Page 132 - United Brethren Preachers
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Volume 9 Preachers of U.B. and EUB Virginia Conferences December 26, 2024
very evangelistic Reformed clergy, who were making their impact in this Pennsylvania-German region. It was in this
perplexed state of mind that Jacob frequently visited the home of Adam Riegel, a lay preacher in the church of the United
Brethren in Christ. Hours were spent in prayers and meditation. Though baptized, confirmed, and instructed in the
Lutheran faith, Albright described his spirituality as “a walk frivolously in the path of a carnal life with little thought about
the object of human life.” So in July 1791, at 33 years of age, Albright received what was described as a “genuine
conversion experience,” and it changed his life completely. He searched for a church which shared his recently acquired
religious viewpoint. This search led him to a Methodist class near his home. Isaac Davis was the class leader. The discipline
and practices of the Methodists were what Albright desired in his new found faith. Albright enjoyed his associations with the
Methodists, and, even though he was still learning English and it was not always easy for him to understand, he was
pleased with his Methodist relationship. He conducted devotions for classes at the Davis home. (In those days, religious
meetings were called classes and were held in private homes.) And he sought to attain a high degree of personal Christian
living. Through these experiences, he gained the courage to express himself privately and in public meetings. He
developed a very dynamic, persuasive preaching style and was able to present the Gospel message with great power and
tenderness. He moved people when he spoke. Realizing his need for Christian fellowship with those who shared his
convictions, he became more and more involved with the Methodist classes. Albright’s greatest concern was that his
newfound religious zeal and his experiences be transmitted to the Germans; the largest segment of the population in this
region of Pennsylvania. As “the spirit” called him to carry out this mission, he was eager to bring these truths and feelings
to the “Pennsylvania Dutch.” Albright’s zest for religion grew. With the gifted ability to teach the word of God, he became a
licensed exhorter, permitted to speak frequently at the Methodist meetings. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 143; see also pp. 124,
227, 229]; [Glovier 1965, pp. 56, 187]; and [Lycoming 2013]
RIGOR: G. W. Miles Rigor (b. Sep. 22, 1831, near Scottdale, Pa.; d. July 9, 1906; mar. Lillie
Jane McCreary), from East Pa. Conf., attended Va. Conf. in 1873. He received is quarterly
conference license in 1852 from Mount Pleasant, his conference license from Allegheny Conf. in
1854, and ordination there in 1860. Before coming to East Pa. Conf. in 1862, he had served
Altoona and Tyrone, Johnstown, Springfield, Liverpool, and Perrysville charges. He then served
Northumberland Mission, 1862-63; Columbia Salome, 1863-66; Lebanon Trinity, 1866-1870;
Harrisburg First, 1870-72; presiding elder, 1872-75 and 1876-79; Highspire Circuit, 1879-80;
presiding elder, 1880-81; Mount Joy, 1881-83; Baltimore Scott Street, 1883-84; Philadelphia
Jasper Street Mission, 1884-85; presiding elder, Lancaster District, 1885-88; Philadelphia First, 1888-89;
Camden (N.J.) Woodland Mission, 1889-90; Lebanon Trinity, 1895-96; Pottstown, 1896-98; Halifax Otter (first
part of year) and Paradise St. John’s (last part of year), 1898-99; Royalton Emmanuel, 1899-1901; Elverson,
1901-02; and Coatesville Mission (Grace), 1902-03, after which he retired. He is interred at Stoverville
Church, Dauphin County, Pa. The picture is from [Glovier 1965, p. 68], taken in 1873. From [Gibble 1951,
p. 457-458]:
Of the ministers who had extended service in the East Pa. Conference, the Rev. G. W. Miles Rigor was the first, after
Father Otterbein, to have the advantage of academic training. Even so, he did not complete his college course. For it was
while he was a student at Mt. Pleasant college, in Westmoreland County, Pa., that he was induced to take work in Allegheny
Conf. This educational advantage is registered at several points in his rather versatile career. His father and grandfather
were of the State of Virginia; the latter was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, a member of Light Horse Harry Lee’s
cavalry, and was with Washington at Valley Forge during that winter of great suffering. Miles, as he was familiarly known,
was born Sep. 22, 1831, near Scottdale, Pa., grew up inured to the work upon his father’s farm. In 1850 he was converted
and joined the U.B. Church. In 1852 he was licensed by the old Mt. Pleasant congregation of Abraham Troxel fame. He was
