Page 134 - United Brethren Preachers
P. 134
Volume 9 Preachers of U.B. and EUB Virginia Conferences December 26, 2024
RITTER: T. Dewey Ritter served Franklin Circuit, 1918-20. He resigned Va. Conf. in 1921, eventually
(1925) transferring to Pa. Conf., and serving Bendersville, 1920-22; Biglersville, 1922-23; Taneytown, 1923-
25; Spring Run, 1925-27; Sherman’s Dale Circuit, 1927-3181; Rohrersville (Va. Conf.), 1931-33; local
relationship, living in Paramount Md., and withdrew, 1934. See 1931 Pa. Conf. Journal for a picture.
[Lycoming 2013]
ROBINSON: Charles Boyd Robinson, Probationer, lives at the following address in 1965: Rt. 1, Box 8,
Green’s Fork, Indiana. He attended Shenandoah College (Class of 1958). He served as supply 2 months at
the end of the 1956-57 for Cedar Grove-Keezletown Charge, while a student at Shenandoah College, and
Pleasant Valley Circuit, 1958-59. In 1987 he was the minister of El Dorado Springs UMC in El Dorado Springs,
Mo. In 2002 he was living with his wife Bernice in Galax, Va. [Glovier 1965, pp. 259, 297]
ROCK: R. Rock was listed as a visiting minister at the Conferences of 1913 and 1914 and
given an advisory seat. He joined Va. Conf. in 1914 and served Harrisonburg Station 1913-1915.
Note: The U.B. Church celebrated the Jan. 16, 1851, birth of Rev. R. R. Rock [1908 U.B Yearbook,
p. 5]. The picture on the right is for Dr. Randolph R. Rock, taken from [Kline 1981, p. 11].
[Funkhouser 1921, pp. 128, 304-305] and [Glovier 1965, p. 91]
RODERICK: Arnold Roderick was licensed to preach at the 1921 Va. Conf.; nothing else is known.
[Funkhouser 1921, p. 309]
RODERICK [RODRICK, RODRUCK]: Jacob M. Roderick (RODRUCK on gravestone; 1817-
1887) was born on a farm near Burlington, Mineral Co., W.Va., a grandson of Lewis Roderick
(see below). When 18 years old he began teaching in the winter season, still working on the
farm in the summer. He was joined the U.B. Church in 1842. He was converted in 1843, under
the preaching of John Ruebush, and received his first license to preach in 1853. He became a
member of Va. Conf. in 1857; ordained 1861. Alleghany mission had just been formed to favor
some 30 or more members who had moved into Garrett County, Md., mostly from Somerset
County, Pa., and Benjamin Stickley had been given $50 in missionary money and sent to travel
it 6 months. Jacob Roderick then took charge, finding 15 appointments and 210 miles to travel each month.
He added two appointments. His salary was $52 for the first six months, $500 for the fourth year, by which
time there were 400 members. He then served Alleghany, Bath, New Creek, and Bloomery circuits. Though
not a born orator, he was a revivalist of some note, and several of his converts became ministers. It was a
maxim with him that “the fear of hell never helped anyone very far on the road to the Kingdom.” He had a
fine education and was an authority on ancient and biblical history. When asked by Bishop Hott to be
examined at Union Biblical Institute for the degree of Doctor of Divinity, he replied that he could do more for
the Master as Uncle Jake than as Dr. Roderick. In 1861 he was secretary of a mass meeting that was
instrumental in placing the boundary of West Virginia east of the Alleghenies. This action cost the chairman
and one other member their lives, but Mr. Roderick was never molested.” As a preacher he was a clear,
vigorous, and tender exponent of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His labors were abundant, and no sacrifice was
too great, or labor too onerous, that he might lead souls to Christ. His natural endowments were of the best.
