Page 108 - United Brethren Preachers
P. 108
Volume 9 Preachers of U.B. and EUB Virginia Conferences December 26, 2024
Britain and America. He did post-graduate work, 4 years’ extension work, at Bonebrake Theological
Seminary. He joined Conference and was licensed to preach in Staunton, Va., Mar. 26, 1911, and he was
ordained in Harrisonburg, Va., Sept. 29, 1918. Has had a wide experience in Christian work. He was General
Secretary in YMCA work in the United States and in Canada, preceding entry into Ministry. His charges were
Bayard, 1910-13; South Branch, 1913-15; and Staunton, 1915-22; and Cumberland Second, 1922-23. Rev.
Mann married Lacy Margaret Wolford in Mineral Co., W.Va., August 1, 1916; together they had seven
children: Luther, Ellen, Paul, Andrew, Janice, John, and Margaret. He also preached at First Presbyterian
Church and was a member of Winchester Presbytery 5 years in Thomas, W.Va. During his pastorate at
Staunton U.B. Church, balance of debt was paid; further, the church was also remodeled and rededicated.
During his 7 years of service at Staunton, he had the joyful privilege of receiving 600 members into Church
fellowship. Rev. Mann died Dec. 31, 1963, age 78, in Tucker Co., W.Va. The picture on the left is from
[Glovier 1965, p. 77], taken in 1919. The picture on the right is from 1928, when he visited the U.B. Church
at Staunton on its 40th anniversary. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 175; see also pp. 128, 303-308]; [Glovier 1965,
pp. 90, 186, 217, 234]; [GCHS 2010, p. 60]; and [Herbaugh 2013]
MARKWOOD: Bishop Jacob Markwood—18th bishop of the UBIC, who presided over Va.
Conf. during 1862-66 and 1870—was born at Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia),
Dec. 26, 1818. Jacob’s father was a native Virginian. Bishop Markwood dated his real
conversion from Oct. 9, 1832. In 1836 he united with the congregation of United Brethren at
Green Spring, Va. In June 1837, he was licensed to exhort, and in Sep. of the same year he
joined Va. Conf. In 1841 he was ordained. His first circuits were Hagerstown (1838-40),
Woodstock (1840-41), and Frederick (1842-43) in Va. Conf. In 1843-43 he was a Presiding
Elder (Maryland); 1856-57, Presiding Elder (East Virginia); 1859-62, Presiding Elder (Virginia);
and beginning with 1845 was a delegate to every General Conference until, in 1861, he was
elected Bishop which office he held for 8 years. As a preacher, Bishop Markwood was fervent
and eloquent. He was an indefatigable worker, and one of the most remarkable men the U.B. Church has
produced. On Jan. 22, 1873, his spirit slipped from his weary body, and returned to God who gave it.
Rev. George W. Statton conducted the funeral service. His body was first buried, at his request, at the spot
beneath the pulpit at Old Bethel Church (Rohrersville), but later his remains were disinterred and buried in the
cemetery at Luray, Va. Bishop Markwood was Presiding Elder for churches in Morgan County during 1852-55
and 1861-62. [Holdcraft 1938, p. 320] notes: He was one of the most dynamic pulpiteers ever produced by
the Church, “Language and figures of speech were his playings or his thunderbolts, according to his purpose,”
He combined a fearless, head-long disposition with unfeigned meekness and devotion. The picture is from
[Glovier 1965, p. 99]. John W. Fulkerson relates the following reminiscences [Funkhouser 1921, pp. 71-72,
141]:
Jacob Markwood stood next in authority, but unlike what was true of Burtner his power and influence did not lie in his
business ability. He was a close student, a good thinker, and a great orator. In fluency and in use of beautiful language he
was rarely excelled. In his best moments he would carry as by magic, and whithersoever he pleased, the largest and most
unruly audience. In his denunciations of the popular evils of the day, he was severe, sarcastic, and emphatic in the
extreme, and withal so regardless of the possible consequences to himself, that he would have his audience mad enough to
