Page 78 - History of UB Church by A. Funkhouser Ver 1
P. 78
John W. Fulkerson was born in Frederick county, Virginia, in 1822, and was still living in 1900.
He was a member of the Virginia Conference from 1839 to 1852. In 1856 he went to Minnesota as
a missionary, and held his first meeting as such on the site of Eyota. The people on that frontier
were living in log cabins, board shacks, and sod houses. What little money they brought with them
had been spent in the long winter that followed. Living was very high and potatoes could not be
had at any price. Snow covered the ground to a depth of five feet. Mr. Fulkerson was a student of
human nature and learned to adapt himself to his environments. When he began his ministry, his
mother had given him this advice: "John, your rest must be in labor. Greet all with a smile. Make
your back fit anybody's bed. By your social life attract the people, and by your religious life save
them." The first session of the Minnesota Conference was held in 1857, himself, J. Haney, and two
others comprising the preachers. The membership was 247. The first year he had $188.20 from
the General Board.
John C. McNamar, born in Virginia in 1779, was the first English-speaking preacher of the
United Brethren. He joined the Miami Conference in 1813, and distinguished himself in the home
missionary field. Within six more years eight more English-speaking ministers bad joined that
conference.
A. S. Sellers was born in Rockingham county in 1808. He was converted at a camp meeting in
Harrison county, Indiana, in 1830 and on that very spot preached his first sermon. In 1836 he
joined Wabash Conference. Three years later he moved into Iowa, and in that state he "perhaps
endured more hardships and made greater sacrifices to build up the Church" than any other
missionary. When a presiding elder in 1850, he traveled 900 miles to make one round on his
circuit, encountering frequent peril from storm and flood. Up to 1857 he had received only
$526.37.
Walton C. Smith was born near Winchester in 1822 and died at Westfield, Illinois in 1905. He
went West in 1834 and joined the Wabash Conference in 1848. He was a member of eight General
Conferences, and is known as the "Father of Westfield College."
Chapter XIX 78 Bishops, Missionaries, and
Others
He was a member of the Virginia Conference from 1839 to 1852. In 1856 he went to Minnesota as
a missionary, and held his first meeting as such on the site of Eyota. The people on that frontier
were living in log cabins, board shacks, and sod houses. What little money they brought with them
had been spent in the long winter that followed. Living was very high and potatoes could not be
had at any price. Snow covered the ground to a depth of five feet. Mr. Fulkerson was a student of
human nature and learned to adapt himself to his environments. When he began his ministry, his
mother had given him this advice: "John, your rest must be in labor. Greet all with a smile. Make
your back fit anybody's bed. By your social life attract the people, and by your religious life save
them." The first session of the Minnesota Conference was held in 1857, himself, J. Haney, and two
others comprising the preachers. The membership was 247. The first year he had $188.20 from
the General Board.
John C. McNamar, born in Virginia in 1779, was the first English-speaking preacher of the
United Brethren. He joined the Miami Conference in 1813, and distinguished himself in the home
missionary field. Within six more years eight more English-speaking ministers bad joined that
conference.
A. S. Sellers was born in Rockingham county in 1808. He was converted at a camp meeting in
Harrison county, Indiana, in 1830 and on that very spot preached his first sermon. In 1836 he
joined Wabash Conference. Three years later he moved into Iowa, and in that state he "perhaps
endured more hardships and made greater sacrifices to build up the Church" than any other
missionary. When a presiding elder in 1850, he traveled 900 miles to make one round on his
circuit, encountering frequent peril from storm and flood. Up to 1857 he had received only
$526.37.
Walton C. Smith was born near Winchester in 1822 and died at Westfield, Illinois in 1905. He
went West in 1834 and joined the Wabash Conference in 1848. He was a member of eight General
Conferences, and is known as the "Father of Westfield College."
Chapter XIX 78 Bishops, Missionaries, and
Others
