Page 142 - United Brethren Preachers
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Volume 9 Preachers of U.B. and EUB Virginia Conferences December 26, 2024
Bethel, Md. His relation to the Conference was that of a local (not itinerant) minister. However, he did serve
Petersburg Circuit, 1885-86, and North Fork Mission, 1886-87. While Rev. Scott was classified as a local
preacher, because others could not afford to work there, he preached in Hardy County, built a church at Mt.
Olivet, and preached there regularly for many years. He also served Pendleton Circuit and other
appointments near his home. He was quiet and reserved in manner, unassuming and humble before God. He
was a splendid type of what a local preacher should be. Possessing good judgment and strong convictions,
Mr. Scott was an invaluable counselor to the young minister. In his hospitable home, the pastor always
received a royal welcome. One of his daughters is the wife of the Rev. A. J. Secrist. His wife, Elizabeth, was
daughter of the Rev. Adam I. Bovey. He came to his grave ripe in years, “like as a shock of corn cometh in
his season.” He died of pneumonia after one week’s illness at his home near Seymoursville, Grant County,
W.Va., May 2, 1901, aged 79 years, 4 months and 29 days. He was buried, following appropriate funeral
services, in the cemetery at Mt. Carmel U.B. Church, near Seymoursville, W.Va. In 1879 he reported as a
local preacher that he had superintended a Sabbath school and preached when an opportunity was presented;
no appointment. His memoir is provided in Section II.A (below). The pictures are from [Glovier 1965, pp. 68,
70]; the one on the left was dated 1873, the other 1886. [Funkhouser 1921, pp. 144, 182-183; see also
pp. 127, 198, 265-270, 274-275, 280-281, 283-288] and [Glovier 1965, pp. 89, 94, 109, 127, 217] Newton
Scott, son of Snowden Scott, received training at Otterbein University and in 1894 received the Bachelor's
degree from that institution. He suffered much from physical infirmities for a number of years, but is reported
as better. His 1932 residence was in Rochelle, Ill.
SECRIST: Arthur Jacob Secrist (1872-1945) was for 32
years Conference Treasurer of the Virginia U.B. Conference. He
served Martinsburg First in 1921-29. Son of Thomas J. and
Frances V. (Hawk) Secrist, Arthur Jacob was born Feb. 13, 1872
in Grant County, W.Va. His education has been that of the free
schools and the Shenandoah Collegiate Institute (1898-1900).
He was converted in 1891, licensed in 1893, and ordained in
1896. Mr. Secrist served Lost River, 1893-94; Shenandoah
City-Elkton, 1895-96; Churchville, 1896-98; Cross Keys (Pleasant Valley), 1898-99; New Creek, 1900-03;
Inwood, 1903-08; Cumberland, 1908-12; Dayton, 1912-25; Churchville, 1916-21; Martinsburg First, 1921-
29; and Toms Brook, 1929-30. He built churches at Cumberland and Pleasant Grove, and a parsonage at
Cumberland. Previous to entering the ministry, he taught 5 years in Grant County. He was married in 1895
to Leona Catherine Scott whose father Snowden Scott was a pioneer preacher of the Conference, and they
had two living children. His daughter, Elena (Mrs. George P. Elliott, a graduate of Shenandoah College),
observed her 87th birthday in 1982 in Martinsburg. Rev. Secrist built several churches and parsonages. He
died Nov. 30, 1945, in Martinsburg, W.Va., and was buried at Rosedale Cemetery there. His memoir, as well
as Leona’s, is provided in Section II.A (below). The picture on the left is from [Glovier 1965, p. 77], taken
Sep. 1919. [Funkhouser 1921, pp. 144, 183; see also pp. 128, 183, 195, 199, 293, 295, 308] and [Glovier
1965, pp. 79-80, 90, 96, 127, 209, 231]
SECRIST: Charles R. Secrist served Sleepy Creek Circuit, 1928-29 and 1938-39. Charles R. Sechrist
(b. May 12, 1900, Windsor, Pa.; d. Aug. 17, 1983, Dallastown, Pa.; mar. Cordie Irene Gibson) received his
quarterly conference license in 1927, conference license (recommended by Windsor Grace) in 1928, and was
ordained in 1936—he served Mount Olivet, 1928-29; Big Pool-Middleburg, 1929-33; Rohrersville, 1933-43;
Red Lion Circuit, 1943-52; Baltimore Christ, 1952-57; and retired in 1967. [Lycoming 2013] The picture is
from [Holdcraft 1938, p. 345].
