Valley, eight miles northeast of Winchester, on what has
since been known as the Jacob Hott place. For years this was the first stopping place of the
German preachers, and here these three men held their opening service on the Virginia circuit.
They arrived Monday night, September 1, and the elder Boehm preached. He preached again at Dr.
Senseny's in Winchester, and a Methodist preacher followed with an exhortation. Wednesday, they
held a meeting at Abraham Niswander's, near Middletown, and then rode to the house of A.
Boehm, a relative to the bishop, where Newcomer preached and was followed by Henry Boehm.
Thursday forenoon they preached at Jacob Funkhouser's west of Fisher's Hill, riding thence to
Woodstock and lodging with one Zehrung, who, by the way, gave a lot for a church in Woodstock.
This gift was made more than a hundred years ago. The bishop preached in a church at Woodstock
Friday morning, and then they rode to Jacob Rhinehart's, where Newcomer preached. Saturday and
Sunday there was a meeting at the widow Kagey's on Smith's Creek. Bishop Boehm preached in
German and was followed by his son Henry in English. Then they rode to a Mr. Bender's, where
Newcomer preached. After they had retired, Bender's wife began moaning aloud. They arose and
prayed with her.
The preachers turned out very early Monday morning, September 8, and rode to the house of
John Peters near New Market, where Newcomer and Boehm preached in German and Henry Boehm
in English. After dismissing the people, the crowd continued to stand around in groups, crying and
moaning, so another meeting was held. Bender's wife had followed them to this place, was
converted, and made shoutingly happy. The preachers then rode to Homan's in Brock's Gap. In the
afternoon they accompanied Strickler to his home sixteen miles away, arriving late at night. Their
next stopping place was at Peter Bibey's in Augusta county. Passing through Staunton, they called
on the Methodist pastor and went on to the house of Christian Hess.
On Saturday the 13th, a great meeting began at Henry Menger's on the side of the mountain,
southwest of Swoope's Depot. In the afternoon they rode to a Mr. Harris's. Next day, returning
through Staunton, they dined with the Methodist pastor, and then rode seventeen miles to
Widore's. Tuesday morning Newcomer preached at Zimmerman's in Keezeltown, and then the party
rode sixteen miles to John Peters' near New Market, where the bishop was again the preacher. Next
day they crossed the mountain into Page, spending the night with Christian Fori, near the South
Fork. Thursday, Bishop Boehm conducted a funeral service at Woodstock, and the night was spent
with John Funkhouser west of Fisher's Hill. Saturday a sacramental meeting began at Niswander's
near Middletown.
Continuing their return journey the party reached Newcomer's home, Tuesday the 23d, just two
days before the opening of conference. The Boehms must have gone on to Kemp's, for there was
not time to reach their own homes and be at conference on the first day, this being the time when
Newcomer found them there.
The next visit to Virginia was two years later, in June, and it occupied eight days. Otterbein,
Newcomer, Cram, and Strickler were the preachers and they traveled together. Their first point was
a sacramental meeting at Jacob Funkhouser's west of Fisher's Hill. The services Sunday night were
at Christian Funkhouser's. The place was appropriately called Funkhouser Hollow, since there were
seven families of this name, all with farms adjoining. They all spoke the German language, built
their houses alike, each one over a spring, professed the same religion, and yet each family had its
own burial ground on a hillside. Their relationship has never been traced by any one of the present
Chapter VII 26 Planting the Church in
Virginia
