Page 112 - United Brethren Preachers
P. 112
Volume 9 Preachers of U.B. and EUB Virginia Conferences December 26, 2024
MERKI: William E. Merki served Otterbein UMC of Martinsburg during 1997-2001. He served in the
Central Pa. Conf. during 1963-68; and he has served the following appointments in the BWC: Cumberland
First UMC, 1968-74; Fort Washington UMC, 1974-76; Hancock UMC, 1976-1985; Alpine Charge of Berkeley
Springs, 1985-89; Davis Memorial Otterbein UMC in Cumberland, 1989-1996; Davis Memorial McKendree,
1996-97; and Otterbein UMC of Martinsburg, 1997-2001. He retired in 2001 and has his charge conference at
Inwood UMC. His wife, Sheril Darlene Merki is a retired local pastor, having served Inwood UMC during 1997-
2003.
MESSICK: Lewis C. Messick was born at Mt. Clinton, Virginia on June 13,
1883. He was licensed to preach in 1907 and educated at Shenandoah and
Bridgewater Colleges. On Dec. 27, 1905, he was united in marriage to Nellie F.
Lineweaver (Sep. 7, 1880; d. Jan. 19, 1969). Their four children are Guy Lee,
Lynn C., Anna and Viva. He was converted in 1902; licensed in 1907; and joined
Conference 1910. During his 48 years in Va. Conf. he served 18-10; Elk Garden,
1910-14; Swoope, 1914-16; Prince William (Manassas), 1916-20; Jones Springs,
1921-26; Blairton-Greensburg, 1926-29; Franklin, 1929-34; Great Cacapon,
1934-39; West Frederick, 1939-49; and Martinsburg, 1948-56. Manassas Church and Parsonage were bought
in 1917 from the Methodists through his efforts. Rev. And Mrs. Messick celebrated their 50th Wedding
Anniversary on Dec. 27, 1955, at their home in Bedington, W.Va. Attending were their four children: Guy Lee
Messick of Odella, Md., Lynn C. Messick of Washington, D.C., Mrs. Anna Boggs, and Mrs. Viva Simmons of
Franklin, W.Va., together with four of their six grandchildren. He died Oct. 16, 1957, and was buried in
Weaver’s Mennonite Church Cemetery, west of Harrisonburg, Va. His memoir, as well as Nellie’s, is provided
in Section II.A (below). The pictures are from [Glovier 1965, p. 68], the one on the left taken in 1919.
[Funkhouser 1921, p. 176; see also pp. 128, 197, 303-309] and [Glovier 1965, p. 134; see also pp. 77, 90,
96, 131, 208, 247, 298]
MESSICK: Lewis Henry Messick, son of William R. and Mary E. (Hartman) Messick, was born at Mount
Clinton, Va., June 13, 1883, and was educated at Bridgewater and Dayton. He was converted in 1902,
licensed in 1907, and has been an itinerant 7 years. His charges have been West Frederick, Elk Garden,
Swoope, and Manassas. Apparently, he did not attend Annual Conference. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 176]
METVIN: D. V. Metvin served Hardy, 1920-21; Pendleton, 1921-22; and Fountain, 1923-24.
MEYER: Abraham Meyer (1758-1826) served as Presiding Elder, 1816-18; Presiding Elder (Juniata),
1819-1823; and Presiding Elder, 1823-26. He married Anna Baker and had a son Abraham (b. Dec. 20, 1787;
d. Apr. 1, 1858). From www.geni.com: Rev. Abraham Meyer became affiliated with the U.B. Church in the
early days of that denomination, as early as 1796. He was a preacher, an organizer of new churches, and a
recognized leader. The Meyer home was headquarters for U.B. people in the Carlisle area, and many services
were held in the home. He was buried in the family graveyard on the farm which he owned, about 4 miles
west of Carlisle, on the road leading from Carlisle to Newville. His stone reads: In Memory of Abraham Meyer,
Preacher of the Gospel, Who departed this life Oct 28 1826, Age 68 years and 5 months [thus, he was born
about Mar. 1758]. [Eberly 1911, p. 68] notes that Christian Newcomer visited Abraham Meyer’s home in
Mar. 1800 and Mar. 1802 and that Meyer’s home “continued to be a center of United Brethrenism ‘till Shopp’s
Church was erected in 1827” who adds that John’s Shopps daughter Sarah married a son of Abraham Meyer.
