Page 104 - United Brethren Preachers
P. 104
Volume 9 Preachers of U.B. and EUB Virginia Conferences December 26, 2024
For thirty years certain ministers of the Gospel under the leadership of William Otterbein, Martin Boehm, Christian
Newcomer, Martin Krider [Crider], George A Geeting, Abraham Troxel, and others representing different denominations
traveled through Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia and held great union meetings of an evangelistic nature usually on
Whitsuntide. The services were generally held in barns or private houses owing to the fact that there were but few churches
in those outlying districts and often the doors of these few churches were closed against these unsectarian ministers. After
a period of 30 years, the first general gathering of the unsectarian ministers occurred at the home of Peter Kemp some 2
miles west of Frederick Maryland on the 25th of Sep. 1800. There and then the United Brethren church was born. At that
conference the following members were present: William Otterbein, Martin Boehm, John Hershey, Abraham Troxel,
Christian Krum, Henry Krum, George Pfrimmer, Henry Boehm, Christian Newcomer, Dietrich Aurand, Jacob Geisinger,
George A Geeting, Jacob Bowlus and Adam Lehman. In the prosecution of their evangelistic labors, baptized by the spirit of
gospel unity and love for souls, these men unconsciously laid the lines of organized church life and when they came
together at Peter Kemp’s representing a widely scattered constituency of probably 25,000, a multiplicity of sacred influences
and associations lifted up their voices unitedly and said, “Let this child of Providence be christened.” The conference
assumed legislative functions, organized itself and its adhering population into a church, elected bishops and planned
otherwise for larger results under the name of the United Brethren in Christ. That act made Peter Kemp’s home historic,
the Bethlehem of our Denomination. Here the Church was organized and instituted and from 1790 to 1830. According to
the written record, it was a center of life and influence for the whole Church Great. Meetings were held at Peter Kemp’s and
distinguished ministers of many denominations, including Bishops Asbury, Otterbein, Boehm, Newcomer and Lorenzo Dow,
broke the bread of life in that sacred place. Among the pioneer ministers and members in Frederick County I may mention
Rev Peter Kemp, Rev Adam Lehman, John Cronise, Peter Shook, Benjamin Neidig, Jacob Perry, Benjamin Brane, John
Staley, George Stokes, Valentine Doub, Jacob Weller, Rev Jacob Bowlus, Rev Lawrence Eberhart, John Snook, Henry Hemp,
Joshua Doub, William Reinhart, Jacob Toms, Yost Harbaugh, Abram Doub, John Harp, Frederick Rider, Jacob Martin, Reuben
Osler, Lewis Wertenbaker, Henry Remsberg, Gideon Hoover, Christian Remsberg, and John Hoover. The conference of 1800
was composed of ministers of different denominations, but they had labored for years independent of ecclesiastical
associations and without organizing their numerous converts into societies which shows that they were innocent of any
intention to establish a new church. From 1780 to 1830 U.B. ministers canvassed this lovely valley for souls, and, in many
of her towns and villages even where our Church is not now represented, they were the first to break the bread of life to the
people. But their long rides soul-saving sermons and wearisome labors are over now and to each and all the Master has
said “Well done.” Peace to their ashes. Blessed be their memory! [Funkhouser 1921, p. 140; see also pp. 38, 124, 224-
225, 232-233, 236]; [Glovier 1965, pp. 18, 87]; [Miller 1969, p. 370]; [www.werelate.org, Sandra Baggot]; and [Lycoming
2013]
LEVERING: Robert G. H. Levering became a member of Conference in 1839; stammered in conversation
but not in preaching, in which he was powerful. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 140; see also pp. 126, 248-249] and
[Glovier 1965, p. 88]
LIBERICK: George Liberick was present as a member of the Conference of 1830 (with a question mark
after his name in the Minutes); nothing else is known. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 241]
LIGHT: Felix Light was absent as a member of the Conference of 1791; nothing else is known.
[Funkhouser 1921, p. 224]
LIPSCOMB: P. T. Lipscomb served North River Circuit, 1889-90.
