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skillful. He administered to the poor, regardless of the matter of compensation. He was consistent
in his life and diligent and earnest in the performance of all duties.
SECRIST: Arthur Jacob Secrist, son of Thomas J. and Frances V. (Hawk) Secrist, was born
February 13, 2025 in Grant county, W. Va. His education has been that of the free schools and the
Shenandoah Collegiate Institute. He was converted in 1891, licensed in 1893, and ordained in
1896. Mr. Secrist has been in the ministry 28 years, and has served the charges now known as
Hardy, Elkton, Churchville, Pleasant Valley, New Creek, Inwood, Cumberland, and Dayton. He built
churches at Cumberland and Pleasant Grove, and a parsonage at Cumberland. Previous to entering
the ministry, he taught five years in Grant county. He was married in 1895 to Leona C. Scott and
has two living children.
SENSENY: Dr. Peter Senseny came from York, in Pennsylvania. He was walking in a field in his
riding costume, while Bishop Boehm was preaching, and heard these words, which were suggested
by his presence: "Some sinners are going to hell with boots and spurs on." He was converted and
became a preacher. He died in 1804.
SHUEY: George A. Shuey was born near Churchville, Virginia, June 7, 1815, was educated in a
classical academy at Staunton, and was married to Martha Goldsmith, whom he met in a camp
meeting in Franklin county, Pennsylvania. He had six children, of whom Theodore F. was chief
stenographer in the Senate of the United States. John Ludwig Shuey, grandfather of George, was
born in Bethel township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and came to Middle River, 1795. Like his
ancestors, who came from the Palatinate, he was of the Reformed Church. Of his nine children,
John, born 1787, married Catharine Funkhouser and moved to New Goshen, Indiana. Christian,
born 1792, died 1862, married Catharine, a niece to George A. Geeting. One of his four children
was the Rev. George A., mentioned above. Another was Maria, wife of Bishop Glossbrenner. For
several years Mr. Shuey was an efficient itinerant, but at length chose to become a local preacher.
As a counselor he was prudent and safe, and was often in official position in his church. His home
near Churchville was one of extended hospitality.
SKELTON: Silas D. Skelton was born at Mount Crawford, Virginia, in 1860, and was converted
when thirteen. After teaching seven years, he joined conference in 1885, and in 14 years built two
churches and took 728 persons into the church. In 1914 he was granted a local relation and lived in
Dayton and now is serving Manassas charge. He was married to Maggie C. Heatwole in 1882. In
1907 he attended the 5th World's Sunday School Convention, which met in Rome, Italy, and
finished up the trip by a tour through Central and Northern Europe.
SMITH: William Henry Smith, son of H. W. H. and Flora V. (Rockwell) Smith, was born at Great
Cacapon, September 5, 1886. He studied at the Shenandoah Collegiate Institute, was converted in
1912, and licensed in 1914. His charges have been West Frederick, Dayton, and Singer's Glen.
SNYDER: Josiah F. Snyder was born at Keedysville, Maryland in 1866, and licensed in 1888. His
first pastorates were Lost River, Bloomery, Augusta, Berkeley, Martins-burg, Edinburg, and South
Branch.
STATTON: Isaac K. Statton was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, December 25, 1830. He
was a son of Jacob, who in 1812 married Margaret C. Highof. Their children were James H., John F.,
Nancy J., George W., N. Green, Amelia, Isaac K., David E., Margaret C., Mary C., and Elizabeth.
Isaac K. grew up as free as the fowls of the air or the deer of the forest. He worked on the farm,
and at times with his father and an older brother at carpentering, this making him a fairly good
mechanic. His educational opportunities were limited, yet his brother John finished an academic
course without a teacher and with only a final examination. I. K. entered the Virginia Conference in
1850 and was ordained in 1853. He was first placed on the Hagerstown circuit as junior. Next year
he was on the Winchester circuit. Sixteen appointments were filled every five weeks by each
preacher, and though the work was hard, there was the beginning of a useful life. Mr. Statton then
served Mason, Buckhannon, Churchville, and Meyersville. He was next appointed a missionary to
Kansas and solicited donations to build a church in that new country. The appointment was
reconsidered because of political excitement and border warfare. For the rest of the period before
the civil war his fields were Frederick and Hagerstown. 1858 was a banner year on the Frederick
circuit, there being 150 conversions and over 100 accessions. Late in March, 1861, he took a train
for Le Harp, Illinois, and in July bought forty acres at St. John, Missouri, intending to retire from
the ministry. Before reaching their destination the family ran upon small squads, both of
Chapter XX 91 Biographical Sketches of
MInisters
in his life and diligent and earnest in the performance of all duties.
