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, Rebecca Anna Brown (1822-1893) ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 552-555, 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 married 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 extravagance 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., Lieut. 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 Cincinnati; 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 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 Hawthorne, 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 guardian 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 affection, and to this spot of tender memories, as to "love's shrine," pilgrimages 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 reminiscence 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 Honorable Victor Brown Dolliver, entitled, "Reviewing the Scenes of My Childhood," 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 strong, so intensely interested in numerous useful activities, in the full meridian of successful manhood, should on February 24th, 1907, have suddenly 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 oratorical 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 sumrfter 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 sympathetic 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, "whatever of success he had achieved should be attributed to the tireless industry, prudent economy, self-sacrifice, encouragement and inspiration of his wife." Where- ever her house was, there was a home for the itinerant preachers, and her willing 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 intellectual 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. 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 Morgantown, 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 consecrated lives still linger in many homes and many hearts. ------------------------------------------------------------------- (wife of Rev. John W. Reger, D. D.) Register of Deaths, Upshur County, WV (Pages 54-55) FULL-NAME: Rebecca A. Reger BIRTH-PLACE: Preston Co. AGE-AT-DEATH: 72 years DEATH-DATE: January 28, 1893 DEATH-PLACE: Buckhannon MARITAL-STATUS: Married OCCUPATION: Housewife CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Apoplexy PHYSICIAN: R. A. Reger BURIAL: Heavner Cemetery (husband of Rebecca A. Brown Reger) Register of Deaths, Upshur County, WV (Pages 56-57) FULL-NAME: Jno. W. Reger AGE-AT-DEATH: 78y-5m-1d DEATH-DATE: July 6, 1893 DEATH-PLACE: Buckhannon MARITAL-STATUS: Widower CAUSE-OF-DEATH: Dis. of Liver ------------------------------------------------------------------- There's a double-tombstone in Heavner Cemetery, Buckhannon, WV John W. Reger, D. D. Rebecca A. Brown, his wife 1815-1893 1822-1893 ------------------------------------------------------------------- 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 -------------------------------------------------------------------