licensed by Allegheny Conf. in 1854 and in it served churches at Altoona, Tyrone, Johnstown, Springfield, Liverpool, and
Perrysville. By the earnest solicitation of Bishop Markwood he transferred to East Pennsylvania in 1862. The charges
served by him were: Northumberland Circuit, Columbia Church, Lebanon Trinity Church, Harrisburg First Church, Highspire
Circuit; Baltimore Scott Street, Philadelphia First Church, Camden, New Jersey, Pottstown Circuit, Halifax Circuit, Royalton,
Elverson Circuit, and Coatesville, the total being twenty-seven years. His terms as presiding elder were: 1872-75; 1876-
79; and 1885-88. The first year of the last term was but a partial year, he being appointed to complete the work of Ezekiel
Light, who resigned to take up the work of editing our German literature. He served 25 years as recording secretary of East
Pa. Conf., and rendered similar service in Allegheny Conference 3 years. He was joint editor with Ezekiel Light of the United
Brethren Tribune, and later was editor of the Weekly Itinerant. Three times he represented his conference as delegate to
General Conference. For 3 years he was Conference Evangelist. He was one of the principal promoters of Lebanon Valley
College, securing its first president, the Rev. Thomas R. Vickroy, was one of its first trustees, and served on its faculty, and
later was its financial agent. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 270] and [Lycoming 2013]
RILEY: Chaplain George Burton Riley, Jr. (b. Mar. 19, 1916; d. Dec. 14, 1990), a native
of Indiana, was born at Crawfordsville, Ind. He was converted at Nappanee, Ind., in 1928.
He was married to Sarah Montgomery on Aug. 11, 1941. He was educated at North
Webster High School, Indiana; Indiana Central College; North Western University at
Evanston, Ill.; and Garrett Biblical Institute at Evanston, Ill. He served several Methodist
churches in Indiana before coming to Va. Conf. In May of 1946 Rev. and Mrs. Riley were
appointed to Arlington Mission. At the Annual Conference of Sep. 17-19, 1946, Rev. Riley
was received into Va. Conf. by transfer. In Jan. 1951 he resigned to enter the Chaplaincy of
the United States Navy. He was accepted into the Chaplain’s Corps of the U.S. Navy in
1951, with the rank of Lt. (jg). On July 1, 2024 he was promoted to the rank of
Commander. While in the Navy he has served in the following billets: US Naval Hospital, Corpus Christi,
Biographical Sketches 120
very evangelistic Reformed clergy, who were making their impact in this Pennsylvania-German region. It was in this
perplexed state of mind that Jacob frequently visited the home of Adam Riegel, a lay preacher in the church of the United
Brethren in Christ. Hours were spent in prayers and meditation. Though baptized, confirmed, and instructed in the
Lutheran faith, Albright described his spirituality as “a walk frivolously in the path of a carnal life with little thought about
the object of human life.” So in July 1791, at 33 years of age, Albright received what was described as a “genuine
conversion experience,” and it changed his life completely. He searched for a church which shared his recently acquired
religious viewpoint. This search led him to a Methodist class near his home. Isaac Davis was the class leader. The discipline
and practices of the Methodists were what Albright desired in his new found faith. Albright enjoyed his associations with the
Methodists, and, even though he was still learning English and it was not always easy for him to understand, he was
pleased with his Methodist relationship. He conducted devotions for classes at the Davis home. (In those days, religious
meetings were called classes and were held in private homes.) And he sought to attain a high degree of personal Christian
living. Through these experiences, he gained the courage to express himself privately and in public meetings. He
developed a very dynamic, persuasive preaching style and was able to present the Gospel message with great power and
tenderness. He moved people when he spoke. Realizing his need for Christian fellowship with those who shared his
convictions, he became more and more involved with the Methodist classes. Albright’s greatest concern was that his
newfound religious zeal and his experiences be transmitted to the Germans; the largest segment of the population in this
region of Pennsylvania. As “the spirit” called him to carry out this mission, he was eager to bring these truths and feelings
to the “Pennsylvania Dutch.” Albright’s zest for religion grew. With the gifted ability to teach the word of God, he became a
licensed exhorter, permitted to speak frequently at the Methodist meetings. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 143; see also pp. 124,
