U.S. Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/ -- USGenNet Inc. -- Please read the U.S. Data Repository Copyright Statement on the following page: ------------------------------------------------------------------- Reger, John Sr. (1769-1849) ------------------------------------------------------------------- The History of Upshur County West Virginia From its Earliest Exploration and Settlement to the Present Time by W. B. Cutright Buckhannon, W. Va., July 1, 1907 Data for the following sketch was discovered among the miscellaneous manuscripts of the Rev. John W. Reger, D. D., and to his cherished memory, it is affectionately dedicated. L. A. E. R. H., February 5, 1907. Pages 543-545, JOHN REGER, SR. John Reger, Sr., fourth son of Jacob and Barbary (Crites) Reger, was born January 15, 1769, died May 14, 1849. The period of his birth was highly conducive to the development of those characteristics which rendered him conspicuous, even among the men of his time, for those qualities both mental and physical which then, as now, are held in highest esteem. Doubtless his youthful imagination was excited to emulate, so far as possible, the example of his two older brothers, who were in the Revolutionary Army, for at a very early age, where all were accomplished along these lines, he was considered an exceptionally fine marksman, ready, as De Hess writes of other boys of that time, "at twelve or thirteen years of age to act as a fort soldier." Under the most trying circumstances he is represented as cautious, but always calm and courageous, with an eye that never quailed and a muscle that never quivered. Thus it was he grew to manhood, so strong, so brave, so determined in purpose, and yet so gentle, so tender and so kind, was his nature, that "none knew him but to love and trust." "The bravest are the gentlest." When he was 21 years old he stood six feet two inches in his sock feet. "Massive in person, a huge body, a great head, stalwart arms, and a heart big, brave and bountiful." To his prodigious feats of physical strength, the writer should hesitate to refer, lest they be deemed exaggerations, but fortunately there still remain those, who from eye witnesses have received similar reports, and others still, are matters of family history, one as follows: a man greatly priding himself in his physical powers, having heard rumors of John Reger's strength, journeyed to the home of the latter, whom he found engaged in some peaceful pursuit, near the door of his cabin, from which projected a porch, or in the parlance of the time, a "stoop." When challenged by the stranger, our hero disclaimed all desire or ambition to excel and freely accorded his would-be-opponent the highest merit, but with the utmost insistence the stranger continually drew nearer, "when all of a sudden" he found himself resting, not easily, upon the "stoop" roof, quite willing the question should be dismissed without further discussion. Many other instances might be added, all of which would prove not only his unusual strength, but also the modesty with which he used his extraordinary powers, only for the attainment of that which was in itself meritorious. The murder of Edwin West, Sr., occurred December 5, 1778. John Reger married his daughter, Elizabeth West, in 1779. She was one of the two sisters to whom reference is made in Withers Chronicles, page 378. That this was a "true love match," the most indubitable proof was given by the brave lover, who neither daunted by the. distance, 150 miles, nor the perils of the way, walked to Winchester and back, that, in his own words, "his little Bettie might have "a store gown" in which to be married." Would it be an injustice to the exalted gallantry of the handsome groom, to surmise, that perchance within the ample folds of his hunting shirt there rested, besides the bridal robe, well ! perhaps, a pair of store shoes, which from their size were not intended for "little Bettie?" A merry crowd assembled on the festive occasion of this marriage, among whom were the ancestors of some who have been conspicuous in making the history, not only of Virginia, but also of West Virginia. Of that wedding day of the long, long, ago, one incident alone survives the years, which was related to the writer by one now passed away, who had received it from the lips of the quondam groom — "that on his wedding day, for the amusement of their guests, he held his 'little Bettie' she standing upright on his outstretched palm," The home they built, and in which they so happily lived for almost sixty years, stood on the right hand side of the road leading toward Philippi, opposite Mr. Wellington Strader's residence, and only a short distance from the Reger Church. All that now remains to identify the spot are a few stones which once formed a part of the chimney. Over these Nature has most deftly spread her ever ready adornment, the radiant native Ampelopsis quinquefolia, and yet even these stones are to some suggestive of a period now rapidly receding in the dim and distant past, when this home was a center of usefulness and activity. May we not tarry for a moment to observe the brave men and women who are gathering here to worship, as was for so many years their custom. It is a lovely Sabbath morning, even the sunshine is suggestive of the "day of rest and gladness;" there is a sweet peace brooding over all the hills. Borrowing with small change the phraseology of one who lived at a period near to that of which we write, and was, during his tender years the petted darling of this household — "We see them arriving, whole families, none dared to be left behind lest the merciless foe descend upon them — and so they came, the great strong father, stalwart and loose jointed, in buckskin breeches and linsey hunting shirt, to which, perhaps, loving hands have added an ornamental fringe; in his belt are his bowie knife and tomahawk, in one hand he carries his trusty rifle, while perhaps with the other he bears the youngest of the family. He