Adam Wise was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, February 10, 1809, being
the oldest of a family of eighteen children. His father was twice married. His
grandparents came from Schwarzenau, Germany. His parents were followers of the
Word, training their children in the duties of the Christian religion. Three of
their sons, Adam, David and John, became ministers of the Gospel. On his
mother's side his grandparents also were members of the Church of the Brethren.
On December 19, 1830, he was united in marriage to Synth Hupp. To them were born
nine children—four sons and five daughters. Five of their children died in
childhood of that dread disease, scarlet fever, four of them dying in one week.
Henry, Frederick, Esther and Raihel grew to manhood and womanhood, and all were
members of the Brethren Church. Henry is a minister and Frederick was a deacon.
He died August 30, 1912, aged 70 years.
On March 30, 1841, in the Ten Mile congregation, he and his wife united with the
church. April 13, 1848, his wife died, and September 6, 1849, he was married to
Elizabeth Bennington. To this union one daughter, Hannah, was born. She is
living and is a member of the church. His second wife died in 1883. In 1887 he
married Sarah Chambers, widow of Solomon Chambers.
His busy life as a church worker dates from 1850, when with his family he
emigrated to Greene County, Pennsylvania, and located in the kyerson Station
congregation, where the following year he was called to the ministry, in which
office he faithfully labored more than forty-five years, till death.
Before he had fully recovered from an attack of French measles, in his early
manhood, he was caught in a rainstorm, causing a relapse which left him with a
severe cough that clung to him through life. This, however, did not lessen his
zeal and efforts in the Master's work. His ministerial work required him to make
many regular trips over the broken country of Western Pennsylvania and the hills
of West Virginia. He was in reality a home missionary.
His heart was in the work and no weather seemed too cold and stormy to keep him
from his appointments. Knob Fork, Wetzel County, and Chambers' schoolhouse, on
Bowman Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia, were each twelve miles distant
from his home, yet he visited them once a month, preaching from two to three
sermons each visit. When we consider that these trips were made "among the West
Virginia Hills," on horseback, we can, perhaps, realize the exposure endured and
the endurance required to keep up these appointments during the winter season,
as the following incident shows:
"One stormy day he was making his journey to his Bowman Ridge appointment. When
about three miles from his appointment, Harmon Greathousc asked him to come into
his house and get warm. He replied that he was not cold, but felt warm. Mr.
Greathouse insisted so strongly that he yielded. Alighting from his horse he
found that he could not walk without assistance. He afterward said that had he
continued his journey without warming he would have perished. It was the
overcoming effect of the cold that made him think he was warm.
After thoroughly warming himself at an old-time wood-fire he resumed his journey
and filled his appointment. The audience was a small one, as the people felt it
was too stormy to be out. Few ministers in our day have endured more hardships
and exposure, in all kinds of weather in filling appointments, and all without
money and without price."
His biography would be incomplete without mentioning his faithful horse, Old
Pete. He was his traveling companion more than twenty-five years, carrying him
over the hills and up and down the valleys to the mission points the old brother
had established. I well remember how, in my boyhood days, we were so glad to see
him come to preach at my father's house, but later in the Chambers schoolhonse
on Bowman Ridge. He always had a smile and kind word for us all, and generally
some candy for us children. On one of his trips to Knob Fork, when well advanced
in years, the roads being icy, his horse fell with him, dislocating his
shoulder. Though he had it replaced he never had full use of it thereafter, and
it caused him more or less suffering the remainder of his life. He survived his
faithful old horse a number of years " (Andrew Chambers).
He never attended a college or seminary, yet he was a scholar of no mean
ability, having a fair knowledge of both tinEnglish and German languages. He
taught a number of terms of subseription as well as public school.
No record was kept of his baptisms, funerals and weddings, but they were many.
In his early church work, about 1856, he organized the first Sunday-school in
his congregation, at Hart's Run schoolhouse, about twenty years before the
church was built. Hc was always an earnest worker for the Master, giving all due
attention to the sick and dying, and comforting and encouraging the living. He
knew how to sympathize with the bereaved as his life had not been free from
sorrow. He often said that he suffered many bereavements and sorrows, but that
the division of the church caused him more heartaches and sadness than all his
previous troubles combined—such was his love for Christ and the church.