SELLERS: A. S. Sellers was born in Rockingham County in 1808. He was converted at a camp meeting in
Harrison County, Indiana, in 1830 and on that very spot preached his first sermon. In 1836 he joined Wabash
Conference. Three years later he moved into Iowa, and in that state he “perhaps endured more hardships
and made greater sacrifices to build up the Church” than any other missionary. When a presiding elder in
1850, he traveled 900 miles to make one round on his circuit, encountering frequent peril from storm and
flood. Up to 1857 he had received only $526.37. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 154]
SENGER: Franklin G. Senger, Jr., of the Mt. Horeb U.B. Church in Rockingham County, Va., F. G. Senger
was granted Quarterly Conference License to preach in 1929 and assigned to the Lacey Springs Charge (1929-
1932). He joined the Virginia Annual Conference in 1930. In Jan. 1932 he was pastor of Mountain Valley U.B.
Church, when he officiated the funeral of William Koontz. He served the Winchester Circuit from 1932 to
1934. He attended Bonebrake Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio, graduating from there in the spring of
1938. He then served the following charges: Berkeley Springs Station (1939-1942); Augusta Circuit (1942-
44); Verona Circuit (1944-45); Winchester Station (1945-47); and Westernport Circuit, Md. (1947-1948). In
1948, obtained dismissal from the Conference in order to become a Presbyterian pastor. Records show that F.
G. Senger was a teacher at Lacey Spring [sic] School 1924-25. He has been a member of the Washington,
D.C., Mayor’s Interfaith Council. On May 2, 2013, the National Day of Prayer, Rev. Frank Senger, a resident
Biographical Sketches 130
Bethel, Md. His relation to the Conference was that of a local (not itinerant) minister. However, he did serve
Petersburg Circuit, 1885-86, and North Fork Mission, 1886-87. While Rev. Scott was classified as a local
preacher, because others could not afford to work there, he preached in Hardy County, built a church at Mt.
Olivet, and preached there regularly for many years. He also served Pendleton Circuit and other
appointments near his home. He was quiet and reserved in manner, unassuming and humble before God. He
was a splendid type of what a local preacher should be. Possessing good judgment and strong convictions,
Mr. Scott was an invaluable counselor to the young minister. In his hospitable home, the pastor always
received a royal welcome. One of his daughters is the wife of the Rev. A. J. Secrist. His wife, Elizabeth, was
daughter of the Rev. Adam I. Bovey. He came to his grave ripe in years, “like as a shock of corn cometh in
his season.” He died of pneumonia after one week’s illness at his home near Seymoursville, Grant County,
W.Va., May 2, 1901, aged 79 years, 4 months and 29 days. He was buried, following appropriate funeral
services, in the cemetery at Mt. Carmel U.B. Church, near Seymoursville, W.Va. In 1879 he reported as a
local preacher that he had superintended a Sabbath school and preached when an opportunity was presented;
no appointment. His memoir is provided in Section II.A (below). The pictures are from [Glovier 1965, pp. 68,
70]; the one on the left was dated 1873, the other 1886. [Funkhouser 1921, pp. 144, 182-183; see also
pp. 127, 198, 265-270, 274-275, 280-281, 283-288] and [Glovier 1965, pp. 89, 94, 109, 127, 217] Newton
Scott, son of Snowden Scott, received training at Otterbein University and in 1894 received the Bachelor's
degree from that institution. He suffered much from physical infirmities for a number of years, but is reported
as better. His 1932 residence was in Rochelle, Ill.