carries himself as a trained athlete, erect, alert for any sound indicative of the presence of danger; closely following comes his wife and children — a buxom, bonnie brood, as fresh as the dewy woods through which they are passing; and as neither circumstances nor danger can wholly divest the feminine mind of its inherent vanity, we may observe the Sunday gown is a little smarter than the ordinary, though its superiority may consist only in the more vivid coloring, the greater variety of stripes, or the finer texture of the linsey short gown, and petticoat, which she wears with satisfied grace and air of accustomedness, which her descendants may not presume to effect, or, perchance, today my lady appears in a linen gown, for which she assisted in clearing the ground, sowing the seed, hackling the flax, spinning, weaving, bleaching and pressing until it shines like satin, in which case her sunbonnet and gloves are doubtless of the same material — "and truly she is fair to look upon." Mayhap she tarries for a moment before reaching the open to change her homemade moccasins for the store shoes she has hitherto so carefully carried;; the former are placed under a convenient log to await her return. From every direction we see groups arriving, some serious of face and mien, others gay and festive as become their years. The cordial greetings over, the rifles are carefully stacked conveniently near the door, while at least one man takes his stand as sentinel. We await the opening hymn, the first cadence of which, with its tender minor chord has already reached us, it rises, then falls, then swells again like a mighty anthem until it seems the "pearly gates" must surely be ajar, while to us, melody from the choir invisible is floating down through the lambent purity of the serene heavens. Curiosity detains us; there are Abram Carper and his wife, their children and their colored servants, good old Aunt Chloe, who after living more than one hundred years went shouting home to Heaven; also Sampson Caesar, who was sent as a missionary to Monravia. Africa, where for many years he labored with great success. Jacob Rohrbough and wife and children also appear; the Hackers, Jacksons, Cutrights, Bushes, Crites, Brakes, Hyres, Sleeths, Castos and Bozarths are present, also William Strange and his wife, Ann Hitt of French Huegonot extraction; her second husband was a Martin, whose sons were Stephen and Joel; her third husband was Joseph Hall, and their sons were David and Jonathan. Not in the rear on that day sat Barbary Reger (afterward Teter) for she appears in a "bran new" calico gown fastened with "store pin," the first brought to the settlement," the father who was so thoughtful for the sweetheart had now remembered the daughter, and on his last annual trip to Winchester traded furs, etc., for those extravagances, which the dear old lady, with a remiscent smile and a merry twinkle in her calm blue eyes, assured the writer, rendered her a very conspicuous belle in their 'settlement.' Anthony and Philip Reger, both of whom served in the Revolutionary Army, were present, also James Teter. Another interesting figure is Jacob Brake, who, during his captivity with the Indians, acquired all their stoicism, and many other of their characteristics. We also observe Samuel Jackson and his young wife, Barbary Jackson, nee Reger. These at a very early period emigrated Westward. Some may be interested to know that the first camp meeting held on the waters of the "Upper Monongalia" was in connection with this Reger appointment; it began August 17, 1811. under the superintendence of Jacob Gruber, Presiding Elder. John West and Abram Daniels. "Circuit Riders." In 1827, Peter McGowan, Isaac Reynolds and Nathaniel Colander, held a camp meeting in James Teter's orchard, which was almost opposite John Reger 's home, on land now owned by W. Strader; there are doubtless some living who remember hearing of this meeting, which is said to have continued without intermission for eleven consecutive days and nights. Thither a little later came William and John Hank, those sweet singers of Israel; the melody of the former's voice still stirs the writer's heart, though more than forty years have passed since the dear old man, in the midst of 20 or 30 frightened school girls, gathered on the floor about his feet, during the raging of a fearful tempest sang, "From every stormy wind that blows, etc." Let us now return for a brief moment to the subject of this sketch. Let none suppose that because he had only his Bible and Nature from which to gain information, that therefore he was an ignorant man. Nay, verily; endowed with an inquiring and observant mind, and a strong masculine understanding, he found "tongues in trees, books in running brooks, sermons in stones, and good in every thing." Such was his familiarity with the Scriptures, so ready and apt his quotations therefrom, that few cared to antagonize his theological views. He was for 53 years a class leader and exhorter in the M. E. Church; such his intrepidity and skill as a woodsman, scout and hunter from Winchester to the Ohio River, that of him the lines written for another are equally applicable. "He needs no guide in the forest, More than the hunter bees; His guides are the cool, green mosses To the northward of the trees. Nor fears he the foe whose footsteps Go light as the summer air, For his aim is sharp and steady, And his rifles' ring is clear." John and Elizabeth West Reger's children: Jacob, married Permelia Arnold. Abram, married Leah Brake. Second wife, Permelia Rohrbough. Edmund, died young. Elizabeth, married Jacob Crislip. Barbary, married James Teter, 1820. Second husband, Peter Zinn. ------------------------------------------------------------------- If you've reached this file through a SEARCH, you can access other biographies for Upshur County, WV by going to the following URL: http://www.us-data.org/wv/upshur/bios.html -------------------------------------------------------------------