He had a quick, discerning and well balanced mind. His educational advantages were meager; but, by faithful
application and persistent endeavor, he made himself a good theologian, and was well versed in Christian
literature as well as the doctrines and principles of the Church. George Burgess was converted under his
preaching. He died at Burlington, W.Va., Nov. 29, 1887, at the age of 70 years, 3 months and 29 days.82 He
was buried at Burlington. Rev. Roderick served Alleghany, 1861-66; South Branch, 1867-69; Alleghany,
1869-71; South Branch, 1871-72; Bath, 1872-75; New Creek, 1875-77; Alleghany, 1877-79; South Branch,
1879-81; Bloomery, 1881-82; New Creek, 1882-1884; South Branch, 1884-86; and Bloomery, 1887-88. His
memoir is provided in Section II.A (below). The picture is from [Glovier 1965, p. 68], taken in 1873. [Weekly
1918. p. 84] cites “I Am Going,” by J. M. Rodruck of Va. Conference, as recommended reading. [Funkhouser
1921, p. 126, 143 (“Rodrick”); 263-269, 273-274, 277, 280, 282, 289 (all “Rodruck”); and 158, 178-179,
260-262, 270-274, 276-279, 281, 283-286, 288-289, (all “Roderick”)]; [Glovier 1965, pp. 89 (“Rodrick”), 93
and 104 (both “Rodruck”)]; and [Herbaugh 2013c (“Rodruck”)] Note: James A Chaney is a great-grandson of
Benjamin Thomas Rodruck (1846-1897), a son of Jacob M. Benjamin Lewis Rodruck (1818-1896) was a
brother to Jacob M.
81 http://www.gbgm-umc.org/sd_umc/former_pastors.pdf. “Our first furnace was installed in the fall of 1927 (wood and
coal) while T. Dewey Ritter was pastor. Also in 1927, the beautiful painting in the Recess was given by the Young
People’s Bible Class at the cost of $60” (http://www.gbgm-umc.org/sd_umc/early_history.html).
82 There is Jacob Roderick [Rodruck] born July 22, 1817, to Peter Roderick and Catherine Miller. His parents were
married September 20, 1816, and were farmers in Hampshire County (now Mineral Co., W.Va.). This Jacob Roderick
died November 21, 1887. [http://boards.ancestrylibrary.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m;=67&p;=surnames.iman]
Biographical Sketches 122
RITTER: T. Dewey Ritter served Franklin Circuit, 1918-20. He resigned Va. Conf. in 1921, eventually
(1925) transferring to Pa. Conf., and serving Bendersville, 1920-22; Biglersville, 1922-23; Taneytown, 1923-
25; Spring Run, 1925-27; Sherman’s Dale Circuit, 1927-3181; Rohrersville (Va. Conf.), 1931-33; local
relationship, living in Paramount Md., and withdrew, 1934. See 1931 Pa. Conf. Journal for a picture.
[Lycoming 2013]
ROBINSON: Charles Boyd Robinson, Probationer, lives at the following address in 1965: Rt. 1, Box 8,
Green’s Fork, Indiana. He attended Shenandoah College (Class of 1958). He served as supply 2 months at
the end of the 1956-57 for Cedar Grove-Keezletown Charge, while a student at Shenandoah College, and
Pleasant Valley Circuit, 1958-59. In 1987 he was the minister of El Dorado Springs UMC in El Dorado Springs,
Mo. In 2002 he was living with his wife Bernice in Galax, Va. [Glovier 1965, pp. 259, 297]
ROCK: R. Rock was listed as a visiting minister at the Conferences of 1913 and 1914 and
given an advisory seat. He joined Va. Conf. in 1914 and served Harrisonburg Station 1913-1915.
Note: The U.B. Church celebrated the Jan. 16, 1851, birth of Rev. R. R. Rock [1908 U.B Yearbook,
p. 5]. The picture on the right is for Dr. Randolph R. Rock, taken from [Kline 1981, p. 11].
[Funkhouser 1921, pp. 128, 304-305] and [Glovier 1965, p. 91]
RODERICK: Arnold Roderick was licensed to preach at the 1921 Va. Conf.; nothing else is known.
