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• (Source: Decendants of Hans Jacob Rueger by Henry Koffman (Reger Family Genealogist) via Internet posting.

Saul Reger knew no English, until he was about 20 years old. At that time he attended a camp meeting, where he met a girl whom he thought was the most beautiful girl in the world. Her name was Mariah E. Dobson. She was only 17 years old. She was a Christian girl and taking a very active part in the meeting. As he was a Christian boy himself this pleased him very much. In later years he became a prominent Methodist minister in his community. To make a long story short, after the meeting closed, he went to her home and formed a better acquaintance with her and her parents. They were soon married and he took her to his home on French Creek, Rockingham County VA. Married by Rev. John Mitchell.

The young wife later became a teacher in the English schools.

After five children were born to them, they decided to go to Indiana. This was about 1826. They traveled in wagons: the men and older boys walked most of the way. The country was all wilderness, and the roads almost impassable. They became very discouraged, and decided to go back to Virginia. They met another family on the road who knew the country very well, and advised them to go near what is now Pendleton, Indiana.

So, they did. When they saw the fine farm land, they decided to stay and make it their home.

Adam Dobson, a brother-in-law of Saul, was one of the group. He bought 80 acres, part of which Pendleton now stands on. He walked all the way to Indianapolis to buy it and make out the papers. Saul bought a half section of land at the intersection of what is now State Road 38 and Co Rd 100 E. Saul and Mariah had three more children born to them, making eight in all.

A great loss came into their home. The mother died when the youngest child was but a few days old. She died on March 2, 1844 and was buried in the Busby Cemetry - no marker.

He then married Martha Busby. After providing a farm for each of his three boys remaining in this county, he and his family moved to Missouri. He was just as prosperous as he was in Indiana. With the land he owned in Indiana and Missouri, he had 2140 acres at the time of his death July 24, 1866. His second wife died June 20, 1876 and was born July 17, 1825.

The town of Reger MO is named after him.

Saul was listed as a Prosperous farmer, a Republican, and a local preacher." "History of the Creitz/Crites/Critz Families" Listed as Rev Solomon Reger/Rager and also as Samuel Rager.

(Received the following from Lawrence Reger)
In about 1825 Saul Reger left Lewis County, West Virginia with wife Mariah Dobson and about 8 Children plus his Mother Anna Susanna Simons Reger (#118) , (died 1835 and buried in Busby Cemetery, Madison County, near Anderson, Indiana) the widow of Anthony Reger (#117) (B. 1755), Sauls Father Anthony was the son of Hans Jacob Reager (#223) and Barbara Crites (#224) .(Kruetz, Cruetz) Hans Jacob was born in 1733 and arrived with his parents Antoni Rueger (#465) and Barbara Wirtzin (#466) in Philadelphia aboard the Virtious Grace in 1737. I have copy of original ship manifest translated into English which I found in the Tulpehocken Pa. Historical Society documents. They sailed out of Rotterdam, but were actually Swiss immigrants. Canton Basel, Switzerland. At Mariah's death (she is also buried in Busby Cemetery, Madison County, near Anderson, Indiana) Saul married Mary Busby in Madison County, Indiana and migrated to Sullivan Co. Missouri. Saul and Mary had another 8 or 10 children. Land Patent records show Saul with several land patents in Sullivan County approximately 1834- 1850's. period. With about 4 or 5 of his first wives children and 10 new ones by second wife they probably populated the whole county and may in fact be the original roots to your tree. Saul and Mary are buried in the Henry Cemetery just south of Milan, Missouri. Don't know if this helps but at least gives you some very early Reger names and locations from 1737Philadelphia, To 1738-1749 Tulpehocken(Wolmelsdorf) Pa., Then 1750's Lord Fairfax Leased (21 year) land on the west branch of the Patomic near Moorefield, WV. today. then in 1780's to area near Buckhannon, WV today, this is where Saul left from in 1820's. to Indiana prior to Sullivan County.

Mariah Dobson, Saul's first wife is buried at Busby Cemetery: located on ST. RD. 38 East of Pendleton on Private Property in Madison County, Indiana. [Susan Snyder Note: It seems worth noting that Saul's first wife, Mariah Dobson, is buried at Busby Cemetery and his second wife's name is Mary Busby.]

Reger:
Mariah b. 1802 d. March 2, 1844
Stone says wife of Saul, age 41y 9m 5d

Mariah and Saul had 9 children before she died in 1844 .Their children included: Lorenzo Dow Reger, Robert Manley Reger, Susannah Reger, Mary D. Reger, Anthony Reger, Henry Reger, Virginia B. Reger, Saul Reger,Jr, and James Havens Reger,

Mary and Saul had 5 children before she died. Their children included: William Madison Reger, Lewis Philip Reger, John Strange Reger, Laura Victoria Reger, and Orra Minter Reger.

Contact person for this website is Susan Snyder: susanleachsnyder@gmail.com