want to hang him. Then, in a few moments and with cyclonic power, he would have his hearers weeping, as though with
broken hearts, and some of them screaming for mercy as if the flames of hell were consuming them. In another moment,
and as with the speed of the lightning’s flash, the power of his eloquence would be turned to the uplifting influence of the
gospel, to the abundant blessings of Christianity, and for its supreme enjoyment in this life and the life beyond. The whole
audience would soon be in a whirl of glory, and loud hallelujahs would come from every part of the house. At the dedication
of Mount Zion church near the village of Mount Solon, he preached two and one-half hours from the text, “We have come
unto Mount Zion.” But sometimes Markwood failed and failed badly. He was tender-hearted and often gave his last dollar
to the poor. It is told of him that while he was on the road to preside over a conference in Ohio, he overtook an old man,
thinly clad, and to all appearance in ill health. Markwood at once got out of his buggy, and walked with the man a short
distance, meanwhile putting several questions to him. Then he took off his double-cape overcoat and gave it to the
stranger. News of the incident reached the conference, and another warm coat was provided for the bishop. [Funkhouser
1921, p. 50, 70-71, 77, 96, 126, 150, 169, 186, 194, 196, 198, 248-272] and [Glovier 1965, p. 99; see also pp. 30, 52, 64,
68, 88, 93, 102, 156, 230, 245]
MARKWOOD: John Markwood, brother to Jacob, transferred to Va. Conf. from Scioto Conference; lived in
Hampshire County; blind last years of life. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 141; see also pp. 126, 251-254, 256] and
[Glovier 1965, p. 88]
MARSH: Joseph Marsh was licensed as an exhorter, listed as present at the Conference of 1826; nothing
else is known. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 238]
MARTIN: Eli Martin (b. Mar. 6, 1818, Harrison County, W.Va.; d. Nov. 1884, Pennsboro, W.Va.) became a
member of Conference in 1856; came from Baptist Ch.; served West Columbia Station, 1856-57; and
transferred to Parkersburg Conference. He was a member of that conference at his death on Nov. 18, 1884
[Parkersburg Conf. Journal 1884-85, p. 27; 1891, p. 31]. He is buried at EUB Cemetery in Pennsboro. He
was one of the original members of the W.Va. Parkersburg. He was an able preacher, and a fearless defender
Biographical Sketches 96
Britain and America. He did post-graduate work, 4 years’ extension work, at Bonebrake Theological
Seminary. He joined Conference and was licensed to preach in Staunton, Va., Mar. 26, 1911, and he was
ordained in Harrisonburg, Va., Sept. 29, 1918. Has had a wide experience in Christian work. He was General
Secretary in YMCA work in the United States and in Canada, preceding entry into Ministry. His charges were
Bayard, 1910-13; South Branch, 1913-15; and Staunton, 1915-22; and Cumberland Second, 1922-23. Rev.
Mann married Lacy Margaret Wolford in Mineral Co., W.Va., August 1, 1916; together they had seven
children: Luther, Ellen, Paul, Andrew, Janice, John, and Margaret. He also preached at First Presbyterian
Church and was a member of Winchester Presbytery 5 years in Thomas, W.Va. During his pastorate at
Staunton U.B. Church, balance of debt was paid; further, the church was also remodeled and rededicated.
During his 7 years of service at Staunton, he had the joyful privilege of receiving 600 members into Church
fellowship. Rev. Mann died Dec. 31, 1963, age 78, in Tucker Co., W.Va. The picture on the left is from
[Glovier 1965, p. 77], taken in 1919. The picture on the right is from 1928, when he visited the U.B. Church
at Staunton on its 40th anniversary. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 175; see also pp. 128, 303-308]; [Glovier 1965,
pp. 90, 186, 217, 234]; [GCHS 2010, p. 60]; and [Herbaugh 2013]
MARKWOOD: Bishop Jacob Markwood—18th bishop of the UBIC, who presided over Va.