On November 12, 1886, he was ordained to the eldership. Elder J. S. Holsinger,
of Bedford County, officiating. He was the first resident elder of his
congregation.. This charge he held till death.
His life as a whole was an active one, as his charge consisted in the care of
the mission points he had established. These received his earnest help and
efforts as long as he was able to travel, and when his extreme age and frailty
barred him from visiting his people, their care and needs ever bore heavily on
his heart.
The evening of January 19, 1897, he spent talking with his brother Benjamin and
his son Frederick and family, until 9 o'clock. When he retired his son tucked
the covers over him, asking him how he felt. He said, "All right for the night."
He never spoke again on earth. His son expressed it thus: " He just went to
sleep. In a few moments he was home with God, whom he served so well."
His funeral was preached by Elder Frederick Weimer, and interment was made in
Quiet Dell cemetery, near the Quiet Dell Brethren church. To him it could
appropriately have been said: " Thou shall come to thy grave in full age, like
as a shock of corn in his season," as he lacked only a few days of being 88
years of age.
the oldest of a family of eighteen children. His father was twice married. His
grandparents came from Schwarzenau, Germany. His parents were followers of the
Word, training their children in the duties of the Christian religion. Three of
their sons, Adam, David and John, became ministers of the Gospel. On his
mother's side his grandparents also were members of the Church of the Brethren.
On December 19, 1830, he was united in marriage to Synth Hupp. To them were born
nine children—four sons and five daughters. Five of their children died in
childhood of that dread disease, scarlet fever, four of them dying in one week.
Henry, Frederick, Esther and Raihel grew to manhood and womanhood, and all were
members of the Brethren Church. Henry is a minister and Frederick was a deacon.
He died August 30, 1912, aged 70 years.
On March 30, 1841, in the Ten Mile congregation, he and his wife united with the
church. April 13, 1848, his wife died, and September 6, 1849, he was married to
Elizabeth Bennington. To this union one daughter, Hannah, was born. She is
living and is a member of the church. His second wife died in 1883. In 1887 he
married Sarah Chambers, widow of Solomon Chambers.
His busy life as a church worker dates from 1850, when with his family he
emigrated to Greene County, Pennsylvania, and located in the kyerson Station
congregation, where the following year he was called to the ministry, in which
office he faithfully labored more than forty-five years, till death.
Before he had fully recovered from an attack of French measles, in his early
manhood, he was caught in a rainstorm, causing a relapse which left him with a
severe cough that clung to him through life. This, however, did not lessen his
zeal and efforts in the Master's work. His ministerial work required him to make
many regular trips over the broken country of Western Pennsylvania and the hills
of West Virginia. He was in reality a home missionary.
His heart was in the work and no weather seemed too cold and stormy to keep him
from his appointments. Knob Fork, Wetzel County, and Chambers' schoolhouse, on
Bowman Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia, were each twelve miles distant
from his home, yet he visited them once a month, preaching from two to three
sermons each visit. When we consider that these trips were made "among the West
Virginia Hills," on horseback, we can, perhaps, realize the exposure endured and
the endurance required to keep up these appointments during the winter season,
as the following incident shows:
"One stormy day he was making his journey to his Bowman Ridge appointment. When
about three miles from his appointment, Harmon Greathousc asked him to come into
his house and get warm. He replied that he was not cold, but felt warm. Mr.
Greathouse insisted so strongly that he yielded. Alighting from his horse he
found that he could not walk without assistance. He afterward said that had he
continued his journey without warming he would have perished. It was the
overcoming effect of the cold that made him think he was warm.
After thoroughly warming himself at an old-time wood-fire he resumed his journey
and filled his appointment. The audience was a small one, as the people felt it
was too stormy to be out. Few ministers in our day have endured more hardships
and exposure, in all kinds of weather in filling appointments, and all without
money and without price."
His biography would be incomplete without mentioning his faithful horse, Old
Pete. He was his traveling companion more than twenty-five years, carrying him
over the hills and up and down the valleys to the mission points the old brother
had established. I well remember how, in my boyhood days, we were so glad to see
him come to preach at my father's house, but later in the Chambers schoolhonse
on Bowman Ridge. He always had a smile and kind word for us all, and generally
some candy for us children. On one of his trips to Knob Fork, when well advanced
in years, the roads being icy, his horse fell with him, dislocating his
shoulder. Though he had it replaced he never had full use of it thereafter, and
it caused him more or less suffering the remainder of his life. He survived his
faithful old horse a number of years " (Andrew Chambers).