[See also the entry for Abraham MAYER (1757-1785), above.] See [Funkhouser 1921, pp. 225-239].
MICHAEL: Moses Michael became a member of Conference in 1856; served Mason Circuit, 1855-56;
ordained 1858 (?); and served as Presiding Elder (Western Virginia) 1856-57. He transferred to Missouri
Conference and was a charter member thereof, 1858. A Moses Michael served Jackson Mission, 1836-38 (the
father?). [Funkhouser 1921, p. 141; Glovier 1965, pp. 88, 305]
MILES: James W. Miles “was born in Frederick County, Md., in 1818, converted in 1835, and licensed in
the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1841. He joined the U.B. Church in 1843. He joined Va. Conf. and was
licensed in 1844. He was ordained in 1846.” He served appointments at South Branch (with J. W. Fulkerson),
1844-1845; Staunton [with (Bishop) J. J. Glossbrenner], 1845-1846; Rockbridge, 1846-1847; Hagerstown
(with James E. Bowersox), 1847-1848; Hagerstown (with John W. Fulkerson), 1848-1849; Winchester, 1849-
1850; Presiding Elder for West Virginia (with a salary of $147), 1851-1853; Franklin, 1853-54; Hagerstown
Station, 1855-1856; California Mission, 1856-1857; Lewis Charge, 1857. “In 1850 was presiding elder of the
territory that became the Parkersburg Conference, with which he was identified after its organization. His
second wife, Mary E. Jackson was a cousin to Stonewall Jackson.” In 1921, he was living in Baldwin, W.Va.
[Funkhouser 1921, pp. 141, 176, 311; see also pp. 126, 129, 250-259] and [Glovier 1965, p. 88]
MILLER: Charles Miller “was born in York County, Pa., Dec. 6, 1824. He professed religion at the age of
17 and joined the Evangelical Association.” At age 22 he was licensed to preach and “in 1850 he was
ordained. Sometime earlier than this, he was sent to Virginia as a missionary. He located at Purgitsville,
Hampshire Co., W.Va., where he was married to Miss Louisa High of that place and reared a large family. His
Biographical Sketches 100
MERKI: William E. Merki served Otterbein UMC of Martinsburg during 1997-2001. He served in the
Central Pa. Conf. during 1963-68; and he has served the following appointments in the BWC: Cumberland
First UMC, 1968-74; Fort Washington UMC, 1974-76; Hancock UMC, 1976-1985; Alpine Charge of Berkeley
Springs, 1985-89; Davis Memorial Otterbein UMC in Cumberland, 1989-1996; Davis Memorial McKendree,
1996-97; and Otterbein UMC of Martinsburg, 1997-2001. He retired in 2001 and has his charge conference at
Inwood UMC. His wife, Sheril Darlene Merki is a retired local pastor, having served Inwood UMC during 1997-
2003.
MESSICK: Lewis C. Messick was born at Mt. Clinton, Virginia on June 13,
1883. He was licensed to preach in 1907 and educated at Shenandoah and
Bridgewater Colleges. On Dec. 27, 1905, he was united in marriage to Nellie F.
Lineweaver (Sep. 7, 1880; d. Jan. 19, 1969). Their four children are Guy Lee,
Lynn C., Anna and Viva. He was converted in 1902; licensed in 1907; and joined
Conference 1910. During his 48 years in Va. Conf. he served 18-10; Elk Garden,
1910-14; Swoope, 1914-16; Prince William (Manassas), 1916-20; Jones Springs,
1921-26; Blairton-Greensburg, 1926-29; Franklin, 1929-34; Great Cacapon,
1934-39; West Frederick, 1939-49; and Martinsburg, 1948-56. Manassas Church and Parsonage were bought
in 1917 from the Methodists through his efforts. Rev. And Mrs. Messick celebrated their 50th Wedding
Anniversary on Dec. 27, 1955, at their home in Bedington, W.Va. Attending were their four children: Guy Lee
Messick of Odella, Md., Lynn C. Messick of Washington, D.C., Mrs. Anna Boggs, and Mrs. Viva Simmons of
Franklin, W.Va., together with four of their six grandchildren. He died Oct. 16, 1957, and was buried in
Weaver’s Mennonite Church Cemetery, west of Harrisonburg, Va. His memoir, as well as Nellie’s, is provided
in Section II.A (below). The pictures are from [Glovier 1965, p. 68], the one on the left taken in 1919.