Conf. during 1862-66 and 1870—was born at Charles Town, Virginia (now West Virginia),
Dec. 26, 1818. Jacob’s father was a native Virginian. Bishop Markwood dated his real
conversion from Oct. 9, 1832. In 1836 he united with the congregation of United Brethren at
Green Spring, Va. In June 1837, he was licensed to exhort, and in Sep. of the same year he
joined Va. Conf. In 1841 he was ordained. His first circuits were Hagerstown (1838-40),
Woodstock (1840-41), and Frederick (1842-43) in Va. Conf. In 1843-43 he was a Presiding
Elder (Maryland); 1856-57, Presiding Elder (East Virginia); 1859-62, Presiding Elder (Virginia);
and beginning with 1845 was a delegate to every General Conference until, in 1861, he was
elected Bishop which office he held for 8 years. As a preacher, Bishop Markwood was fervent
and eloquent. He was an indefatigable worker, and one of the most remarkable men the U.B. Church has
produced. On Jan. 22, 1873, his spirit slipped from his weary body, and returned to God who gave it.
Rev. George W. Statton conducted the funeral service. His body was first buried, at his request, at the spot
beneath the pulpit at Old Bethel Church (Rohrersville), but later his remains were disinterred and buried in the
cemetery at Luray, Va. Bishop Markwood was Presiding Elder for churches in Morgan County during 1852-55
and 1861-62. [Holdcraft 1938, p. 320] notes: He was one of the most dynamic pulpiteers ever produced by
the Church, “Language and figures of speech were his playings or his thunderbolts, according to his purpose,”
He combined a fearless, head-long disposition with unfeigned meekness and devotion. The picture is from
[Glovier 1965, p. 99]. John W. Fulkerson relates the following reminiscences [Funkhouser 1921, pp. 71-72,
141]:
Jacob Markwood stood next in authority, but unlike what was true of Burtner his power and influence did not lie in his
business ability. He was a close student, a good thinker, and a great orator. In fluency and in use of beautiful language he
was rarely excelled. In his best moments he would carry as by magic, and whithersoever he pleased, the largest and most
unruly audience. In his denunciations of the popular evils of the day, he was severe, sarcastic, and emphatic in the
extreme, and withal so regardless of the possible consequences to himself, that he would have his audience mad enough to
want to hang him. Then, in a few moments and with cyclonic power, he would have his hearers weeping, as though with
broken hearts, and some of them screaming for mercy as if the flames of hell were consuming them. In another moment,
and as with the speed of the lightning’s flash, the power of his eloquence would be turned to the uplifting influence of the
gospel, to the abundant blessings of Christianity, and for its supreme enjoyment in this life and the life beyond. The whole
audience would soon be in a whirl of glory, and loud hallelujahs would come from every part of the house. At the dedication
of Mount Zion church near the village of Mount Solon, he preached two and one-half hours from the text, “We have come
unto Mount Zion.” But sometimes Markwood failed and failed badly. He was tender-hearted and often gave his last dollar
to the poor. It is told of him that while he was on the road to preside over a conference in Ohio, he overtook an old man,
thinly clad, and to all appearance in ill health. Markwood at once got out of his buggy, and walked with the man a short
distance, meanwhile putting several questions to him. Then he took off his double-cape overcoat and gave it to the
stranger. News of the incident reached the conference, and another warm coat was provided for the bishop. [Funkhouser
1921, p. 50, 70-71, 77, 96, 126, 150, 169, 186, 194, 196, 198, 248-272] and [Glovier 1965, p. 99; see also pp. 30, 52, 64,
68, 88, 93, 102, 156, 230, 245]
MARKWOOD: John Markwood, brother to Jacob, transferred to Va. Conf. from Scioto Conference; lived in
Hampshire County; blind last years of life. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 141; see also pp. 126, 251-254, 256] and
[Glovier 1965, p. 88]
MARSH: Joseph Marsh was licensed as an exhorter, listed as present at the Conference of 1826; nothing
else is known. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 238]
MARTIN: Eli Martin (b. Mar. 6, 1818, Harrison County, W.Va.; d. Nov. 1884, Pennsboro, W.Va.) became a
member of Conference in 1856; came from Baptist Ch.; served West Columbia Station, 1856-57; and
transferred to Parkersburg Conference. He was a member of that conference at his death on Nov. 18, 1884
[Parkersburg Conf. Journal 1884-85, p. 27; 1891, p. 31]. He is buried at EUB Cemetery in Pennsboro. He
was one of the original members of the W.Va. Parkersburg. He was an able preacher, and a fearless defender
Biographical Sketches 96
