Page 138 - United Brethren Preachers
P. 138
Volume 9 Preachers of U.B. and EUB Virginia Conferences December 26, 2024
Charge. “During the recent War, he was in radio wireless service at Richmond, Va.” At the Annual
Conference of 1923, he was assigned to St. Paul’s Church, Staunton, Va., where he served for 5 years. In
1929 he transferred his membership to the Presbyterian Church, attended a Presbyterian Seminary in
Richmond, Va., and has served pastorates in the Presbyterian Church. During his 5-year pastorate at St.
Paul’s Church, extensive expansion on church was accomplished; its splendid Otterbein Brotherhood room in
the basement became a reality; and very many of the present members were received into the church during
his pastorate. [40th Anniversary Celebration of St. Pauls, 1928] His obituary and a memoir by his daughter
(who provided the picture) are provided in Section II.A (below). [Funkhouser 1921, p. 182; see also pp. 129,
182, 308-309, 312] and [Glovier 1965, p. 281; see also pp. 91, 234]
RUSSEL (RUSSELL): Bishop John Russel; born at New Pipe Creek near Baltimore, Md.,
Mar. 18, 1799; was licensed and began to preach, 1818; served the Ohio Circuit, 1819-20;
was elected bishop two terms; lived at Keedysville, Md.; and died Dec. 21, 1870. He was the
13th U.B. bishop. He was licensed in 1818 and ordained in Miami Ohio Conf. in 1822. He was
a charter member of Scioto Conf. in 1825; Presiding Elder, Miami Conf., 1830; Presiding Elder,
Sandusky Conf., 1834; served Baltimore Station (Old Otterbein), 1838-41 as a member of Pa.
Conf., Presiding Elder, Chambersburg District, 1843-45; bishop, 1845-49; Presiding Elder,
Chambersburg District, 1849-50; Baltimore Station (Old Otterbein), 1851-54; Chambersburg
German Mission, 1855-56; bishop, 1857-61; and Annville, 1862-64. He died Dec. 21, 1870.
From [Holdcraft 1939, p. 321-322]:
He was delegate to eight general conferences. Bishop Russell [sic] married a Miss Harmon. A
daughter, Rachel, married Ephraim Geeting, a grandson of George Adam Geeting. Father Russell’s last
home was near Keedysville, Md., not far from Antietam Battlefield. It was a large dwelling, containing 14 rooms and was
used as a hospital during the Battle of Antietam, during which Bishop Russell helped care for the sick and wounded. Bishop
Russell also conducted a seminar for young preachers in this home, which still stands. In 1870 he gave a bell to the new
church being built in Keedysville, and the first death tolled by this bell was his own. His remains were at first buried at Mt.
Hebron Cemetery (Winchester) but were later reinterred at Keedysville Cemetery. For many years Bishop Russell was
opposed to the Church establishing colleges and the seminary, but he lived to modify his views. He left $5,000 to Va. Conf.
and $10,000 to Pa. Conf. for the establishment of what might be called itinerating theological chairs—the conferences were
to elect one of their number to instruct young preachers while serving in the pastorate. For many years Pa. Conf. elected,
each year, a “Professor for the Russell Biblical Chair.” The plan was found to be unworkable and the money put to other
uses. Rev. John Russell was largely instrumental in the founding of the U.B. Publishing House in 1834 and was one of the
first trustees. He loaned the establishment thousands of dollars at a low rate of interest, without security. In 1840, while
pastor in Baltimore, he started the publication of a German paper called “The Busy Martha.” He was also the compiler of a
German hymnal published in 1853. [Funkhouser 1921, pp. 125, 147, 232-233, 250, 252-253, 265]; [Glovier
1965, pp. 52, 87 (both “Russell”, 349 (“Russel”)]; and [Lycoming 2013]
RUTH: Richard B. Ruth served Manassas Circuit, 1967-68.
RYAN: Claude A. Ryan joined Conference and was licensed to preach in 1921. He served Fountain Circuit,
1920-22; and Riverton Circuit, 1922-23. In 1921 he was living in Keyser, W.Va.. Rev. Claude A. Ryan (B.