He never attended a college or seminary, yet he was a scholar of no mean
ability, having a fair knowledge of both tinEnglish and German languages. He
taught a number of terms of subseription as well as public school.
No record was kept of his baptisms, funerals and weddings, but they were many.
In his early church work, about 1856, he organized the first Sunday-school in
his congregation, at Hart's Run schoolhouse, about twenty years before the
church was built. Hc was always an earnest worker for the Master, giving all due
attention to the sick and dying, and comforting and encouraging the living. He
knew how to sympathize with the bereaved as his life had not been free from
sorrow. He often said that he suffered many bereavements and sorrows, but that
the division of the church caused him more heartaches and sadness than all his
previous troubles combined—such was his love for Christ and the church.
On November 12, 1886, he was ordained to the eldership. Elder J. S. Holsinger,
of Bedford County, officiating. He was the first resident elder of his
congregation.. This charge he held till death.
His life as a whole was an active one, as his charge consisted in the care of
the mission points he had established. These received his earnest help and
efforts as long as he was able to travel, and when his extreme age and frailty
barred him from visiting his people, their care and needs ever bore heavily on
his heart.
The evening of January 19, 1897, he spent talking with his brother Benjamin and
his son Frederick and family, until 9 o'clock. When he retired his son tucked
the covers over him, asking him how he felt. He said, "All right for the night."
He never spoke again on earth. His son expressed it thus: " He just went to
sleep. In a few moments he was home with God, whom he served so well."
His funeral was preached by Elder Frederick Weimer, and interment was made in
Quiet Dell cemetery, near the Quiet Dell Brethren church. To him it could
appropriately have been said: " Thou shall come to thy grave in full age, like
as a shock of corn in his season," as he lacked only a few days of being 88
years of age.
Adam Wise was born in Washington County, Pennsylvania, February 10, 1809, being
the oldest of a family of eighteen children. His father was twice married. His
grandparents came from Schwarzenau, Germany. His parents were followers of the
Word, training their children in the duties of the Christian religion. Three of
their sons, Adam, David and John, became ministers of the Gospel. On his
mother's side his grandparents also were members of the Church of the Brethren.
On December 19, 1830, he was united in marriage to Synth Hupp. To them were born
nine children—four sons and five daughters. Five of their children died in
childhood of that dread disease, scarlet fever, four of them dying in one week.
Henry, Frederick, Esther and Raihel grew to manhood and womanhood, and all were
members of the Brethren Church. Henry is a minister and Frederick was a deacon.
He died August 30, 1912, aged 70 years.
On March 30, 1841, in the Ten Mile congregation, he and his wife united with the
church. April 13, 1848, his wife died, and September 6, 1849, he was married to
Elizabeth Bennington. To this union one daughter, Hannah, was born. She is
living and is a member of the church. His second wife died in 1883. In 1887 he
married Sarah Chambers, widow of Solomon Chambers.
His busy life as a church worker dates from 1850, when with his family he
emigrated to Greene County, Pennsylvania, and located in the kyerson Station
congregation, where the following year he was called to the ministry, in which
office he faithfully labored more than forty-five years, till death.
Before he had fully recovered from an attack of French measles, in his early
manhood, he was caught in a rainstorm, causing a relapse which left him with a
severe cough that clung to him through life. This, however, did not lessen his
zeal and efforts in the Master's work. His ministerial work required him to make
many regular trips over the broken country of Western Pennsylvania and the hills
of West Virginia. He was in reality a home missionary.
His heart was in the work and no weather seemed too cold and stormy to keep him
from his appointments. Knob Fork, Wetzel County, and Chambers' schoolhouse, on
Bowman Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia, were each twelve miles distant
from his home, yet he visited them once a month, preaching from two to three
sermons each visit. When we consider that these trips were made "among the West
Virginia Hills," on horseback, we can, perhaps, realize the exposure endured and
the endurance required to keep up these appointments during the winter season,
as the following incident shows:
"One stormy day he was making his journey to his Bowman Ridge appointment. When
about three miles from his appointment, Harmon Greathousc asked him to come into
his house and get warm. He replied that he was not cold, but felt warm. Mr.
