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(The source of the pink information below is
Decendants of Hans Jacob Rueger by Henry Koffman (Reger Family Genealogist) via Internet posting).
When Philip Reger married, he lived in what became Buckhannon, but he moved to the Brushy Fork area in 1795 after the danger from the Indians subsided. He was one of the Trustees of the new town of Buckhannon, a trustee of the Carper Church, a justice of the peace for 40 years and the first sheriff of Lewis County, which included what is now Upshur County.
Philip Reger's first wife was Sara Jackson, a great aunt of "Stonewall" Jackson. His second wife was Mary Jane "Dorcas" Forenash. [Susan Snyder Note: In another part of Henry Koffman's document, Koffman states that Philip's wifes in order were (1) Mary Bozarth, daughter of John Bzarth, (2) Mary Jane "Dorcas" Forinash (3) Rachel Vandeventer, and (4) Mary Sarah Jackson on 23 October 1788 in Randolph Co, Virginia of John Jackson and Elizabeth Cummins.]
"Dorcas" had been a captive of the Indians. Their sixth child and fourth son was John Jackson Reger, born June 4, 1810. Philip died in 1846, left his home place to his youngest son, Nathan, near Spruce Fork. Nathan sold his 350 acres in 1859 for $10.00 an acre, bought 350 acres in Ireland, Lewis County for $8.00 an acre. Made a profit of $700.
Philip Reger was a private in the American Revolution. The third son of Hans Jacob Reger (#233) and Barbara (Crites) (#234) Reger he was still a resident of Hampshire County, VA in 1782, when at the age of fifteen he volunteered as private in Captain James Simmerel's Company, Virginia Troops, Patriot Army, and served six months or until the close of the Revolution, the following November. He was employed in guarding the Yorktown prisoners confined in the Winchester Barracks, VA.
For this service he was granted a pension in 1832.
I [Henry Koffman] have a copy of Philip's letter dated Nov. 6, 1832 applying for this pension which amounted to $20. per annum. The record on file states,
" While residing in said Hampshire County, Philip Reger enlisted on the South Fork of the South Branch of the Potomac River, in the spring of 1782, and served two tours of three months each as a private in Captain James Simmeral's company of Virginia militia, and guarded the prisoners taken at the Siege of Yorktown, at the Barracks near Winchester, Virginia."
He was allowed a pension on his application executed November 6, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Lewis County, Virginia."
He was one of the appointed trustees for Buckhannon when the village was created a town in 1816. He was first Sheriff of Lewis County, and was a Justice of the Peace for forty years.
Little is known of Reger's life on the border. He was sometimes employed as a hunter in Henry Jackson's surveying parties, and also engaged in scouting during the last years of Indian hostilities on the border. With Samuel Jackson, he was watching an Indian trail on the Upper West Fork waters, and while lying concealed in a thicket, was bitten by a rattlesnake. Reger soon grew blind, and Jackson, a very strong man, carried him and their two guns to the nearest settlement, some ten or twelve miles distant. Reger suffered intense agony from the wound, but under the application of such remedies as were at hand, he eventually recovered.
Philip Reger was one of the appointed trustees for Buchhannon, when that village wa[s] created a town in 1816. He was the first Sheriff of Lewis County, and was a justice of the Peace for forty years.
Patented a large tract of land near Lorentz. First Sheriff of Lewis County (circa 1843) and a member of the county court until his death. With the Virginia Militia in the Revolutionary War. Buried in family cemetery of the "Old Ben Reger Place" off Red Rock Road, North side of US 33 about 2 miles SW of Buckhannon, W. VA. Also, see "Hacker's Creek Journal" Vol XI, No , P, 55 for information from Phillip Reger Bible, 1793, Brushy Fork VA.
Philip Reger's wife Sara Jackson, was a great aunt of "Stonewall" Jackson. His second wife was Mary Jane "Dorcas" Forenash. She had been a captive of the Indians. Their sixth child and fourth son was John Jackson Reger, born June 4, 1810. Philip died in 1846, left his home place to his youngest son, Nathan, near Spruce Fork. Nathan sold his 350 acres in 1859 for $10.00 an acre, bought 350 acres in Ireland, Lewis County for $8.00 an acre. Made a profit of $700.