SECRIST: Arthur Jacob Secrist, son of Thomas J. and Frances V. (Hawk) Secrist, was born
February 13, 2025 in Grant county, W. Va. His education has been that of the free schools and the
Shenandoah Collegiate Institute. He was converted in 1891, licensed in 1893, and ordained in
1896. Mr. Secrist has been in the ministry 28 years, and has served the charges now known as
Hardy, Elkton, Churchville, Pleasant Valley, New Creek, Inwood, Cumberland, and Dayton. He built
churches at Cumberland and Pleasant Grove, and a parsonage at Cumberland. Previous to entering
the ministry, he taught five years in Grant county. He was married in 1895 to Leona C. Scott and
has two living children.
SENSENY: Dr. Peter Senseny came from York, in Pennsylvania. He was walking in a field in his
riding costume, while Bishop Boehm was preaching, and heard these words, which were suggested
by his presence: "Some sinners are going to hell with boots and spurs on." He was converted and
became a preacher. He died in 1804.
SHUEY: George A. Shuey was born near Churchville, Virginia, June 7, 1815, was educated in a
classical academy at Staunton, and was married to Martha Goldsmith, whom he met in a camp
meeting in Franklin county, Pennsylvania. He had six children, of whom Theodore F. was chief
stenographer in the Senate of the United States. John Ludwig Shuey, grandfather of George, was
born in Bethel township, Lancaster county, Pennsylvania, and came to Middle River, 1795. Like his
ancestors, who came from the Palatinate, he was of the Reformed Church. Of his nine children,
John, born 1787, married Catharine Funkhouser and moved to New Goshen, Indiana. Christian,
born 1792, died 1862, married Catharine, a niece to George A. Geeting. One of his four children
was the Rev. George A., mentioned above. Another was Maria, wife of Bishop Glossbrenner. For
several years Mr. Shuey was an efficient itinerant, but at length chose to become a local preacher.
As a counselor he was prudent and safe, and was often in official position in his church. His home
near Churchville was one of extended hospitality.
SKELTON: Silas D. Skelton was born at Mount Crawford, Virginia, in 1860, and was converted
when thirteen. After teaching seven years, he joined conference in 1885, and in 14 years built two
churches and took 728 persons into the church. In 1914 he was granted a local relation and lived in
Dayton and now is serving Manassas charge. He was married to Maggie C. Heatwole in 1882. In
1907 he attended the 5th World's Sunday School Convention, which met in Rome, Italy, and
finished up the trip by a tour through Central and Northern Europe.
SMITH: William Henry Smith, son of H. W. H. and Flora V. (Rockwell) Smith, was born at Great
Cacapon, September 5, 1886. He studied at the Shenandoah Collegiate Institute, was converted in
1912, and licensed in 1914. His charges have been West Frederick, Dayton, and Singer's Glen.
SNYDER: Josiah F. Snyder was born at Keedysville, Maryland in 1866, and licensed in 1888. His
first pastorates were Lost River, Bloomery, Augusta, Berkeley, Martins-burg, Edinburg, and South
Branch.
STATTON: Isaac K. Statton was born in Hampshire county, Virginia, December 25, 1830. He
was a son of Jacob, who in 1812 married Margaret C. Highof. Their children were James H., John F.,
Nancy J., George W., N. Green, Amelia, Isaac K., David E., Margaret C., Mary C., and Elizabeth.
Isaac K. grew up as free as the fowls of the air or the deer of the forest. He worked on the farm,
and at times with his father and an older brother at carpentering, this making him a fairly good
mechanic. His educational opportunities were limited, yet his brother John finished an academic
course without a teacher and with only a final examination. I. K. entered the Virginia Conference in
1850 and was ordained in 1853. He was first placed on the Hagerstown circuit as junior. Next year
he was on the Winchester circuit. Sixteen appointments were filled every five weeks by each
preacher, and though the work was hard, there was the beginning of a useful life. Mr. Statton then
served Mason, Buckhannon, Churchville, and Meyersville. He was next appointed a missionary to
Kansas and solicited donations to build a church in that new country. The appointment was
reconsidered because of political excitement and border warfare. For the rest of the period before
the civil war his fields were Frederick and Hagerstown. 1858 was a banner year on the Frederick
circuit, there being 150 conversions and over 100 accessions. Late in March, 1861, he took a train
for Le Harp, Illinois, and in July bought forty acres at St. John, Missouri, intending to retire from
the ministry. Before reaching their destination the family ran upon small squads, both of
Chapter XX 91 Biographical Sketches of
MInisters