227, 229]; [Glovier 1965, pp. 56, 187]; and [Lycoming 2013]
RIGOR: G. W. Miles Rigor (b. Sep. 22, 1831, near Scottdale, Pa.; d. July 9, 1906; mar. Lillie
Jane McCreary), from East Pa. Conf., attended Va. Conf. in 1873. He received is quarterly
conference license in 1852 from Mount Pleasant, his conference license from Allegheny Conf. in
1854, and ordination there in 1860. Before coming to East Pa. Conf. in 1862, he had served
Altoona and Tyrone, Johnstown, Springfield, Liverpool, and Perrysville charges. He then served
Northumberland Mission, 1862-63; Columbia Salome, 1863-66; Lebanon Trinity, 1866-1870;
Harrisburg First, 1870-72; presiding elder, 1872-75 and 1876-79; Highspire Circuit, 1879-80;
presiding elder, 1880-81; Mount Joy, 1881-83; Baltimore Scott Street, 1883-84; Philadelphia
Jasper Street Mission, 1884-85; presiding elder, Lancaster District, 1885-88; Philadelphia First, 1888-89;
Camden (N.J.) Woodland Mission, 1889-90; Lebanon Trinity, 1895-96; Pottstown, 1896-98; Halifax Otter (first
part of year) and Paradise St. John’s (last part of year), 1898-99; Royalton Emmanuel, 1899-1901; Elverson,
1901-02; and Coatesville Mission (Grace), 1902-03, after which he retired. He is interred at Stoverville
Church, Dauphin County, Pa. The picture is from [Glovier 1965, p. 68], taken in 1873. From [Gibble 1951,
p. 457-458]:
Of the ministers who had extended service in the East Pa. Conference, the Rev. G. W. Miles Rigor was the first, after
Father Otterbein, to have the advantage of academic training. Even so, he did not complete his college course. For it was
while he was a student at Mt. Pleasant college, in Westmoreland County, Pa., that he was induced to take work in Allegheny
Conf. This educational advantage is registered at several points in his rather versatile career. His father and grandfather
were of the State of Virginia; the latter was a soldier of the Revolutionary War, a member of Light Horse Harry Lee’s
cavalry, and was with Washington at Valley Forge during that winter of great suffering. Miles, as he was familiarly known,
was born Sep. 22, 1831, near Scottdale, Pa., grew up inured to the work upon his father’s farm. In 1850 he was converted
and joined the U.B. Church. In 1852 he was licensed by the old Mt. Pleasant congregation of Abraham Troxel fame. He was
licensed by Allegheny Conf. in 1854 and in it served churches at Altoona, Tyrone, Johnstown, Springfield, Liverpool, and
Perrysville. By the earnest solicitation of Bishop Markwood he transferred to East Pennsylvania in 1862. The charges
served by him were: Northumberland Circuit, Columbia Church, Lebanon Trinity Church, Harrisburg First Church, Highspire
Circuit; Baltimore Scott Street, Philadelphia First Church, Camden, New Jersey, Pottstown Circuit, Halifax Circuit, Royalton,
Elverson Circuit, and Coatesville, the total being twenty-seven years. His terms as presiding elder were: 1872-75; 1876-
79; and 1885-88. The first year of the last term was but a partial year, he being appointed to complete the work of Ezekiel
Light, who resigned to take up the work of editing our German literature. He served 25 years as recording secretary of East
Pa. Conf., and rendered similar service in Allegheny Conference 3 years. He was joint editor with Ezekiel Light of the United
Brethren Tribune, and later was editor of the Weekly Itinerant. Three times he represented his conference as delegate to
General Conference. For 3 years he was Conference Evangelist. He was one of the principal promoters of Lebanon Valley
College, securing its first president, the Rev. Thomas R. Vickroy, was one of its first trustees, and served on its faculty, and
later was its financial agent. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 270] and [Lycoming 2013]
RILEY: Chaplain George Burton Riley, Jr. (b. Mar. 19, 1916; d. Dec. 14, 1990), a native
of Indiana, was born at Crawfordsville, Ind. He was converted at Nappanee, Ind., in 1928.
He was married to Sarah Montgomery on Aug. 11, 1941. He was educated at North
Webster High School, Indiana; Indiana Central College; North Western University at
Evanston, Ill.; and Garrett Biblical Institute at Evanston, Ill. He served several Methodist
churches in Indiana before coming to Va. Conf. In May of 1946 Rev. and Mrs. Riley were
appointed to Arlington Mission. At the Annual Conference of Sep. 17-19, 1946, Rev. Riley
was received into Va. Conf. by transfer. In Jan. 1951 he resigned to enter the Chaplaincy of
the United States Navy. He was accepted into the Chaplain’s Corps of the U.S. Navy in
1951, with the rank of Lt. (jg). On July 1, 2024 he was promoted to the rank of
Commander. While in the Navy he has served in the following billets: US Naval Hospital, Corpus Christi,
Biographical Sketches 120
