USA > West Virginia > Upshur County > The history of Upshur county, West Virginia, from its earliest exploration and settlement to the present time > Part 68
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spot, and hundreds of "souls in glory now" were here started on their Heaven- ward journey.
After his mother's death, for a short time John W. Reger attended the Academy in Clarksburg. The following are his own words: "In 1836 I was licensed as an Exhorter by B. F. Sedgwick, P. E. July 17, 1837, at a quarterly meeting held on French Creek, I was licensed to preach, J. G. Sampson, P. E., and sent as junior preacher to Randolph circuit, which then extended from Mingo Flats on the head of the Tygart's Valley River to the green glades in Allegheny County, Maryland. Rich, Cheat and Allegheny mountains were within the cir- cuit, lending variety to the surpassingly beautiful landscapes, which though grand and beautiful in summer, were intensely cold and bleak in winter."
"This circuit was about three hundred miles in extent. Tygarts Valley River and Leading Creek had to be frequently crossed, which, especially during the winter season, was often attended with great difficulty and extremely hazardous." In those days "of the long, long ago," this circuit of vast distances. lofty mountains, rapid streams, and almost impassable snow drifts, usually bore the cognomen of "Brush College." Thither the elders were wont to send the young men of the Conference, "to try their mettle"; if for an entire year they performed all the duties here assigned them, they 1e- ceived the distinction of graduate of "Brush College," which was sportively borne by a number of the most distinguished members of the West Virginia Conference. In 1838 John W. Reger was admitted to the Pittsburg Conference and appointed to Middletown Circuit. 'In 1840, Shadrack Chaney, Sen., preacher, John W. Reger, Jr., preacher, were appointed to Kingwood Circuit, which at that time consisted of 10 appointments, requiring a journey of about 125 miles on each round. During this year there was a most gracious revival on this entire work, and hundreds were added to the church. The salaries were as follows: Jas. G. Sanson, P. E., $16.25; S. Chany, with a large family received $183.35; John W. Reger, $66.25. In 1841, J. W. Reger was appointed preacher in charge on the Little Kanawha Circuit. Here he and his "new wife" were boarded and received during the year, $42.00 as quarterage. In this reference to finance no invidious comparison is intended, but merely referred to as a suggestive represent- ation of that period. These were average circuits and average salaries, as is shown by statistics. Would that eloquence might be given the writer to portray as other lips (now, alas! silent), have done-the great-hearted. cordial, generous hospitality extended to the early "circuit riders" and their families. "The dwel- lers in cabins made them forget they were not in palaces." This circuit was formed in 1800, and is represented as an "immense territory" lying on the Little Kanawha River below Wheeling, which before 1842 had doubtless been sub- divided.
In 1842 he was sent to Waynesburg Circuit. Here his health failed, and he was temporarily located. In 1849, he was appointed to Monongalia Circuit, where there was a very great awakening, and about four hundred accessions to the Methodist Church, but alas! for the poor preacher when the year closed, his physicians, among whom was Dr. McLain, Sen., of Morgantown, gave no hope that even though his life should be spared, he could ever preach again, those were very dark and gloomy days, but in June, 1852, he considered himself sufficiently recovered to resume what he so sincerely deemed his life mission, and was" appointed to Pruntytown. 1854 made Presiding Elder of Guyandotte District. 1859, stationed in Grafton. 1860, Presiding Elder of Parkersburg District. Having the courage of his convictions, he enlisted as a private in the
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7th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, and on September 2, 1861, he was mustered into the service, some time after he was elected and commissioned Chaplain, serv- ing as such until after the Battles of South Mountain, Antietam, Fredericksburg and Gettysburg. Some time after the latter, from a severe sun stroke, he was incapacitated for duty and resigned as Chaplain. His conference, hoping for his recovery, appointed him Presiding Elder of Clarksburg District; also in con- junction with Dr. James Drummond, and The Rev. J. L. Clark, elected him as a Delegate to the General Conference, which met in Philadelphia in 1864. How- ever, as soon as sufficiently recovered, he felt it his duty as a patriot, to again offer his services to the Government, and was appointed Chaplain of Grafton Hospital, where he remained until the war closed. Between himself and "the boys" of the gallant 7th West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, there always existed sentiments of warmest comradeship, his pride in their dauntless valor, and splen- did achievements knew no bound, and the memory of their honored dead, who fell on so many battlefields was ever sacred to his heart. After the war closed he returned to his native county, and in 1866 was appointed to Buckhannon Station. During his two years pastorate here there was a very great revival, and many accessions to the church. After this he served two years on the Buckhannon Circuit and four years as Presiding Elder of Buckhannon District. Always a tireless worker, whom no discouragement could dismay, and no defeat could halt, he still continued to labor in all the adjacent appointments, as strength and oppor- tunity afforded.