Nov. 17, 1890; d. Feb. 25, 1970) was the son of John Benjamin Ryan (1859-1939) and Rebecca Susan
(Mathias) Ryan (1861-1934) and is buried at Queens Meadow Point Cemetery in Keyser, W.Va. [Funkhouser
1921, p. 129, 309, 311-312; Glovier 1965, p. 91]
SALLAZ: Alexander P. Sallaz (1854-1936) was listed as a visiting minister in 1909. He served
Berkeley Springs Station, 1907-08; Churchville Circuit, 1908-09; and Elkton Circuit, 1909-10. He
died at his home at Freemasburg, Lewis County, W.Va.; burial was in Fairplain Cemetery, Ripley,
W.Va. He was born in Ripley, Jackson County, W.Va., on Mar. 22, 1854, to Ferdinand Sallaz (1814-
1865) and Sarah Virginia Reynolds (1826-1885), and he married Rebecca Jane Crawford (1861-
1953) on August 14, 1883. Their children were Odessa Maude, Corley Philip, Carlton Glossbrenner, Mabel,
Raymond Roscoe, and Weaver Kelso. He professed faith in Christ at Grassy Lick U.B. Church of Jackson
County and united with it at age 16. He joined W.Va. Conf. in 1883 and was ordained in 1886 by Bishop John
Disckson at Pennsboro. The annual report of the Superintendent of Jackson County Schools listed A. P. Sallaz
as a certified school teacher (Level 2) for 1879-1881. He is listed as an early preacher for the U.B. Church in
Buckhannon, established 1871, following W. M. Weekley (who became a bishop). In 1904 he reported in The
Religious Telescope (Feb. 10, 1904, p. 187) the death of May Christena Johnson, a long-time member of the
U.B. Church at Chase, Ind. He was appointed to the Mannington Charge, 1914-15, and was the pastor of
Long Run U.B. Church [http://www.wvhcgs.com/UBChurch.htm]. Rev. Sallaz died August 6, 1936, age 82
years, 4 months, and 14 days. He gave 39 years of active service, 37 as a pastor and 2 as Presiding Elder of
Parkersburg District. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 302] and [W.Va. Conf. Minutes 1936]
SALT: Michael A. Salt was born in Polruan [Powroun], England, in 1841. “While yet a boy, he became a
sailor and during his nine years on the sea had many thrilling experiences. He was converted at 18 and
united with the Wesleyans. He had an impression that he should preach, and once dreamed that he was
preaching in a strange land. The dream was fulfilled 21 years later at a camp meeting in Augusta County,
Va.. In 1871 he had come to America and in 1880 was licensed and joined Va. Conf.,” becoming ordained
Biographical Sketches 126
Charge. “During the recent War, he was in radio wireless service at Richmond, Va.” At the Annual
Conference of 1923, he was assigned to St. Paul’s Church, Staunton, Va., where he served for 5 years. In
1929 he transferred his membership to the Presbyterian Church, attended a Presbyterian Seminary in
Richmond, Va., and has served pastorates in the Presbyterian Church. During his 5-year pastorate at St.
Paul’s Church, extensive expansion on church was accomplished; its splendid Otterbein Brotherhood room in
the basement became a reality; and very many of the present members were received into the church during
his pastorate. [40th Anniversary Celebration of St. Pauls, 1928] His obituary and a memoir by his daughter
(who provided the picture) are provided in Section II.A (below). [Funkhouser 1921, p. 182; see also pp. 129,
182, 308-309, 312] and [Glovier 1965, p. 281; see also pp. 91, 234]
RUSSEL (RUSSELL): Bishop John Russel; born at New Pipe Creek near Baltimore, Md.,
Mar. 18, 1799; was licensed and began to preach, 1818; served the Ohio Circuit, 1819-20;
was elected bishop two terms; lived at Keedysville, Md.; and died Dec. 21, 1870. He was the
13th U.B. bishop. He was licensed in 1818 and ordained in Miami Ohio Conf. in 1822. He was
a charter member of Scioto Conf. in 1825; Presiding Elder, Miami Conf., 1830; Presiding Elder,
Sandusky Conf., 1834; served Baltimore Station (Old Otterbein), 1838-41 as a member of Pa.
Conf., Presiding Elder, Chambersburg District, 1843-45; bishop, 1845-49; Presiding Elder,
Chambersburg District, 1849-50; Baltimore Station (Old Otterbein), 1851-54; Chambersburg
German Mission, 1855-56; bishop, 1857-61; and Annville, 1862-64. He died Dec. 21, 1870.