Greathouse insisted so strongly that he yielded. Alighting from his horse he
found that he could not walk without assistance. He afterward said that had he
continued his journey without warming he would have perished. It was the
overcoming effect of the cold that made him think he was warm.
After thoroughly warming himself at an old-time wood-fire he resumed his journey
and filled his appointment. The audience was a small one, as the people felt it
was too stormy to be out. Few ministers in our day have endured more hardships
and exposure, in all kinds of weather in filling appointments, and all without
money and without price."
His biography would be incomplete without mentioning his faithful horse, Old
Pete. He was his traveling companion more than twenty-five years, carrying him
over the hills and up and down the valleys to the mission points the old brother
had established. I well remember how, in my boyhood days, we were so glad to see
him come to preach at my father's house, but later in the Chambers schoolhonse
on Bowman Ridge. He always had a smile and kind word for us all, and generally
some candy for us children. On one of his trips to Knob Fork, when well advanced
in years, the roads being icy, his horse fell with him, dislocating his
shoulder. Though he had it replaced he never had full use of it thereafter, and
it caused him more or less suffering the remainder of his life. He survived his
faithful old horse a number of years " (Andrew Chambers).
He never attended a college or seminary, yet he was a scholar of no mean
ability, having a fair knowledge of both tinEnglish and German languages. He
taught a number of terms of subseription as well as public school.
No record was kept of his baptisms, funerals and weddings, but they were many.
In his early church work, about 1856, he organized the first Sunday-school in
his congregation, at Hart's Run schoolhouse, about twenty years before the
church was built. Hc was always an earnest worker for the Master, giving all due
attention to the sick and dying, and comforting and encouraging the living. He
knew how to sympathize with the bereaved as his life had not been free from
sorrow. He often said that he suffered many bereavements and sorrows, but that
the division of the church caused him more heartaches and sadness than all his
previous troubles combined—such was his love for Christ and the church.
On November 12, 1886, he was ordained to the eldership. Elder J. S. Holsinger,
of Bedford County, officiating. He was the first resident elder of his
congregation.. This charge he held till death.
His life as a whole was an active one, as his charge consisted in the care of
the mission points he had established. These received his earnest help and
efforts as long as he was able to travel, and when his extreme age and frailty
barred him from visiting his people, their care and needs ever bore heavily on
his heart.
The evening of January 19, 1897, he spent talking with his brother Benjamin and
his son Frederick and family, until 9 o'clock. When he retired his son tucked
the covers over him, asking him how he felt. He said, "All right for the night."
He never spoke again on earth. His son expressed it thus: " He just went to
sleep. In a few moments he was home with God, whom he served so well."
His funeral was preached by Elder Frederick Weimer, and interment was made in
Quiet Dell cemetery, near the Quiet Dell Brethren church. To him it could
appropriately have been said: " Thou shall come to thy grave in full age, like
as a shock of corn in his season," as he lacked only a few days of being 88
years of age.
the oldest of a family of eighteen children. His father was twice married. His
grandparents came from Schwarzenau, Germany. His parents were followers of the
Word, training their children in the duties of the Christian religion. Three of
their sons, Adam, David and John, became ministers of the Gospel. On his
mother's side his grandparents also were members of the Church of the Brethren.
On December 19, 1830, he was united in marriage to Synth Hupp. To them were born
nine children—four sons and five daughters. Five of their children died in
childhood of that dread disease, scarlet fever, four of them dying in one week.
Henry, Frederick, Esther and Raihel grew to manhood and womanhood, and all were
members of the Brethren Church. Henry is a minister and Frederick was a deacon.
He died August 30, 1912, aged 70 years.
On March 30, 1841, in the Ten Mile congregation, he and his wife united with the
church. April 13, 1848, his wife died, and September 6, 1849, he was married to
Elizabeth Bennington. To this union one daughter, Hannah, was born. She is
living and is a member of the church. His second wife died in 1883. In 1887 he
married Sarah Chambers, widow of Solomon Chambers.
