Page 128 - United Brethren Preachers
P. 128
Volume 9 Preachers of U.B. and EUB Virginia Conferences December 26, 2024
REIDER (RIDER): John Reider (1787-1849) became a member of Conference in 1822 and was ordained in
1825. He attended Conference in 1829 and 1830; member of Pa. Conf. of 1933. He was presiding elder,
Huntingdon District, 1835-39; in 1939 charter member of Allegheny Conf., and served Schellsburg Circuit,
1847-48. He is interred at Union Cemetery near New Baltimore, Pa. His obituary appears in the Minutes of
the 1850 Allegheny Conf. Note: There was also a farmer John Rider (1790-1868) born in Berks Co., who lived
in Montour and Lycoming Counties. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 143 (“Rider”); 235 (“Reder”)] and [Lycoming 2013]
REICK: Peter Reick was licensed to exhort at the Conference of 1827; nothing else is known.
[Funkhouser 1921, p. 239]
REIGEL: Adam Reigel was an absent member of Conference of 1800. See RIEGEL. [Funkhouser 1921,
p. 225]
REXRODE (REXROAD): George W. Rexrode was born in Pendleton County, Virginia (now
W.Va.), on Jan. 4, 1821. When a young man, he gave his heart to God and became a
member of the U.B. Church. About the year 1852 he received license as a Quarterly
Conference Preacher and in 1858 he joined Va. Conf., most of the time occupying a local
relation. He was ordained in 1862. He was a faithful pastor of different charges, but his
preaching was chiefly in Pendleton County. He was a typical early U.B. preacher and was
especially strong in prayer. He supported his large family by following the trade of
shoemaker. He was a consistent Christian and exerted a good influence. In Bible doctrines he
was well informed and he was powerful in prayer. He died at the home of his son near Port
Republic, Rockingham County, Va., Mar. 25, 1898, aged 77 years, 2 months and 21 days. G.
P. Hott, J. N. Fries, and C. H. Crowell participated at the funeral service. His remains were tenderly laid to
rest in the Mill Creek Church of the Brethren Cemetery, near the place of his death. G. W. Rexrode served
Augusta Circuit, 1860-1866; Highland Circuit, 1868-69; Alleghany Circuit, 1875-76; Garrett Circuit, 1877-
1879; Minesville Circuit, 1884-1887; North Fork Circuit, 1887-1889; Mt. Bethel Circuit, 1890-1893; Madison
Circuit, 1893-94; and Franklin Circuit, 1896-97. His memoir is provided in Section II.A (below). The picture
is from [Glovier 1965, p. 70], taken in 1886. [Funkhouser 1921, pp. 143, 178-179; see also pp. 126, 178,
260-262, 264-269, 272-278, 280-282, 284-286, 288, 295; and 197, 289 (both “Rexroad”)] and [Glovier
1965, pp. 107, 148, 166 (all “Rexrode”)]
REXRODE (REXROAD): Lafayette Rexrode (Rexroad) [b. Apr. 1867; mar. Mattie B. Cithrill (d. 1902) and
Sue Cleaver (1864-1951)] served Hartmansville Circuit, 1893-94. The son of Archibald Rexroad, he was
licensed in Pa. Conf. in 1896 and served Manchester, 1896; Dover, 1896-97; and York Haven, 1897-99 (left
during the last year to attend seminary). He was student at Dayton, Ohio, 1899-1902 and graduated (as did
his wife, Mattie) from Union Biblical (Bonebrake Theological) Seminary, Class of 1901. He transferred to
Allegheny Conf. in 1902; Clearfield Station, 1902-03; McKeesport, 1903-05; West Decatur, 1905-06;
Johnstown Barron Avenue, 190-08; Fairmount, 1908-11; Punxsutawney, 1911-12 (resigned, Apr. 30, 1912);
and honorable dismissal, 1912. Note: Rev. Rexrode is reported to have lived in Kearneysville, W.Va., and
appears to have connections to Grant County, W.Va., where his brother Aldine Whetsel Rexrode farmed. A
relative, Sam H. Rexrode, living in Maysville was taken seriously ill in Feb. 1897. He was pastor of the U.B.
Church at Dunlo (Pa.) in Feb. 1908, when he performed the Reese-Price marriage. In July 1919 he was living
in Freeport, Pa. He performed the wedding of Hannah Loughman and Charles Canan in West Union (Pa.)