For several years preceding his retirement from the active work, he, with quite a number of his brethren in the ministry, and also many influential laymen, had been very desirous for the establishment of a school of high grade, within the bounds of the West Virginia Conference. With the Rev. J. W. Reger this became an intense desire and it was said by many present at the Annual Confer- ence which met in Grafton, March II, 1877, that the best oratorical effort of his life was made on a resolution-"to locate and build a Conference Seminary," and so great was his solicitude as to its fate, that when the victory was won by an affirmative vote, he wept like a child.
After this his interest seemed to center especially in the West Virginia Con- ference Seminary, during the construction of which he spent the greater part of his time on the ground. It was said by the workmen "that 'Uncle Johnnie' exam- ined every brick, and every stone, used in the construction of the first edifice, and that nothing either great or small, connected with the building, escaped his scru- tiny." However, he was always on the best of terms with those employed, and they were ever ready to make any changes which he suggested. In this interest he was greatly strengthened and constantly encouraged by his wife. Their mutal desire for its success and devotion to its welfare ended only with their lives. In its darkest and most discouraging days, Mrs. Reger's faith never faltered-her oft-repeated words were-"It is the Lord's work and must go on," to attain which they gave liberally of their time, strength, prayers and means. Only a few days before his death, The Rev. John W. Reger said to the writer, "The crowning act of my life I consider to have been the humble efforts which I made in connection with my fellow trustees in the location and building of the West Vir- ginia Conference Seminary."
On July 6, 1893, he passed away in great peace, even after speech had failed and sight grown dim, he waved his hand, indicative of Victory.
Their children: Lee A. E., married Major Jacob Heavner, daughter ; Reta B. Brown Heavner, married Frank P. Maxwell, daughter ; Virginia Lee Maxwell.
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Mary C., married Col. John L. Hurst, daughter ; Annie Lee Hawthorne, married William Post, Sons: Isaac Hurst Post, John Hawthorne Post. Marion R. Hurst, married P. H. Koblegard, son, Hurst Hanson Koblegard. Dr. Robert A. Reger, married Margaret T. Janney ; daughters, Mary Rebacca and Roberta Anna Reger.
REBECCA ANNA BROWN-REGER.
About 1735, John Brown, the great grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born near Edinburgh, Scotland, where he was educated and mar- ried Anna Morrow, shortly after which they emigrated to Londonderry, Ireland, where he took charge of a large estate, afterwards belonging to Lord Beresford. Here he and his wife lived to an old age, enjoying the confidence and friendship of all who knew them. Their oldest son, John, an officer in the English navy, was lost by the sinking of the "Royal George." Their second son, James, married Rachel Hawthorne, and in the autumn of 1789 they sailed from Londonderry for Philadelphia, which, after a voyage of three months, they reached in safety; as soon as possible they pursued their journey to that part of Monongalia county, West Virginia now known as Preston county. Here they purchased land, much, if not all of which is still owned by their descendants. On this they erected the first hewed log house in all that region of country. Tradition attributes this seeming extrav- agance to Rachel, who was through all the years of her life a very high- spirited, energetic and progressive woman-one whose vocabulary did not include the word "failure." While the home was in process of construction, the family occupied the "Green cabin" (which stood about one mile east of where Kingwood was afterward located.) There even Rachel's persistent determination and physical efforts were insufficient to remove the bloody evidences of previous Indian atrocities. As their family increased in years and numbers they employed an educated Englishman as tutor for their children, who were as follows:
John C., whose only son was Lieut. James William, a gallant officer in Co. A, Seventh W. Va. Vol. Inf., who died from wounds received in battle- his daughters, Martha, Julia and Sarah.
Robert, whose only son was the Hon. J. J. Brown-his daughters, Rebecca A., Eliza J.
Thomas, whose sons were James A., Adj. Gen. George W., Thomas P. R., Commander Robert M. G., the hero of Samoa; John H. and Charles ; his daughters, Valenda, Delia and Elenor.
