Page 80 - History of UB Church by A. Funkhouser Ver 1
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served some of the best charges in Iowa, and was many years a presiding elder. Mr. Brashear was
an able preacher, but from his unsuspecting nature he could not see the point of a joke soon
enough to dodge it, and in consequence was often victimized. It is said of him that while attending
a quarterly meeting and staying Saturday night at the home of the steward of the church, he felt
the need of having something more under his head. So he made a search in the darkness and used
something he found hanging on the wall. After breakfast the two men started to church, taking a
part of the elements with them and leaving the rest for the housewife to bring later. She failed to
come because she could not find the dress she wished to wear, and believed some rival had stolen
it. When it was too late to go to meeting she attended to the house work, and found the dress
under the preacher's pillow. After leaving Virginia Mr. Brashear lived mainly at Vinton, Benton
county, but died in Nebraska, whither he had removed.
BRIDGERS: Lucius Cary Bridgers was born in Northamton county, N. C, and was educated at
the Shenandoah Collegiate Institute. He was converted in 1897 and licensed in 1918. He has been
serving Ridgley five years.
BRILL: James William Brill was born near Capon Springs, W. Va., Dec. 13, 1859, and is a son of
John A. and Eliza Brill. He was licensed in 1894, ordained in 1901, and has been an itinerant 25
years. He has served Lost River, Pendleton, East Rockingham, Prince William, and Bayard.
BRUNK: Jacob Brunk, a Mennonite and the ancestor of the Brunk family, came in 1795, from
Maryland and settled near Pennington's store in Frederick county. Bishop Newcomer made his
home a stopping place. George Brunk, a grandson, lived on Brunk's hill on the road from Brock's
Gap to Broadway.
BRUNK: John Henry Brunk, son of Hugh A. and Nancy (Heatwole) Brunk, was born in a log
house seven miles west of Harrisonburg, Va., April 3, 1861. His education was gained in the state
normal schools. He was converted in 1879, licensed the same year, ordained in 1900, and has been
an itinerant 22 years. His charges have been New Creek, Elkton, Singers Glen, Keyser,
Harrisonburg, and Berkeley Springs. Mr. Brunk is a trustee of Lebanon Valley College, which gave
him the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1917, and was a member of the General Conferences of
1913, 1917, and 1921. He built churches at Antioch, Swift Bun, Mount Hebron, and Singer's Glen,
and a parsonage at Berkeley Springs. He began life as a carpenter, and taught 17 years in the
public schools. Until the age of eighteen he was a Mennonite.
BURGESS: George Burgess was born at Laurel Dale, Mineral county, W. Va., October 17, 1864,
being a son of Edwin and Ellen Burgess. He was educated in the free schools, and in 1879 was
converted under the preaching of Jacob Roderick. He was licensed at Lacey Springs and ordained at
Keyser. His charges have been Moorefield, South Branch, New Creek, and Elk Garden. Mr. Burgess
spent two years as an evangelist.
BURTNER: Henry Burtner was born in 1800 in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and came to
Dayton in 1843, settling on a fine farm close to the southwest border of the town. He entered
conference in 1820, but as his education was wholly in German, he at length retired from active
work in the ministry. Mr. Burtner was a prosperous farmer and a man of much business ability. He
was a man of more than medium size, and had a fine countenance and a very penetrating eye. In
his home he was pleasant and very hospitable. His preaching was of depth and power. He died at
Dayton in 1857.
BURTNER: William H. Burtner was a son of the Rev. Henry Burtner, and came to Dayton,
Virginia with his father. He was converted early in life and gave the church of his choice a loyal
support. He was progressive and ever ready to aid any worthy enterprise. Mr. Burtner was never an
itinerant, yet did much preaching, especially in revivals. During a number of years he was an active
trustee of Shenandoah Institute. His home was a Christian home. At the time of his death, at his
home near Mount Clinton in Rockingham, May 25, 1894, nine of his twelve children were living and
were members of the church. Three of them were in the active ministry. These were L. 0. Burtner,
superintendent of our church on the west coast of Africa, N. W. Burtner, pastor at Muscatine, Iowa,
and 0. W. Burtner of the Virginia Conference.