Presbyterian Manse in Aug. 1924 and officiated in West Union Presbyterian Church for the funeral service of
Clark Moninger in July 1928. Among his children, Donald L. was born in 1905, Charles in 1908, and Wilbur in
1910. His 30-year ministry included 18 years serving U.B. churches and 12 in the Presbyterian Church.
[Hiser 1932, p. 31] and [Lycoming 2013]
REXRODE: Roscoe Letcher Rexrode, son of James L. and Sarah Alice Rexrode, was born May 24, 1919, at
Canaan, W.Va. He was converted in 1936 at Buchanan, W.Va. His education consists of high school and
2 years at Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, W.Va.; and Seminary-Conference Courses of Study. He served
charges in the W.Va. Conference from 1957 to 1964. At the 1964 Virginia Annual Conference he was received
on transfer from the Michigan Conference of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ (Old Constitution),
and he was then assigned to the newly formed Mt. Jackson Charge, 1964-68. On Nov. 30, 1938, he married
Eva Orlease (Shirley) Gladwell. They were united in marriage by Rev. Ireland, the same minister who
performed the marriage ceremony for his parents. In the W.Va. Conf. Rev. Rexroad served the Gay Charge,
Alton-Frenchton, and Clarksburg Circuit from 1957 until 1964. At Mt. Jackson EUB Charge he served
Hawkinstown, Mt. Hermon, and Otterbein Chapel EUB Churches. He was pastor of the Mt. Horeb Church,
Hinton, Rockingham County, Va., for one year, 1969-70. Rev. Rexroad also preached at the Palmyra Church,
near Edinburg, Va., for 10 ½ years, until 1981. He and Mrs. Rexroad were living in Harrisonburg, Va., in
1985. [Burch 1985, pp. 32-33] In Sep. 1936 the Cumberland Evening Times reported that R. L. Rexrode had
gone with his family to Gladstone, Va., where he was to conduct a camp meeting. The Dixon Pentecostal
Research Center has the following in the Church of God Heritage Special Collections: “Testimony of R. L.
Rexrode, Evangelist,” by R L. Rexrode. [Glovier 1965, pp. 259, 296]
Biographical Sketches 116
REIDER (RIDER): John Reider (1787-1849) became a member of Conference in 1822 and was ordained in
1825. He attended Conference in 1829 and 1830; member of Pa. Conf. of 1933. He was presiding elder,
Huntingdon District, 1835-39; in 1939 charter member of Allegheny Conf., and served Schellsburg Circuit,
1847-48. He is interred at Union Cemetery near New Baltimore, Pa. His obituary appears in the Minutes of
the 1850 Allegheny Conf. Note: There was also a farmer John Rider (1790-1868) born in Berks Co., who lived
in Montour and Lycoming Counties. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 143 (“Rider”); 235 (“Reder”)] and [Lycoming 2013]
REICK: Peter Reick was licensed to exhort at the Conference of 1827; nothing else is known.
[Funkhouser 1921, p. 239]
REIGEL: Adam Reigel was an absent member of Conference of 1800. See RIEGEL. [Funkhouser 1921,
p. 225]
REXRODE (REXROAD): George W. Rexrode was born in Pendleton County, Virginia (now
W.Va.), on Jan. 4, 1821. When a young man, he gave his heart to God and became a
member of the U.B. Church. About the year 1852 he received license as a Quarterly
Conference Preacher and in 1858 he joined Va. Conf., most of the time occupying a local
relation. He was ordained in 1862. He was a faithful pastor of different charges, but his
preaching was chiefly in Pendleton County. He was a typical early U.B. preacher and was
especially strong in prayer. He supported his large family by following the trade of
shoemaker. He was a consistent Christian and exerted a good influence. In Bible doctrines he
was well informed and he was powerful in prayer. He died at the home of his son near Port
Republic, Rockingham County, Va., Mar. 25, 1898, aged 77 years, 2 months and 21 days. G.