Joseph, whose sons were James W., Lient. Elisha M., Co. C, Third Reg. W. Va. Inf. ; his daughters. Anna and Julia.
Hon. William G., only child, William G., Jr.
Jane, married the Hon. Davis Bowen.
Anna, married E. M. Hagans, their only son, Judge M. Hagans, of Cin- cinnati ; their daughters, Jane, Lovela, Eliza and Julia.
From a sketch of the Hon. William G. Brown, which was written about 1853. we learn that several of his mother's brothers were in America during the Revolutionary struggle, and on the records of the Historical Society of Pennsylvania the name Hawthorne appears a number of times. Among these we find that of John Hawthorne, as having taken the oath of allegiance
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to the colonies and also the date of his enlistment in Col. Thomas Proctor's regiment Pennsylvania Artillery, Revolutionary Army. The colonel himself was an Irishman, and from the roster it is evident his regiment was largely composed of that nationality. The probabilities are that previous to the war John Hawthorne had been a seafaring man, for shortly after its close he is referred to as Capt. John Hawthorne. His first wife, Mary Calvery, who was the mother of his only child, Anna, died during the year 1793. On February 25, 1796, he married Miss Elizabeth Rhoads, who survived him only a short time. The following extract from a Philadelphia paper explains his death :
From Claypoole's American Daily Advertiser of Wednesday, July 6, 1796: "On Monday night, July 4th, about 9 o'clock, Captain John Haw- thorne, whose vessel lay at the fort, got into his boat with two of his sailors, in order to come up to this city. Opposite to Red Bank they were upset by the wind, by which the Captain was drowned, but the two men were taken up by a shallop."
Captain John Hawthorne in his will, written some months previous to his death, appointed his brother Robert as his administrator, also as guar- dian for his little daughter, Anna. This brother traveled from Morgantown to Philadelphia on horseback and returned, he and his little ward riding the same horse. To the fidelity and affection of this kind uncle the writer has heard frequent mention made by his grateful niece, who was most tenderly reared by her father's family, who then lived in or near Morgantown, (now) West Virginia. There were two maiden aunts, Bell and Jane Hawthorne; a bachelor uncle, Alexander Hawthorne; also two married aunts, Peggie Hawthorne-Prentice, and Rachel Hawthorne, wife of James Brown. To the latter's son, Robert, Anna Hawthorne was married during the year 1821. The husband was a true and noble man, the wife a tender, loving woman, so wholly congenial in spirit and purpose that their lives were always in perfect harmony. As we think of them, "The shrines of the past are unveiled, and the magical rites of reminiscence begin." Again to the eastward of their home we see the grand old mountains, their summits iridescent in the first golden rays of the rising sun; while with graceful undulations the soft gray mist from the valleys below is gently wreathing hither and thither along their rugged sides ; the fragrance of lilacs and white honeysuckles is drifting through the balmy air; the soft hum of bees and the gentle murmur of the rill which flows from the "spring in the cellar," and on through a bed of sweet mint is borne to our dreamy senses. To this home of the "long, long ago," many hearts through many years have turned with unfailing affec- tion, and to this spot of tender memories, as to "love's shrine," pilgrimnages from afar have been made; to its pure and peaceful pleasures distinguished and scholarly men have rendered eloquent tributes, both spoken and written; reference will be made to only a few-one on March 26, 1902, in the U. S. Senate Chamber, by the junior member from Iowa; also a gem of reminis- cence entitled "Why I visit my old home again," which was written by the Hon. John J. Brown, some months previous to his demise, which occurred August 11th, 1905; another, written during the same year by the late Hon- orable Victor Brown Dolliver, entitled, "Reviewing the Scenes of My Child- hood," in which the writer gives most beautiful expression to the experiences and pleasures of a visit he had recently made. Alas! that he, stalwart and
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strong, so intensely interested in numerous useful activities, in the full meridian of successful manhood, should on February 24th, 1907, have sud- denly departed this life. For him "there was no death, what seemed so was transition." Among his native hills for generations to come his name will be remembered, and his memory cherished; here mothers will teach their sons to emulate his noble, generous and manly Christian character, his indomitable perseverance, and the splendid achievements of his orator- ical genius, which has so many times delighted and swayed vast audiences in every state from Maine to the Pacific coast.