[Funkhouser 1921, p. 176; see also pp. 128, 197, 303-309] and [Glovier 1965, p. 134; see also pp. 77, 90,
96, 131, 208, 247, 298]
MESSICK: Lewis Henry Messick, son of William R. and Mary E. (Hartman) Messick, was born at Mount
Clinton, Va., June 13, 1883, and was educated at Bridgewater and Dayton. He was converted in 1902,
licensed in 1907, and has been an itinerant 7 years. His charges have been West Frederick, Elk Garden,
Swoope, and Manassas. Apparently, he did not attend Annual Conference. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 176]
METVIN: D. V. Metvin served Hardy, 1920-21; Pendleton, 1921-22; and Fountain, 1923-24.
MEYER: Abraham Meyer (1758-1826) served as Presiding Elder, 1816-18; Presiding Elder (Juniata),
1819-1823; and Presiding Elder, 1823-26. He married Anna Baker and had a son Abraham (b. Dec. 20, 1787;
d. Apr. 1, 1858). From www.geni.com: Rev. Abraham Meyer became affiliated with the U.B. Church in the
early days of that denomination, as early as 1796. He was a preacher, an organizer of new churches, and a
recognized leader. The Meyer home was headquarters for U.B. people in the Carlisle area, and many services
were held in the home. He was buried in the family graveyard on the farm which he owned, about 4 miles
west of Carlisle, on the road leading from Carlisle to Newville. His stone reads: In Memory of Abraham Meyer,
Preacher of the Gospel, Who departed this life Oct 28 1826, Age 68 years and 5 months [thus, he was born
about Mar. 1758]. [Eberly 1911, p. 68] notes that Christian Newcomer visited Abraham Meyer’s home in
Mar. 1800 and Mar. 1802 and that Meyer’s home “continued to be a center of United Brethrenism ‘till Shopp’s
Church was erected in 1827” who adds that John’s Shopps daughter Sarah married a son of Abraham Meyer.
[See also the entry for Abraham MAYER (1757-1785), above.] See [Funkhouser 1921, pp. 225-239].
MICHAEL: Moses Michael became a member of Conference in 1856; served Mason Circuit, 1855-56;
ordained 1858 (?); and served as Presiding Elder (Western Virginia) 1856-57. He transferred to Missouri
Conference and was a charter member thereof, 1858. A Moses Michael served Jackson Mission, 1836-38 (the
father?). [Funkhouser 1921, p. 141; Glovier 1965, pp. 88, 305]
MILES: James W. Miles “was born in Frederick County, Md., in 1818, converted in 1835, and licensed in
the Methodist Episcopal Church in 1841. He joined the U.B. Church in 1843. He joined Va. Conf. and was
licensed in 1844. He was ordained in 1846.” He served appointments at South Branch (with J. W. Fulkerson),
1844-1845; Staunton [with (Bishop) J. J. Glossbrenner], 1845-1846; Rockbridge, 1846-1847; Hagerstown
(with James E. Bowersox), 1847-1848; Hagerstown (with John W. Fulkerson), 1848-1849; Winchester, 1849-
1850; Presiding Elder for West Virginia (with a salary of $147), 1851-1853; Franklin, 1853-54; Hagerstown
Station, 1855-1856; California Mission, 1856-1857; Lewis Charge, 1857. “In 1850 was presiding elder of the
territory that became the Parkersburg Conference, with which he was identified after its organization. His
second wife, Mary E. Jackson was a cousin to Stonewall Jackson.” In 1921, he was living in Baldwin, W.Va.
[Funkhouser 1921, pp. 141, 176, 311; see also pp. 126, 129, 250-259] and [Glovier 1965, p. 88]
MILLER: Charles Miller “was born in York County, Pa., Dec. 6, 1824. He professed religion at the age of
17 and joined the Evangelical Association.” At age 22 he was licensed to preach and “in 1850 he was
ordained. Sometime earlier than this, he was sent to Virginia as a missionary. He located at Purgitsville,
Hampshire Co., W.Va., where he was married to Miss Louisa High of that place and reared a large family. His
Biographical Sketches 100