LITTLE: George Kirkley Little (b. Jan. 27, 1860; d. Aug. 22, 1938; mar. Anna C. Bittinger)
was an evangelist-at-large, 1880-1908 and 1909-14, who was ordained in Va. Conf. by
request of Pa. Conf., arranged to occur in Aug. at Assembly Park. In Va. Conf., G. K. Little
served West Rockingham, 1914-16; New Creek, 1917-18; and Harrisonburg, 1920-24. In Pa.
Conf. he served Greencastle and Marion, 1908-09; and Shermansdale, 1925-26, after which
he retired. He died in 1938 and is interred at Quincy, Pa. Note: George K. Little is the son of
George O. Little (see below). He is the subject of book (on file in the Pa. Conf. archives) by R.
E. Williams, printed in 1887 by the U.B. Publishing House: George K. Little and his Revival
Work—comprising a history of his life, conversion, and the first 6 years of evangelistic work.
The picture is from [Holdcraft 1938, p. 343]. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 140; see also pp. 141,
295, 305] and [Lycoming 2013]
LITTLE: George O. Little joined Va. Conf. and was given Conference License to preach therein in 1848
with George W. Statton. He later transferred to Pa. Conf. George was the father of Rev. G. K. Little (see
above). G. O. Little was appointed to Winchester, 1848-49. He hosted the Conference of May 1816 in
Cumberland County, Pa. Note: The Aug. 3, 1846, quarterly conference of the Littlestown Circuit states “that
George O. Little from the Methodist E. Church shall be received into the Church of the United Brethren in
Christ” and “that he shall have license to preach the gospel among us up to the next annual conference.” His
Aug. 4, 1894, fast-day sermon, “The Mission of Hour Government,” delivered at Second Presbyterian Church,
Fort Wayne, Ind., which claim that slavery and freedom could not co-exist in the U.S., was printed and
preserved.61 He wrote The Royal Houses of Israel and Judah: An Interwoven History with a Harmony of
61 http://www.polis.iupui.edu/ruc/rac/45/77/95/Indiana/materials/549.asp.
Biographical Sketches 92
For thirty years certain ministers of the Gospel under the leadership of William Otterbein, Martin Boehm, Christian
Newcomer, Martin Krider [Crider], George A Geeting, Abraham Troxel, and others representing different denominations
traveled through Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia and held great union meetings of an evangelistic nature usually on
Whitsuntide. The services were generally held in barns or private houses owing to the fact that there were but few churches
in those outlying districts and often the doors of these few churches were closed against these unsectarian ministers. After
a period of 30 years, the first general gathering of the unsectarian ministers occurred at the home of Peter Kemp some 2
miles west of Frederick Maryland on the 25th of Sep. 1800. There and then the United Brethren church was born. At that
conference the following members were present: William Otterbein, Martin Boehm, John Hershey, Abraham Troxel,
Christian Krum, Henry Krum, George Pfrimmer, Henry Boehm, Christian Newcomer, Dietrich Aurand, Jacob Geisinger,
George A Geeting, Jacob Bowlus and Adam Lehman. In the prosecution of their evangelistic labors, baptized by the spirit of
gospel unity and love for souls, these men unconsciously laid the lines of organized church life and when they came
together at Peter Kemp’s representing a widely scattered constituency of probably 25,000, a multiplicity of sacred influences
and associations lifted up their voices unitedly and said, “Let this child of Providence be christened.” The conference
assumed legislative functions, organized itself and its adhering population into a church, elected bishops and planned
otherwise for larger results under the name of the United Brethren in Christ. That act made Peter Kemp’s home historic,
the Bethlehem of our Denomination. Here the Church was organized and instituted and from 1790 to 1830. According to
the written record, it was a center of life and influence for the whole Church Great. Meetings were held at Peter Kemp’s and
distinguished ministers of many denominations, including Bishops Asbury, Otterbein, Boehm, Newcomer and Lorenzo Dow,