BURTNER: Luther 0. Burtner, a son of William H. Burtner was born at Dayton, Va., December 9,
1858. He was a student at Union Biblical Seminary, 1885-87, joined conference, 1882, and was
Chapter XX 80 Biographical Sketches of
MInisters
an able preacher, but from his unsuspecting nature he could not see the point of a joke soon
enough to dodge it, and in consequence was often victimized. It is said of him that while attending
a quarterly meeting and staying Saturday night at the home of the steward of the church, he felt
the need of having something more under his head. So he made a search in the darkness and used
something he found hanging on the wall. After breakfast the two men started to church, taking a
part of the elements with them and leaving the rest for the housewife to bring later. She failed to
come because she could not find the dress she wished to wear, and believed some rival had stolen
it. When it was too late to go to meeting she attended to the house work, and found the dress
under the preacher's pillow. After leaving Virginia Mr. Brashear lived mainly at Vinton, Benton
county, but died in Nebraska, whither he had removed.
BRIDGERS: Lucius Cary Bridgers was born in Northamton county, N. C, and was educated at
the Shenandoah Collegiate Institute. He was converted in 1897 and licensed in 1918. He has been
serving Ridgley five years.
BRILL: James William Brill was born near Capon Springs, W. Va., Dec. 13, 1859, and is a son of
John A. and Eliza Brill. He was licensed in 1894, ordained in 1901, and has been an itinerant 25
years. He has served Lost River, Pendleton, East Rockingham, Prince William, and Bayard.
BRUNK: Jacob Brunk, a Mennonite and the ancestor of the Brunk family, came in 1795, from
Maryland and settled near Pennington's store in Frederick county. Bishop Newcomer made his
home a stopping place. George Brunk, a grandson, lived on Brunk's hill on the road from Brock's
Gap to Broadway.
BRUNK: John Henry Brunk, son of Hugh A. and Nancy (Heatwole) Brunk, was born in a log
house seven miles west of Harrisonburg, Va., April 3, 1861. His education was gained in the state
normal schools. He was converted in 1879, licensed the same year, ordained in 1900, and has been
an itinerant 22 years. His charges have been New Creek, Elkton, Singers Glen, Keyser,
Harrisonburg, and Berkeley Springs. Mr. Brunk is a trustee of Lebanon Valley College, which gave
him the degree of Doctor of Divinity in 1917, and was a member of the General Conferences of
1913, 1917, and 1921. He built churches at Antioch, Swift Bun, Mount Hebron, and Singer's Glen,
and a parsonage at Berkeley Springs. He began life as a carpenter, and taught 17 years in the
public schools. Until the age of eighteen he was a Mennonite.
BURGESS: George Burgess was born at Laurel Dale, Mineral county, W. Va., October 17, 1864,
being a son of Edwin and Ellen Burgess. He was educated in the free schools, and in 1879 was
converted under the preaching of Jacob Roderick. He was licensed at Lacey Springs and ordained at
Keyser. His charges have been Moorefield, South Branch, New Creek, and Elk Garden. Mr. Burgess
spent two years as an evangelist.
BURTNER: Henry Burtner was born in 1800 in Cumberland county, Pennsylvania, and came to
Dayton in 1843, settling on a fine farm close to the southwest border of the town. He entered
conference in 1820, but as his education was wholly in German, he at length retired from active
work in the ministry. Mr. Burtner was a prosperous farmer and a man of much business ability. He
was a man of more than medium size, and had a fine countenance and a very penetrating eye. In
his home he was pleasant and very hospitable. His preaching was of depth and power. He died at
Dayton in 1857.
BURTNER: William H. Burtner was a son of the Rev. Henry Burtner, and came to Dayton,
Virginia with his father. He was converted early in life and gave the church of his choice a loyal
support. He was progressive and ever ready to aid any worthy enterprise. Mr. Burtner was never an
itinerant, yet did much preaching, especially in revivals. During a number of years he was an active
trustee of Shenandoah Institute. His home was a Christian home. At the time of his death, at his
home near Mount Clinton in Rockingham, May 25, 1894, nine of his twelve children were living and
were members of the church. Three of them were in the active ministry. These were L. 0. Burtner,
superintendent of our church on the west coast of Africa, N. W. Burtner, pastor at Muscatine, Iowa,
and 0. W. Burtner of the Virginia Conference.
BURTNER: Luther 0. Burtner, a son of William H. Burtner was born at Dayton, Va., December 9,
1858. He was a student at Union Biblical Seminary, 1885-87, joined conference, 1882, and was
Chapter XX 80 Biographical Sketches of
MInisters