To this home of the past came the sad and lonely, the gay and festive, the rich and poor, all were welcome and all were blessed in their coming. Now, Robert and Anna Hawthorne Brown, who were the center and source of this munificent hospitality are sleeping in the old family cemetery, one mile east of Kingood, W. Va.
"Warm summer sun, Shine kindly there, Warm southern wind, Blow softly there, Green sod above, Lie light, lie light, Good night, dear hearts, Good night, good night."
Their three children were as follows:
On July 1, 1841, The Rev. John W. Reger married their oldest child, Rebecca Anna Brown, the subject of this sketch, who was born February 1, 1822. A woman of rare intelligence, with cheerful, hopeful disposition, and a sympa- thetic heart, gentle in spirit, but always firm in her adherence to duty. When only nineteen years of age, she left a home in which she was surrounded by all that the tenderest affection could provide for her comfort and happiness, and at once entered upon the toils, hardships, privations and vicissitudes incident to the early ministry of the M. E. Church. No murmur ever escaped her lips. Most heroically she endured and patiently co-operated with her husband in his mission of preaching the gospel, and as the latter was frequently heard to remark, "what- ever of success he had achieved should be attributed to the tireless industry, pru- dent economy, self-sacrifice, encouragement and inspiration of his wife." Where- ever her house was, there was a home for the itinerant preachers, and her will- ing hands never grew tired in ministrations to their comfort. Perhaps there are none now left to remember, but many of the younger ministers, especially those belonging to her husband's district, would travel quite a long way that they might have access to her husband's library and the benefit of her advice and suggestions. Upon these she urged not only the necessity for the highest spiritual and intel- lectual attainment, but also the culture and refinement which should ever attend their high and holy calling. For fifty years she filled every circle in which she moved with the light of a christian example. "Hers was a face and mein that mysteriously bore upon it something of the peace of God, a holy calm, a quiet strength, a patient sweetness, which can only be attained by those who have, as she did, lived very near their God." Reference has been made elsewhere to her great interest in the West Virginia Conference Seminary (now College), which at times was so intense that she would spend the greater part of the night in prayer for its success.
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Her going to "The Beyond" was calm and gentle, as her life had always been, and her last whispers, as her "feet were slipping over the brink" were -"Peace, Peace."
Their only son, the late Hon. John J. Brown of Morgantwn, West Virginia, was an eminent lawyer, scholar, and statesman, and a devout christian. In 1852 he married Emma Ludington; his second wife, Mary E. Gay. See history of Monongalia county, West Virginia, by Samuel T. Wiley, published in 1883, page 283.
During 1854, the Rev. James J. Dolliver married their youngest daughter, Eliza J. Brown, and together this devoted husband and wife labored for many years with unremitting zeal and most abundant success in the itinerant field of the West Virginia Conference, where as a sweet fragrance the memory of their con- secrated lives still linger in many homes and many hearts.
DR. ROBERT A. REGER.
Dr. Robert A. Pager, son of Rev. John W. Reger and Rebecca Anna Brown Reger, was born in Charleston, Va., September 23, 1857. His education was ob- tained in the best school of his period, supplemented by a course at Jefferson Medical College, where he received his degree of M. D., since which time, with the exception of a term in the Legislature of his state, his life has been devoted to his profession, in which he has been singularly successful. As a physician he is sincere, genial, considerate, generous and gentle, not only ministering to the physical needs of his patients, but inspiring them with confidence and hope.
In 1893, immediately after the death of his father, he was in the latter's place appointed a trustee of the West Virginia Conference Seminary (now College). Closely following this occurred the death of Hon. B. F. Martin, who from the first had acted as treasurer of the school, and from its inception been one of its most active and enthusiastic promoters and generous benefactors. Dr. Reger was appointed to fill the vacancy occasioned by his demise, a responsibility second to no other connected with the institution, one involving great sacrifice, both of time and strength. Perhaps he had not yielded, but for the whispers of a sweet and gentle voice, now alas ! long silent, saying, "My son, it is the Lord's work and must go on."
In 1907 he resigned as treasurer, and was appointed a member of the Finance Committee. Thus the father's mantle continues to rest upon the son.