From [Holdcraft 1939, p. 321-322]:
He was delegate to eight general conferences. Bishop Russell [sic] married a Miss Harmon. A
daughter, Rachel, married Ephraim Geeting, a grandson of George Adam Geeting. Father Russell’s last
home was near Keedysville, Md., not far from Antietam Battlefield. It was a large dwelling, containing 14 rooms and was
used as a hospital during the Battle of Antietam, during which Bishop Russell helped care for the sick and wounded. Bishop
Russell also conducted a seminar for young preachers in this home, which still stands. In 1870 he gave a bell to the new
church being built in Keedysville, and the first death tolled by this bell was his own. His remains were at first buried at Mt.
Hebron Cemetery (Winchester) but were later reinterred at Keedysville Cemetery. For many years Bishop Russell was
opposed to the Church establishing colleges and the seminary, but he lived to modify his views. He left $5,000 to Va. Conf.
and $10,000 to Pa. Conf. for the establishment of what might be called itinerating theological chairs—the conferences were
to elect one of their number to instruct young preachers while serving in the pastorate. For many years Pa. Conf. elected,
each year, a “Professor for the Russell Biblical Chair.” The plan was found to be unworkable and the money put to other
uses. Rev. John Russell was largely instrumental in the founding of the U.B. Publishing House in 1834 and was one of the
first trustees. He loaned the establishment thousands of dollars at a low rate of interest, without security. In 1840, while
pastor in Baltimore, he started the publication of a German paper called “The Busy Martha.” He was also the compiler of a
German hymnal published in 1853. [Funkhouser 1921, pp. 125, 147, 232-233, 250, 252-253, 265]; [Glovier
1965, pp. 52, 87 (both “Russell”, 349 (“Russel”)]; and [Lycoming 2013]
RUTH: Richard B. Ruth served Manassas Circuit, 1967-68.
RYAN: Claude A. Ryan joined Conference and was licensed to preach in 1921. He served Fountain Circuit,
1920-22; and Riverton Circuit, 1922-23. In 1921 he was living in Keyser, W.Va.. Rev. Claude A. Ryan (B.
Nov. 17, 1890; d. Feb. 25, 1970) was the son of John Benjamin Ryan (1859-1939) and Rebecca Susan
(Mathias) Ryan (1861-1934) and is buried at Queens Meadow Point Cemetery in Keyser, W.Va. [Funkhouser
1921, p. 129, 309, 311-312; Glovier 1965, p. 91]
SALLAZ: Alexander P. Sallaz (1854-1936) was listed as a visiting minister in 1909. He served
Berkeley Springs Station, 1907-08; Churchville Circuit, 1908-09; and Elkton Circuit, 1909-10. He
died at his home at Freemasburg, Lewis County, W.Va.; burial was in Fairplain Cemetery, Ripley,
W.Va. He was born in Ripley, Jackson County, W.Va., on Mar. 22, 1854, to Ferdinand Sallaz (1814-
1865) and Sarah Virginia Reynolds (1826-1885), and he married Rebecca Jane Crawford (1861-
1953) on August 14, 1883. Their children were Odessa Maude, Corley Philip, Carlton Glossbrenner, Mabel,
Raymond Roscoe, and Weaver Kelso. He professed faith in Christ at Grassy Lick U.B. Church of Jackson
County and united with it at age 16. He joined W.Va. Conf. in 1883 and was ordained in 1886 by Bishop John
Disckson at Pennsboro. The annual report of the Superintendent of Jackson County Schools listed A. P. Sallaz
as a certified school teacher (Level 2) for 1879-1881. He is listed as an early preacher for the U.B. Church in
Buckhannon, established 1871, following W. M. Weekley (who became a bishop). In 1904 he reported in The
Religious Telescope (Feb. 10, 1904, p. 187) the death of May Christena Johnson, a long-time member of the
U.B. Church at Chase, Ind. He was appointed to the Mannington Charge, 1914-15, and was the pastor of
Long Run U.B. Church [http://www.wvhcgs.com/UBChurch.htm]. Rev. Sallaz died August 6, 1936, age 82
years, 4 months, and 14 days. He gave 39 years of active service, 37 as a pastor and 2 as Presiding Elder of
Parkersburg District. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 302] and [W.Va. Conf. Minutes 1936]
SALT: Michael A. Salt was born in Polruan [Powroun], England, in 1841. “While yet a boy, he became a
sailor and during his nine years on the sea had many thrilling experiences. He was converted at 18 and
united with the Wesleyans. He had an impression that he should preach, and once dreamed that he was
preaching in a strange land. The dream was fulfilled 21 years later at a camp meeting in Augusta County,
Va.. In 1871 he had come to America and in 1880 was licensed and joined Va. Conf.,” becoming ordained
Biographical Sketches 126