P. Hott, J. N. Fries, and C. H. Crowell participated at the funeral service. His remains were tenderly laid to
rest in the Mill Creek Church of the Brethren Cemetery, near the place of his death. G. W. Rexrode served
Augusta Circuit, 1860-1866; Highland Circuit, 1868-69; Alleghany Circuit, 1875-76; Garrett Circuit, 1877-
1879; Minesville Circuit, 1884-1887; North Fork Circuit, 1887-1889; Mt. Bethel Circuit, 1890-1893; Madison
Circuit, 1893-94; and Franklin Circuit, 1896-97. His memoir is provided in Section II.A (below). The picture
is from [Glovier 1965, p. 70], taken in 1886. [Funkhouser 1921, pp. 143, 178-179; see also pp. 126, 178,
260-262, 264-269, 272-278, 280-282, 284-286, 288, 295; and 197, 289 (both “Rexroad”)] and [Glovier
1965, pp. 107, 148, 166 (all “Rexrode”)]
REXRODE (REXROAD): Lafayette Rexrode (Rexroad) [b. Apr. 1867; mar. Mattie B. Cithrill (d. 1902) and
Sue Cleaver (1864-1951)] served Hartmansville Circuit, 1893-94. The son of Archibald Rexroad, he was
licensed in Pa. Conf. in 1896 and served Manchester, 1896; Dover, 1896-97; and York Haven, 1897-99 (left
during the last year to attend seminary). He was student at Dayton, Ohio, 1899-1902 and graduated (as did
his wife, Mattie) from Union Biblical (Bonebrake Theological) Seminary, Class of 1901. He transferred to
Allegheny Conf. in 1902; Clearfield Station, 1902-03; McKeesport, 1903-05; West Decatur, 1905-06;
Johnstown Barron Avenue, 190-08; Fairmount, 1908-11; Punxsutawney, 1911-12 (resigned, Apr. 30, 1912);
and honorable dismissal, 1912. Note: Rev. Rexrode is reported to have lived in Kearneysville, W.Va., and
appears to have connections to Grant County, W.Va., where his brother Aldine Whetsel Rexrode farmed. A
relative, Sam H. Rexrode, living in Maysville was taken seriously ill in Feb. 1897. He was pastor of the U.B.
Church at Dunlo (Pa.) in Feb. 1908, when he performed the Reese-Price marriage. In July 1919 he was living
in Freeport, Pa. He performed the wedding of Hannah Loughman and Charles Canan in West Union (Pa.)
Presbyterian Manse in Aug. 1924 and officiated in West Union Presbyterian Church for the funeral service of
Clark Moninger in July 1928. Among his children, Donald L. was born in 1905, Charles in 1908, and Wilbur in
1910. His 30-year ministry included 18 years serving U.B. churches and 12 in the Presbyterian Church.
[Hiser 1932, p. 31] and [Lycoming 2013]
REXRODE: Roscoe Letcher Rexrode, son of James L. and Sarah Alice Rexrode, was born May 24, 1919, at
Canaan, W.Va. He was converted in 1936 at Buchanan, W.Va. His education consists of high school and
2 years at Wesleyan College, Buckhannon, W.Va.; and Seminary-Conference Courses of Study. He served
charges in the W.Va. Conference from 1957 to 1964. At the 1964 Virginia Annual Conference he was received
on transfer from the Michigan Conference of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ (Old Constitution),
and he was then assigned to the newly formed Mt. Jackson Charge, 1964-68. On Nov. 30, 1938, he married
Eva Orlease (Shirley) Gladwell. They were united in marriage by Rev. Ireland, the same minister who
performed the marriage ceremony for his parents. In the W.Va. Conf. Rev. Rexroad served the Gay Charge,
Alton-Frenchton, and Clarksburg Circuit from 1957 until 1964. At Mt. Jackson EUB Charge he served
Hawkinstown, Mt. Hermon, and Otterbein Chapel EUB Churches. He was pastor of the Mt. Horeb Church,
Hinton, Rockingham County, Va., for one year, 1969-70. Rev. Rexroad also preached at the Palmyra Church,
near Edinburg, Va., for 10 ½ years, until 1981. He and Mrs. Rexroad were living in Harrisonburg, Va., in
1985. [Burch 1985, pp. 32-33] In Sep. 1936 the Cumberland Evening Times reported that R. L. Rexrode had
gone with his family to Gladstone, Va., where he was to conduct a camp meeting. The Dixon Pentecostal
Research Center has the following in the Church of God Heritage Special Collections: “Testimony of R. L.
Rexrode, Evangelist,” by R L. Rexrode. [Glovier 1965, pp. 259, 296]
Biographical Sketches 116
