Deniza Ann Lieubertima Chrislip
1843–1917
Deniza Ann Lieubertima Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, Samuel Chrislip3), born 3 September 1843; died 4 August 1917 in Exeter, California. Two months after her 21st birthday, Deniza Ann married on 10 November 1864, Joel Williamson Reger, having applied for their marriage license three days before on the 7th of that month. Joel and Deniza’s ages were given on the document as both being twenty years old, suggesting perhaps that Deniza did not want to appear older than her husband. The marriage license and return was written entirely by hand by the court recorder. The absence of marriage license forms may have been due to the fact that Deniza and Joel were married while the Civil War was in full force, a time when paper forms were in short supply or had run out altogether. Deniza and Joel’s marriage license can be seen below.
“Joel Reger reportedly fought for the Confederacy. His grandson-in-law said that “he fought the war until the day he died.” However, Joel was unable to actually fight to the close of the war. He came home and was caught by the home guard trying to return to his company. His brother did some fast talking, he said he would keep an eye on his brother, otherwise he would have been hanged.” Ada Lea Fitz, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The 2005 publication, “Union Soldiers and Sympathizers of Barbour County, West Virginia” states that Joel Reger was a member of the Barbour Light Horse Cavalry at the Battle of Philippi, after which he remained loyal to the Confederacy, enlisting in Company H, 62nd Virginia Mounted Infantry. He was promoted to Corporal in April of 1863; deserted to return home in 1864.
Joel Reger & Deniza Chrislip Marriage License, Barbour County, West Virginia
The last sentence reads, "I certify that I joined the above named parties in matrimony at the residence of bride's parents, Nov. 10, 1864." Because the minister did not sign his name, he remains anonymous. The Court Recorder was Lucas Wilson.
Joel Reger built and operated a tannery at Burnsville in Braxton County, which he sold to his brother, Martin, when Joel and Deniza relocated to Kansas in 1876. In 1892, the couple removed to Oklahoma Territory in 1893, when it was opened by the Government for settlement. On September 16th of that year, they were among the 100,000 land hungry persons who gathered for Cherokee Strip Land Run, the Cherokee Strip being a narrow piece of land in North Oklahoma that was bounded on the north by the Kansas border.
A description of the Cherokee Strip Land Run follows:
“At noon, awaiting cavalry soldiers’ gunshots, the land hungry hopefuls raced by horse, wagon, and even on foot, for the 42,000 claims. By sunset, there were tent cities, endless lines at federal land offices and more losers than winners. Making the race and staking a claim must have seemed simple when compared to establishing a home in the sometimes formidable Cherokee Strip. Many settlers carved sod homes and dugouts from the prairie while others lived in their covered wagons. The first winters were harsh as the land tested the endurance and character of its new inhabitants. Many of the settlers could not endure the harsh conditions, and after weeks, or months, gave up their dream.” Anonymous.
An artist's interpretation of the Cherokee Strip Land Run is shown here:
Cherokee Strip Land Run
Joel and Deniza numbered among the winners in the Cherokee Land Run, in what many have called the last American Frontier. Using an earlier spelling of the family name, Joel registered their claim at the Enid, Oklahoma Land Office, County “O” (later named Garfield County), under Joel Reiger. It is interesting to note that Deniza’s distant cousin, George Washington Christlieb, also participated in the 1893 Cherokee Strip Land Run but was unsuccessful in his efforts. After remaining in Kansas 17 years Joel and Deniza Reger removed to California in 1910.
Deniza Ann Lieubertima (Chrislip) Reger died one month before her 74th birthday, in Exeter, California on August 4, 1917. Deniza’s obituary read:
“Mrs. Deniza A. L. Reger, wife of Joel Reger, of near Exeter, died Saturday, August 4th at 3:15 p.m. from heart trouble from which she has been a sufferer for a number of years. Mrs. Reger was born in Barbour County, West Virginia, September 3, 1843. She was married near Elk City, Virginia on November 10, 1864 to Mr. Joel Reger. To this union three children were born, Mrs. W. R. Humphrey of Nash, Oklahoma; Mr. James Reger of Alhambra, California; and Mrs. Oden Brown of near Exeter.”
“Mrs. Reger was converted in the Methodist church when but a small child and lived a consistent Christian life. Mr. and Mrs. Reger left Virginia and went to Kansas in 1876. When Oklahoma was opened by the Government for settlement, they made the run and gained a homestead. They moved to California seven years ago. Mr. and Mrs. Joel Reger lived a pioneer life. Mrs. Reger had been a patient sufferer for three years until the Lord said to her. “Your work on earth has been finished. We are ready to take you home.” She leaves to mourn, her husband, three children, 14 grandchildren, and 4 great grandchildren, 2 brothers and a host of friends, she being the first to go home to rest.”
Four years after the death of Deniza Ann, Joel Reger died in Exeter, California, on 5 August 1921. Joel shared a common ancestry with that of his second cousin once removed, Elizabeth Reger, who married Jacob Crislip, son of Jacob and Nancy Christlieb.
Children of Deniza Ann Lieubertima Chrislip and Joel Williamson Reger
Catharine Flourella Reger (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, Samuel Chrislip3, Deniza Ann Lieubertima Chrislip4) [794], born 15 September 1865, in LaPorte County, Indiana; married 12 February 1884, in Haven, Kansas, William Riley Humphreys, born 13 November 1859, in Newton County, Indiana.
James Williamson Reger (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, Samuel Chrislip3, Deniza Ann Lieubertima Chrislip4) [794], born 26 October 1868; married and had a son, Joel James Reger.
Georgia Reger (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, Samuel Chrislip3, Deniza Ann Lieubertima Chrislip4) [794], born 21 May 1882; married 1st, Archie Ligon; two children; married 2nd, Charles Olen Brown.