[Funkhouser 1921, p. 309]
RODERICK [RODRICK, RODRUCK]: Jacob M. Roderick (RODRUCK on gravestone; 1817-
1887) was born on a farm near Burlington, Mineral Co., W.Va., a grandson of Lewis Roderick
(see below). When 18 years old he began teaching in the winter season, still working on the
farm in the summer. He was joined the U.B. Church in 1842. He was converted in 1843, under
the preaching of John Ruebush, and received his first license to preach in 1853. He became a
member of Va. Conf. in 1857; ordained 1861. Alleghany mission had just been formed to favor
some 30 or more members who had moved into Garrett County, Md., mostly from Somerset
County, Pa., and Benjamin Stickley had been given $50 in missionary money and sent to travel
it 6 months. Jacob Roderick then took charge, finding 15 appointments and 210 miles to travel each month.
He added two appointments. His salary was $52 for the first six months, $500 for the fourth year, by which
time there were 400 members. He then served Alleghany, Bath, New Creek, and Bloomery circuits. Though
not a born orator, he was a revivalist of some note, and several of his converts became ministers. It was a
maxim with him that “the fear of hell never helped anyone very far on the road to the Kingdom.” He had a
fine education and was an authority on ancient and biblical history. When asked by Bishop Hott to be
examined at Union Biblical Institute for the degree of Doctor of Divinity, he replied that he could do more for
the Master as Uncle Jake than as Dr. Roderick. In 1861 he was secretary of a mass meeting that was
instrumental in placing the boundary of West Virginia east of the Alleghenies. This action cost the chairman
and one other member their lives, but Mr. Roderick was never molested.” As a preacher he was a clear,
vigorous, and tender exponent of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. His labors were abundant, and no sacrifice was
too great, or labor too onerous, that he might lead souls to Christ. His natural endowments were of the best.
He had a quick, discerning and well balanced mind. His educational advantages were meager; but, by faithful
application and persistent endeavor, he made himself a good theologian, and was well versed in Christian
literature as well as the doctrines and principles of the Church. George Burgess was converted under his
preaching. He died at Burlington, W.Va., Nov. 29, 1887, at the age of 70 years, 3 months and 29 days.82 He
was buried at Burlington. Rev. Roderick served Alleghany, 1861-66; South Branch, 1867-69; Alleghany,
1869-71; South Branch, 1871-72; Bath, 1872-75; New Creek, 1875-77; Alleghany, 1877-79; South Branch,
1879-81; Bloomery, 1881-82; New Creek, 1882-1884; South Branch, 1884-86; and Bloomery, 1887-88. His
memoir is provided in Section II.A (below). The picture is from [Glovier 1965, p. 68], taken in 1873. [Weekly
1918. p. 84] cites “I Am Going,” by J. M. Rodruck of Va. Conference, as recommended reading. [Funkhouser
1921, p. 126, 143 (“Rodrick”); 263-269, 273-274, 277, 280, 282, 289 (all “Rodruck”); and 158, 178-179,
260-262, 270-274, 276-279, 281, 283-286, 288-289, (all “Roderick”)]; [Glovier 1965, pp. 89 (“Rodrick”), 93
and 104 (both “Rodruck”)]; and [Herbaugh 2013c (“Rodruck”)] Note: James A Chaney is a great-grandson of
Benjamin Thomas Rodruck (1846-1897), a son of Jacob M. Benjamin Lewis Rodruck (1818-1896) was a
brother to Jacob M.
81 http://www.gbgm-umc.org/sd_umc/former_pastors.pdf. “Our first furnace was installed in the fall of 1927 (wood and
coal) while T. Dewey Ritter was pastor. Also in 1927, the beautiful painting in the Recess was given by the Young
People’s Bible Class at the cost of $60” (http://www.gbgm-umc.org/sd_umc/early_history.html).
82 There is Jacob Roderick [Rodruck] born July 22, 1817, to Peter Roderick and Catherine Miller. His parents were
married September 20, 1816, and were farmers in Hampshire County (now Mineral Co., W.Va.). This Jacob Roderick
died November 21, 1887. [http://boards.ancestrylibrary.com/thread.aspx?mv=flat&m;=67&p;=surnames.iman]
Biographical Sketches 122