broke the bread of life in that sacred place. Among the pioneer ministers and members in Frederick County I may mention
Rev Peter Kemp, Rev Adam Lehman, John Cronise, Peter Shook, Benjamin Neidig, Jacob Perry, Benjamin Brane, John
Staley, George Stokes, Valentine Doub, Jacob Weller, Rev Jacob Bowlus, Rev Lawrence Eberhart, John Snook, Henry Hemp,
Joshua Doub, William Reinhart, Jacob Toms, Yost Harbaugh, Abram Doub, John Harp, Frederick Rider, Jacob Martin, Reuben
Osler, Lewis Wertenbaker, Henry Remsberg, Gideon Hoover, Christian Remsberg, and John Hoover. The conference of 1800
was composed of ministers of different denominations, but they had labored for years independent of ecclesiastical
associations and without organizing their numerous converts into societies which shows that they were innocent of any
intention to establish a new church. From 1780 to 1830 U.B. ministers canvassed this lovely valley for souls, and, in many
of her towns and villages even where our Church is not now represented, they were the first to break the bread of life to the
people. But their long rides soul-saving sermons and wearisome labors are over now and to each and all the Master has
said “Well done.” Peace to their ashes. Blessed be their memory! [Funkhouser 1921, p. 140; see also pp. 38, 124, 224-
225, 232-233, 236]; [Glovier 1965, pp. 18, 87]; [Miller 1969, p. 370]; [www.werelate.org, Sandra Baggot]; and [Lycoming
2013]
LEVERING: Robert G. H. Levering became a member of Conference in 1839; stammered in conversation
but not in preaching, in which he was powerful. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 140; see also pp. 126, 248-249] and
[Glovier 1965, p. 88]
LIBERICK: George Liberick was present as a member of the Conference of 1830 (with a question mark
after his name in the Minutes); nothing else is known. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 241]
LIGHT: Felix Light was absent as a member of the Conference of 1791; nothing else is known.
[Funkhouser 1921, p. 224]
LIPSCOMB: P. T. Lipscomb served North River Circuit, 1889-90.
LITTLE: George Kirkley Little (b. Jan. 27, 1860; d. Aug. 22, 1938; mar. Anna C. Bittinger)
was an evangelist-at-large, 1880-1908 and 1909-14, who was ordained in Va. Conf. by
request of Pa. Conf., arranged to occur in Aug. at Assembly Park. In Va. Conf., G. K. Little
served West Rockingham, 1914-16; New Creek, 1917-18; and Harrisonburg, 1920-24. In Pa.
Conf. he served Greencastle and Marion, 1908-09; and Shermansdale, 1925-26, after which
he retired. He died in 1938 and is interred at Quincy, Pa. Note: George K. Little is the son of
George O. Little (see below). He is the subject of book (on file in the Pa. Conf. archives) by R.
E. Williams, printed in 1887 by the U.B. Publishing House: George K. Little and his Revival
Work—comprising a history of his life, conversion, and the first 6 years of evangelistic work.
The picture is from [Holdcraft 1938, p. 343]. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 140; see also pp. 141,
295, 305] and [Lycoming 2013]
LITTLE: George O. Little joined Va. Conf. and was given Conference License to preach therein in 1848
with George W. Statton. He later transferred to Pa. Conf. George was the father of Rev. G. K. Little (see
above). G. O. Little was appointed to Winchester, 1848-49. He hosted the Conference of May 1816 in
Cumberland County, Pa. Note: The Aug. 3, 1846, quarterly conference of the Littlestown Circuit states “that
George O. Little from the Methodist E. Church shall be received into the Church of the United Brethren in
Christ” and “that he shall have license to preach the gospel among us up to the next annual conference.” His
Aug. 4, 1894, fast-day sermon, “The Mission of Hour Government,” delivered at Second Presbyterian Church,
Fort Wayne, Ind., which claim that slavery and freedom could not co-exist in the U.S., was printed and
preserved.61 He wrote The Royal Houses of Israel and Judah: An Interwoven History with a Harmony of
61 http://www.polis.iupui.edu/ruc/rac/45/77/95/Indiana/materials/549.asp.
Biographical Sketches 92
