Ziegler, Samuel George

Reverend Samuel George Ziegler (1884-1980), Evangelical United Brethren pastor and General Church officer, was born to Daniel and Polly Lou Ziegler in Hanover, Pennsylvania, on October 14, 1884. His parents raised him religiously as part of the United Brethren Church. From age 15 to 19, he worked in a shoe factory in Hanover. At age 19, he began high school at York Collegiate Institute and graduated in 1908. Ziegler earned his Associate’s Degree in 1911 from Lebanon Valley College and Bachelor’s Degree in 1914 from Bonebrake United Theological Seminary. Ordained in 1911 by the Central Pennsylvania Conference, Ziegler served pastorates in Duncannon, Pennsylvania and in Baltimore and Hagerstown, Maryland. The honorary Doctor of Divinity Degree was conferred upon him in 1922 from Lebanon Valley College in Lebanon, Ohio. He was elected to the office of General Secretary of the United Brethren Foreign Missionary Society by the United Brethren General Conference of 1921, and served the position of Associate Secretary of the Division of World Missions until his retirement in 1958. His interdenominational responsibilities included: member of the Board of Directors M.E.M., member on Committee on Cooperation in Latin America, member on Africa Committee, F.M.C., member on Committee World Literacy and Christian Literature, and member of Board for Christian Work in Santo Domingo.

Dr. Ziegler had three sons, one daughter, nine grandchildren, and twelve great grandchildren. At the time of his death he was a resident of the Otterbein Home, Lebanon, Ohio. He married the former Ethel Redding, in 1911. She also graduated from Bonebrake Theological Seminary as a deaconess, and died in 1974.