SECRIST: Arthur Jacob Secrist (1872-1945) was for 32
years Conference Treasurer of the Virginia U.B. Conference. He
served Martinsburg First in 1921-29. Son of Thomas J. and
Frances V. (Hawk) Secrist, Arthur Jacob was born Feb. 13, 1872
in Grant County, W.Va. His education has been that of the free
schools and the Shenandoah Collegiate Institute (1898-1900).
He was converted in 1891, licensed in 1893, and ordained in
1896. Mr. Secrist served Lost River, 1893-94; Shenandoah
City-Elkton, 1895-96; Churchville, 1896-98; Cross Keys (Pleasant Valley), 1898-99; New Creek, 1900-03;
Inwood, 1903-08; Cumberland, 1908-12; Dayton, 1912-25; Churchville, 1916-21; Martinsburg First, 1921-
29; and Toms Brook, 1929-30. He built churches at Cumberland and Pleasant Grove, and a parsonage at
Cumberland. Previous to entering the ministry, he taught 5 years in Grant County. He was married in 1895
to Leona Catherine Scott whose father Snowden Scott was a pioneer preacher of the Conference, and they
had two living children. His daughter, Elena (Mrs. George P. Elliott, a graduate of Shenandoah College),
observed her 87th birthday in 1982 in Martinsburg. Rev. Secrist built several churches and parsonages. He
died Nov. 30, 1945, in Martinsburg, W.Va., and was buried at Rosedale Cemetery there. His memoir, as well
as Leona’s, is provided in Section II.A (below). The picture on the left is from [Glovier 1965, p. 77], taken
Sep. 1919. [Funkhouser 1921, pp. 144, 183; see also pp. 128, 183, 195, 199, 293, 295, 308] and [Glovier
1965, pp. 79-80, 90, 96, 127, 209, 231]
SECRIST: Charles R. Secrist served Sleepy Creek Circuit, 1928-29 and 1938-39. Charles R. Sechrist
(b. May 12, 1900, Windsor, Pa.; d. Aug. 17, 1983, Dallastown, Pa.; mar. Cordie Irene Gibson) received his
quarterly conference license in 1927, conference license (recommended by Windsor Grace) in 1928, and was
ordained in 1936—he served Mount Olivet, 1928-29; Big Pool-Middleburg, 1929-33; Rohrersville, 1933-43;
Red Lion Circuit, 1943-52; Baltimore Christ, 1952-57; and retired in 1967. [Lycoming 2013] The picture is
from [Holdcraft 1938, p. 345].
SELLERS: A. S. Sellers was born in Rockingham County in 1808. He was converted at a camp meeting in
Harrison County, Indiana, in 1830 and on that very spot preached his first sermon. In 1836 he joined Wabash
Conference. Three years later he moved into Iowa, and in that state he “perhaps endured more hardships
and made greater sacrifices to build up the Church” than any other missionary. When a presiding elder in
1850, he traveled 900 miles to make one round on his circuit, encountering frequent peril from storm and
flood. Up to 1857 he had received only $526.37. [Funkhouser 1921, p. 154]
SENGER: Franklin G. Senger, Jr., of the Mt. Horeb U.B. Church in Rockingham County, Va., F. G. Senger
was granted Quarterly Conference License to preach in 1929 and assigned to the Lacey Springs Charge (1929-
1932). He joined the Virginia Annual Conference in 1930. In Jan. 1932 he was pastor of Mountain Valley U.B.
Church, when he officiated the funeral of William Koontz. He served the Winchester Circuit from 1932 to
1934. He attended Bonebrake Theological Seminary, Dayton, Ohio, graduating from there in the spring of
1938. He then served the following charges: Berkeley Springs Station (1939-1942); Augusta Circuit (1942-
44); Verona Circuit (1944-45); Winchester Station (1945-47); and Westernport Circuit, Md. (1947-1948). In
1948, obtained dismissal from the Conference in order to become a Presbyterian pastor. Records show that F.
G. Senger was a teacher at Lacey Spring [sic] School 1924-25. He has been a member of the Washington,
D.C., Mayor’s Interfaith Council. On May 2, 2013, the National Day of Prayer, Rev. Frank Senger, a resident
Biographical Sketches 130