Hardesty's West Virginia Counties, Lewis Co. Pg. 194
History of Lewis Co., West Virginia....Smith, pg. 166/67 and 416
History of Harrison Co., West Virginia...Haymond, pg 448Will of Philip Reger: Lewis County, West Virginia Wills, Vol. B, 1825 - 1878
pg. 54 & 55 LDS Fam. Hist. Lib., Salt Lake City, utah, microfilm #819929.Border Settlers of Northwestern Virginia by L.V. McWhorter, pg. 298
Children of Philip Reger and Mary Forinash are:
i. Nathan6 Reger.
ii. John Jackson Reger, born 1810; died 1896. He married Jemima Kessel; died 1902.Children of Philip Reger and Mary Jackson are:
i. Mary Jane6 Reger.
ii. Rachel Reger.__________________________________________
[Note: Philip's son, John Jackson Reger, donated land for the Reger Chapel church, as described in the article below. The son of Anthony Reger (#117), Henry Reger (#59) and Philip's son John Jackson Reger are referred to as being first cousins in the following article.]
Remembering Reger Chapel's Spiritual Heritage and How It Began
By Mary Ellen Corder
Reger Chapel
United Methodist Church
Brushy Fork, Upshur Co., WV
--Heritage Program--It began with a family named Reger, for which the Church got its name, and who made it possible to have a Church Cemetery. It also began with our dedicated forefathers. Some may have been your great great great grandparents, Uncles or Aunts.
The valley of Brushy Fork extends for a distance of approximately three miles. Settlements of this area were made between 1778 and 1812. The first settler to acquire land here was a man by the name of John Reger.
On September 12, 1833, twenty-three year old John Jackson Reger married eighteen year old Jemima Kessel. Their marriage was recorded in Lewis County of which Brushy Fork was a part of at that time.
On May 29th, 1839, one hundred-forty acres of land on Brushy Fork of Fink's Run was deeded to John J Reger by his father, Philip Reger.
John J and Jemima built their home just beyond Reger Chapel on the site where a "Bungalow" style house now stands. (This may have been the location of the present Earl Smith property or Gertie and Ordie Lantz property. One would have to check the deed records for the true location.)
On April 17,1854, a piece of ground was given by John Jackson Reger for the purpose of building a Church.
The logs were hauled by oxen by John Jackson's first cousin, Henry Reger (#59), from the farm of Anthony Reger. [Susan Snyder's Note: The farm might have been originally owned by Henry's father (Anthony) who died in 1806 or it could be the farm of Henry's son (Anthony) who was born about 1816 (source ancestry.com)]. The lumber was sawed at a saw-mill on Spruce Fork.(a picture of the saw-mill is on display)
The Reger Chapel Church was the first church built to completion in 1854. It was a Methodist Episcopal Church. The principal builders and contributors were Nimrod Reger, Elijah Hyre, Jonas Strader, Valentine Strader, John J Reger, Anthony Reger, all of whom lived on Brushy Fork, and Henry Reger (#59), father of Anthony Reger, Goodman Reger, Martin Reger, William Reger, John Reger, all of whom lived on Finks Run or its tributaries. Note: Anthony Reger was the grandfather of Ruth Sutton Queen. [Susan Snyder's Note: the Straders listed here are probably related to Henry's wife, Barbara Strader (#60).]
(Note: by Mary Ellen Corder. I have learned that a Mr. Marcel West helped to build the original part of Reger Chapel Church. He and his wife, Ida, are buried in the Church Cemetery.)
On March 12, 1890, additional land for one and a fourth (1 1/4) acres to the cemetery was given by John Jackson Reger and his wife Jemima Kessel Reger.
John Jackson Reger and his wife Jemima lived on Brushy Fork until his death in 1896. She died in 1902 and both are buried in the Reger Chapel Cemetery in back of the Church.
So you can understand more about this John Jackson and Jemima Reger I have a picture of them to present to the church. Note: the long beard he has and a broach she is wearing with John J's picture. I was able to get the picture and information from Gwen Reger, genealogist for the Reger Family.
Continuing with the history
The first class meeting ever held in the Reger Chapel Church was organized by Henry Reger. He was the Class Leader until his death, then his son was chosen leader and held that position until his death.
The first funeral held at this church was Rev. L. D. Casto's in 1890. Anna (post) Greene remembered attending the funeral of a colored man who is buried in the Reger Chapel Cemetery, a former slave. His name is John Dean.
There was a Circuit Rider, the Rev. F. H. J. King, of Kingwood, WV who pastored at Reger Chapel, about (1903-04 or 5). One of his children died and was buried while he was away from home as there were no communication at that time. Information from Mrs E.C. Wereley.
Contact person for this website is Susan Snyder: susanleachsnyder@gmail.com