ANTHONY REGER, son of Abram Reger, who was born, July 23, 1773, boin 1812, was the founder and main support of the Methodist Episcopal Church in county. First wife was Rachel Pickens of Barbour County. Second wife Third wife, Catherine ( Bradley) Long, born in Randolph County, November 19, 1830, daughter of William and Mary (Burr) Bradley and widow of Washington Long. She married Anthony Reger February 4, 1896, who died August 6, 1904, at his home "Under the Oaks" at Buckhannon.
JOHN J. REGER was born June 4, 1810, on Brushy Fork, was the son of Phillip Reger, whose lands he inherited and lived on till his death.
Married Jemima Kesel, September 12, 1833. Lived together 63 years.
Children : Monterville, married Sarah Carper ; Mary Jane, wife of Nicholas C. Loudin ; Elizabeth F., wife of James H. Taylor ; Phillip, married Susan Prich- ard ; Dian D., wife of Samuel Loudin.
Mr. Reger was an enthusiastic member of the Reger Chapel Church, ever contributing of his labor and means to the building or re-building, or repairing of the same.
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JOSEPH S. REGER, son of David B. Reger, and grandson of Isaac Reger, was born on the 12th day of August, 1847.
He is a great grandson of Jacob Reger, who left the South Branch of the Potomac, near Romney, about the close of the Revolutionary war, and settled in what was then a wilderness on Big Run, in Barbour County, West Virginia, near where the village of Burnersville or Volga now stands.
His grandfather moved from the old homestead, near Burnersville, to Hackers Creek, in what is now Upshur County, in the year 1830, when David B. was a lad nine years old.
David B. was the only living son (his older brother, Phillip, having died when quite young) of a family of six children, viz: Ruth, Rebecca, Lydia, Elizabeth, David B. and Maria.
Ruth married John W. Marple and Rebecca married Nicholas McVany. Both settled on Hacker's Creek, near the residence of their father, Isaac, where they continued to reside until called away from this world.
Lydia married Henry Jackson, an older brother of S. D. Jackson of Upshur County, and moved soon after her marriage to the forks of the Hughes River, in Ritchie County, where she died about the year 1872 or 1873.
Elizabeth married David T. Wolf and about the year 1856, moved to Sullivan County, Missouri, where she died in 1893.
Maria married Nimrod Scott, and moved to Iowa in the year 1851 or 1852, where she still resides, the only living member of the family.
David B. Reger married Elizabeth Neely, February 22, 1844, and commenced housekeeping at his father's home on Hackers Creek, where he continued to reside until the time of his death, which occurred April 12, 1906. .
To David B. and Elizabeth were born three sons and two daughters: Marion D., who married Sarah Hinzman; Joseph S., the subject of this sketch; Isaac S., who married Olive Morrison, and lives at the old Reger homestead on Hackers Creek; Mary M., who married Albert J. Marple, formerly sheriff of Upshur County, and Angela E., who married Isaac C. Ours, a worthy citizen of Turkey Run, who died of Typhoid fever in the fall of 1903.
Joseph S., while growing up, worked on his father's farm, and occasionally attended a subscription school three months in the winter, though sometimes, two or three years elapsed without any school. His opportunities for learning were few and poor. The teachers employed, though commendable persons, were usually of very limited scholarship, and could teach nothing except spelling. reading, writing and a little arithmetic.
The books in his home were few, but were read and re-read until the con- tents became, as it were, a part of his own mind. Newspapers were almost barred as being not worth the cost, and as useless consumers of valuable time.
However, after the adoption of the present free school system. the qualifi- cations of teachers improved, and he was enabled to add to his meager learning a scanty knowledge of geography and English grammar.
Thus equipped, at the age of twenty, he applied to the County Superintendent of Schools, Captain J. Loomis Gould, for a teacher's certificate, and obtained a No. 3, which was considered medium, there being at that time, five grades granted.
That winter, 1867-8, he taught his first school, receiving ninety dollars for his labor, fifty of which because he was not twenty-one years old, he gave to his father, spending the remaining forty dollors in buying clothes and books and attending two teachers' institutes, one at Lost Creek, Harrison County, and one at
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French Creek, Upshur County, both conducted by Prof. W. R. White, the first State Superintendent of Schools of West Virginia.
In 1870, he received his first No. I certificate, with which grade he con- tinued to teach, during the winter season, with the exception of a few intervals, until the winter of 1890-91, after which he gave up school work and gave his atten- tion more particularly to his farm.
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