His busy life as a church worker dates from 1850, when with his family he
emigrated to Greene County, Pennsylvania, and located in the kyerson Station
congregation, where the following year he was called to the ministry, in which
office he faithfully labored more than forty-five years, till death.
Before he had fully recovered from an attack of French measles, in his early
manhood, he was caught in a rainstorm, causing a relapse which left him with a
severe cough that clung to him through life. This, however, did not lessen his
zeal and efforts in the Master's work. His ministerial work required him to make
many regular trips over the broken country of Western Pennsylvania and the hills
of West Virginia. He was in reality a home missionary.
His heart was in the work and no weather seemed too cold and stormy to keep him
from his appointments. Knob Fork, Wetzel County, and Chambers' schoolhouse, on
Bowman Ridge, Marshall County, West Virginia, were each twelve miles distant
from his home, yet he visited them once a month, preaching from two to three
sermons each visit. When we consider that these trips were made "among the West
Virginia Hills," on horseback, we can, perhaps, realize the exposure endured and
the endurance required to keep up these appointments during the winter season,
as the following incident shows:
"One stormy day he was making his journey to his Bowman Ridge appointment. When
about three miles from his appointment, Harmon Greathousc asked him to come into
his house and get warm. He replied that he was not cold, but felt warm. Mr.
Greathouse insisted so strongly that he yielded. Alighting from his horse he
found that he could not walk without assistance. He afterward said that had he
continued his journey without warming he would have perished. It was the
overcoming effect of the cold that made him think he was warm.
After thoroughly warming himself at an old-time wood-fire he resumed his journey
and filled his appointment. The audience was a small one, as the people felt it
was too stormy to be out. Few ministers in our day have endured more hardships
and exposure, in all kinds of weather in filling appointments, and all without
money and without price."
His biography would be incomplete without mentioning his faithful horse, Old
Pete. He was his traveling companion more than twenty-five years, carrying him
over the hills and up and down the valleys to the mission points the old brother
had established. I well remember how, in my boyhood days, we were so glad to see
him come to preach at my father's house, but later in the Chambers schoolhonse
on Bowman Ridge. He always had a smile and kind word for us all, and generally
some candy for us children. On one of his trips to Knob Fork, when well advanced
in years, the roads being icy, his horse fell with him, dislocating his
shoulder. Though he had it replaced he never had full use of it thereafter, and
it caused him more or less suffering the remainder of his life. He survived his
faithful old horse a number of years " (Andrew Chambers).
He never attended a college or seminary, yet he was a scholar of no mean
ability, having a fair knowledge of both tinEnglish and German languages. He
taught a number of terms of subseription as well as public school.
No record was kept of his baptisms, funerals and weddings, but they were many.
In his early church work, about 1856, he organized the first Sunday-school in
his congregation, at Hart's Run schoolhouse, about twenty years before the
church was built. Hc was always an earnest worker for the Master, giving all due
attention to the sick and dying, and comforting and encouraging the living. He
knew how to sympathize with the bereaved as his life had not been free from
sorrow. He often said that he suffered many bereavements and sorrows, but that
the division of the church caused him more heartaches and sadness than all his
previous troubles combined—such was his love for Christ and the church.
On November 12, 1886, he was ordained to the eldership. Elder J. S. Holsinger,
of Bedford County, officiating. He was the first resident elder of his
congregation.. This charge he held till death.
His life as a whole was an active one, as his charge consisted in the care of
the mission points he had established. These received his earnest help and
efforts as long as he was able to travel, and when his extreme age and frailty
barred him from visiting his people, their care and needs ever bore heavily on
his heart.
The evening of January 19, 1897, he spent talking with his brother Benjamin and
his son Frederick and family, until 9 o'clock. When he retired his son tucked
the covers over him, asking him how he felt. He said, "All right for the night."
He never spoke again on earth. His son expressed it thus: " He just went to
sleep. In a few moments he was home with God, whom he served so well."
His funeral was preached by Elder Frederick Weimer, and interment was made in
Quiet Dell cemetery, near the Quiet Dell Brethren church. To him it could
appropriately have been said: " Thou shall come to thy grave in full age, like
as a shock of corn in his season," as he lacked only a few days of being 88
years of age.
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