SUGAR GROVE
By Paula Mitchell
One of the last “circuit riders” whose duty was to perform pastoral services to the remote areas where there was no pastor available was William McInturff Sibert. He was born Jan. 6, 1835, at Powell’s Fort Valley, Virginia. On Nov. 18, 1858, he married his first wife, Rebecca C. Clem (Feb. 23, 1833 – Feb. 22, 1867). They had a daughter, Julia Theodora Lydia Rebecca Sibert. Rebecca died at Julia’s birth. William’s second marriage was in 1870 to Sarah Elizabeth Hahn. They had 11 children, one of them being Estella Wilhelmina. Estella married Loy Hively and from that union, they had several children, including Virginia Hively Propst who is 102 years old.
Rev. William Sibert was a man of many talents — teacher, farmer, minister, and assemblyman. A man known for his great stamina made his ministry quite distinguishable. The congregations he served entailed great distances from each other. Typically, 200-500 miles on the route were served. To understand the enormity of his task, one only needs to take a look at the distance he travelled. Exhaustion, animal attacks, illness, and unfriendly encounters were constant threats. Sibert would have to spend the night with any family who would put him up, and eat whatever was available to him.
Circuit riders were responsible to visit once or twice a year in the given area or circuit, to minister weddings, baptisms, confirmations, counseling, funerals, and sermons. They visited each church regularly on this circuit. Since they rode horseback/mule to go from church to church, they came to be known as “circuit riders.”
Silbert was quite skilled with the art of conversation. Encountering travelers along the way, his mule would automatically stop knowing full well, that the conversation might take quite a while!
He was also a representative from Shenandoah County to the General Assembly of Viriginia, 1857-1858, 1859-1861, and then representing Rockingham County 1875-1877.
In time, the Sibert name was changed to “Seybert.” He passed March 6, 1910, and is buried at the Pine Hill Cemetery in Brandywine. His descendants are far flung, with several living locally at Sinnett’s Lane and Franklin.
Little instructions to keep one happy include the following:
- Never discuss money with people who have much more or much less than one does.
- Be one’s spouse’s best friend.
- Hug one’s children after discipling them.
- Teach one’s children the value of money and the importance of saving.
- Smile a lot. It costs nothing and is beyond price.
June 21, the summer solstice, is the day with the longest period of daylight and shortest night of the year in the northern hemisphere. This is when the sun, in the northern hemisphere, is at its highest position. This past week heralded notably high temperatures which is most unusual for this time of the year. Temperatures, which bore the likeness of July’s and August’s humidity and heat, was quite the talk of the community. Rainfall in this neighborhood has been scant compared to elsewhere in the county.
Quotes for the week are as follows:
“My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person: He believed in me.” — Jim Valvano
“Don’t go backwards; you’ve already been there.” — Ray Charles
“I don’t think there’s anything on this planet that more trumpets life than the sunflower.” — Helen Mirren
“To care for those who once cared for us is one of the highest honors.” — Tia Walker
Sitting by the pool is the best way to hear the “Talk of the Grove.”
Returning from a week at Camp Luther, a church camp at Cowen, was Macie Mitchell, daughter of Brandon and Cara Mitchell. Others from the county also attending this same camp were Olivia Caplinger and Rosyln Nesselrodt.
Shaun, Leslie and Ava Bowers flew to Denver, Colorado. They drove through four states and explored eight national parks. They enjoyed the beautiful scenery which was quite different from Sugar Grove. Their vacation was wonderful, to say the least.
Ruben and Krista Nieves of Boca Raton, Florida, have returned to their home after visiting a week in the home of Willard and Judy Rader, along with other relatives and friends. Friday, Bob and Marti Fisher and Ed Rader were visitors. On Saturday, Willard, Judy, Ruben and Krista enjoyed a dinner and visiting at Benny and Linda Custer’s residence.
The South Fork Volunteer Fire Department did it again. The lawn party was a huge success. Saturday evening’s parade was enjoyed, as well as the food. But most of all, the fireworks that lit the sky with many dazzling, colored displays mesmerized the attendees.
Anyone wishing to send Phil Downs a get-well card, his address is VMRC, Oak Lea Room #100, 1475 Virginia Ave., Harrisonburg, VA 22802.
Clickety-clacks for the chin waggers are as follows:
- A cockroach has 12 heart chambers.
- The bullfrog never sleeps.
- Coca Cola was invented in 1892.
- Maine is the only United States state with one syllable long.
- Indonesia is the only country, home to the most volcanoes.
July birthdays include Dennis Mitchell, Dale Kile and Jordan Hevener Ronek, first; Elaine Rexrode and Vernon Wimer, fourth; James Ryan, fifth; Gary Pitsenbarger, sixth; Patricia Rexrode and Kathy Kile, ninth; John Clinton Bowers II, 10th; D. Olin Hoover, Blair Mitchell, Terry Ryan and Jerry Lambert, 12th; Bruce Smith, 13th; Deloris Simmons, 14th; Janet Judy, 15th; Sharon Scott, 16th; and Kenny Wilfong, 17th.
Concerns are for Mike Adams, the Bob Adamson family, Charles Anderson, John Ashley, Roger Ashley, Mercedes Aumann, Dave Basagic, Allen Beachler, Liz and Mick Bodkin, “Bo” Boggs, Larry Byers, Joyce Calhoun, Marie Cole, Stanley Dahmer, Phil Downs, Jennifer Errett, Isaac Eye, Marie Eye, Mary Eye, Carl Gant, David Gillispie, Patsy Green, JC Hammer, Sharon Harr, Steve and Armanda Heavner, Hannah Hedrick, Jack and Starr Hedrick, Chuck and Tracy Hiett, Jim Hiner, Evan Hise, Tim Hively, Henry Hodges, Edsel and Mary Ann Hogan, Julia Homan, Keith Hoover, Delbert Olin Hoover, Debbie Horst, Bob and Cynthia Hurry, Linda Jones, Richard Judy, Marsha Keller, Tara Kelley, Tom and Kim Kline, Tracie Knight, Laura Kropp, Melissa Lambert, Robert Lambert, Rex Landis, Donna Mallow, Roger and Skip Mallow, Audree Marsh, Anna Mauzy, Ed May, Gene and Joan McConnell, Gary McDonald, Neil McLaughlin, Rose Miller, Bruce Minor, Tom Mitchell, Barbara Moats, Gloria Moats, Jim Moats, Helen Nash, Aaron Nelson, Dwight Nelson, Ruth Nelson, Cheryle Paine, Terri Parker, Andy Pond, Wayne Price, Daniel and Debbie Propst, Janice Propst, Alda Propst, Janis Propst, Marilyn Propst, Mike Propst, Sheldon Propst, Virginia Propst, Eldon “Butch” Puffenbarger, Tom Rader, Willard Rader, Brandon Reel, Jason Rexrode, Jimmy Rexrode, Linda Fay Rexrode, Bernie Sasscer, the Sylvia Schrader family, Annie Simmons, Erin Simmons, Eva Simmons, Greg Simmons, Judy Simmons, Nelson Simmons, Robbie Sites, Mike Skiles, Ed and Carolyn Smith, Natalie Stephenson, Tina Stuben, Steve Stump, Linda and Larry Vandevander, Sandra Vandevander, Amy Vaus, Estelle and Don Wagner, Mary Louise Waldschlager, Amby Waybright, Jr., Mike Waybright, Rene White, Sherry Wilfong, Judy Williams and Ann and Ed Wimer.
