Page 94 - History of UB Church by A. Funkhouser Ver 1
P. 94
CHAPTER XXI
EARLY DEATHS AMONG MINISTERS
The proverb that death loves a shining mark seems applicable to the early deaths of those of
our number whose light began to shine in early life.
Peter Whitesel, whose father's house in Rockingham was one of the first preaching places of the
German evangelists, became a companion of the early ministers, married a daughter of Bishop
Brown of Pennsylvania, and after seven years of service laid down his life. His father gave the land
for Whitesel's church, the first house of worship built by the United Brethren in Virginia.
John Gibbons, a young, bashful boy, embraced religion at a camp meeting on the land of Peter
Ruebush, near his home in Augusta, and immediately responded to the call to preach. This was in
opposition to the wish of the family, who were not of the church he joined. Young Gibbons could
preach from the start, and a most promising career appear to lie before him. Yet after only three
years of ministerial service he died at Burlington, W. Va. Almost fifty years later the Conference
placed a monument over his grave at the old stone church.
In the same year,—1847,—Richard Nihiser died a most triumphant death at Chewsville,
Maryland. We was reared and converted near Mount Hebron, Shenandoah county. He was great in
prayer and song, pious and studious. His body was interred in the churchyard at St. Paul's,
Hagerstown, Maryland, but was removed to help make room for the new church now covering the
spot.
Jacob A. Bovey, a West Virginian, fell a victim to typhoid fever, and was buried at Edinburg,
Virginia, in November, 1859. His dying message was, "Say to my brethren I die in the faith I have
preached."
Samuel Evers died in June, 1861, just as the war-clouds were gathering. He was undertaking
an important work as teacher, and it had been only two years since joining conference. His health
had been undermined in his efforts to secure a college education. He was buried in the cemetery of
the Union Presbyterian church at Cross Keys.
Under privations and with much toil, P. W. Weller was preparing for a career full of promise. Yet
within a few weeks from the time when he was to receive a diploma from the college at Westfield,
he was called to his long home.
Dorsey Freed, son of the Rev. John D. Freed of Virginia and Maryland, spent several years in
college, only to leave his first charge and die at his father's home in 1876.
Charles M. Hott, the brightest of a bright family, an eloquent preacher and charming singer, a
young man of splendid ability and great character, served but one pastorate. He was then called to
become a college preacher in California, but after a few months was called home, leaving a wife
and two children.
James E. Whitesel, son of Simon Whitesel, and born in 1851, was a most conscientious and
loyal Christian. He began a university course while yet in his teens, and after good work on several
charges was sent to Churchville, where he built a church that was the best in the conference at the
time. But overworking himself, his promising career was cut short at the age of twenty-seven by
typhoid fever. His body rests at Whitesel's chapel. He left a noble wife and three little children.
At the same place and in the same house, almost exactly twelve years later, died William O.
Ewing, a victim to the same scourge. He also left three little children. His most estimable wife was
a daughter of David Hott.
J. E. Widmeyer, after being six years a member of the conference, fell asleep at Newtown,
Virginia, and is buried at Winchester. Never strong, he could not resist the insidious attack of
disease following a winter of earnest revival work. His wife, a daughter of the Rev. John W. Howe,
and two little children were sorely bereft.
Kingsley Funk, son of E. W. Funk, of Singers Glen, was one of our brightest prospects for the
ministry in later years. But while still in school he fell a victim to influenza and died a triumphant
death in 1918.
Chapter XXI 94 Early Deaths Among
MInisters
EARLY DEATHS AMONG MINISTERS
The proverb that death loves a shining mark seems applicable to the early deaths of those of
our number whose light began to shine in early life.
Peter Whitesel, whose father's house in Rockingham was one of the first preaching places of the
German evangelists, became a companion of the early ministers, married a daughter of Bishop
Brown of Pennsylvania, and after seven years of service laid down his life. His father gave the land
for Whitesel's church, the first house of worship built by the United Brethren in Virginia.
John Gibbons, a young, bashful boy, embraced religion at a camp meeting on the land of Peter
Ruebush, near his home in Augusta, and immediately responded to the call to preach. This was in
opposition to the wish of the family, who were not of the church he joined. Young Gibbons could
preach from the start, and a most promising career appear to lie before him. Yet after only three
years of ministerial service he died at Burlington, W. Va. Almost fifty years later the Conference
placed a monument over his grave at the old stone church.
In the same year,—1847,—Richard Nihiser died a most triumphant death at Chewsville,
Maryland. We was reared and converted near Mount Hebron, Shenandoah county. He was great in
prayer and song, pious and studious. His body was interred in the churchyard at St. Paul's,
Hagerstown, Maryland, but was removed to help make room for the new church now covering the
spot.
Jacob A. Bovey, a West Virginian, fell a victim to typhoid fever, and was buried at Edinburg,
Virginia, in November, 1859. His dying message was, "Say to my brethren I die in the faith I have
preached."
Samuel Evers died in June, 1861, just as the war-clouds were gathering. He was undertaking
an important work as teacher, and it had been only two years since joining conference. His health
had been undermined in his efforts to secure a college education. He was buried in the cemetery of
the Union Presbyterian church at Cross Keys.
Under privations and with much toil, P. W. Weller was preparing for a career full of promise. Yet
within a few weeks from the time when he was to receive a diploma from the college at Westfield,
he was called to his long home.
Dorsey Freed, son of the Rev. John D. Freed of Virginia and Maryland, spent several years in
college, only to leave his first charge and die at his father's home in 1876.
Charles M. Hott, the brightest of a bright family, an eloquent preacher and charming singer, a
young man of splendid ability and great character, served but one pastorate. He was then called to
become a college preacher in California, but after a few months was called home, leaving a wife
and two children.
James E. Whitesel, son of Simon Whitesel, and born in 1851, was a most conscientious and
loyal Christian. He began a university course while yet in his teens, and after good work on several
charges was sent to Churchville, where he built a church that was the best in the conference at the
time. But overworking himself, his promising career was cut short at the age of twenty-seven by
typhoid fever. His body rests at Whitesel's chapel. He left a noble wife and three little children.
At the same place and in the same house, almost exactly twelve years later, died William O.
Ewing, a victim to the same scourge. He also left three little children. His most estimable wife was
a daughter of David Hott.
J. E. Widmeyer, after being six years a member of the conference, fell asleep at Newtown,
Virginia, and is buried at Winchester. Never strong, he could not resist the insidious attack of
disease following a winter of earnest revival work. His wife, a daughter of the Rev. John W. Howe,
and two little children were sorely bereft.
Kingsley Funk, son of E. W. Funk, of Singers Glen, was one of our brightest prospects for the
ministry in later years. But while still in school he fell a victim to influenza and died a triumphant
death in 1918.
Chapter XXI 94 Early Deaths Among
MInisters
