Isaac, son of Jacob and Nancy Christlieb
1797–1881
Isaac Chrislip and his twin sister, Margaret, were the eleventh and twelfth children born to Jacob and Nancy Christlieb. The sister and brother twins were born 16 October 1797, the same year that John Adams became the second president of the United States. Thomas Jefferson was his Vice President. It was at this time in history that the cast-iron plow was invented, but farmers were afraid to use it in fear that it would poison the soil.
This is Isaac’s birth entry as set down in an old family record.
A bachelor, Isaac lived to age 84, dying in 1881. He was buried in the Chrislip Cemetery at Chrislip Hollow. For over 100 years, his grave was marked with a simple fieldstone on which his initials were carved. Because the marker was found discarded over the cemetery fence, there was no way to determine which of the unmarked graves in the cemetery would have been Isaac’s. When a new marble gravestone for him was erected in the old family cemetery, an arbitrary location was chosen.
When Jacob Christlieb made his will in 1821, he stipulated that, after Nancy’s death his sons would share equally in the profits of the estate. He specifically provided, “that my son, Isaac do hold possession of his [black] smith shop during the said time at his will.”
Upon seeing a photograph of Isaac Crislip, Benjamin Franklin Christlieb remarked that there was a strong resemblance between this Isaac and his first cousin, Isaac Christlieb, who was B. F. Christlieb’s father. According to his description, both men had dark eyes, were of fair complexion, with light shade of hair, and prominent features of the face—high foreheads and large noses and prominent chins. Benjamin Franklin Christlieb went on to say that Isaac Chrislip “…had a kindly expression of many of the race.” It is unfortunate that Isaac Chrislip‘s photo has been lost.
Isaac died in 1881, at age 84. Only two of his 13 siblings enjoyed longer lives than he did: Samuel died at age 89; Mary died at age 90.
Isaac Chrislip's headstone, in the Chrislip Cemetery, at Chrislip Hollow.
