Martin Luther Crislip
1815–1899
Martin Luther Crislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, John Chrislip3), born 1815, Harrison County, Virginia; died 1899, Gilmer County, West Virginia; married his first cousin, Sarah Ann Chrislip, born 1824; died 1873. Sarah Ann was the daughter of William and Hannah (Ward) Chrislip. Martin and Sarah Ann’s marriage license can be seen below. After Sarah Ann died, Martin Luther Crislip married, 2nd, Nancy Sleith Carson, a widow. Martin and Nancy’s marriage license can also be seen below.
Documents pertaining to lands purchased by Martin Luther Crislip as well as to the settlement of his estate can be seen here.
"Martin had helped his father [John] clear out much of the virgin timberland. By the time he was grown, he was a giant in strength and in stature. One day he decided to hike cross-country to visit his first cousin, Peregrine Crislip. Peregrine's sister, Sarah Ann, was visiting her brother, and this is how they first met. They fell in love and married. My grandfather told me that Sarah Ann was a beautiful and high-spirited woman. It is no wonder they fell in love.” “She had brought a large amount of money with her when she came to visit her brother. With this and her charm she convinced her cousin to elope. The marriage upset the family on both sides. Martin took his wife and they isolated themselves for a long time. With her money and his energy they purchased about 500 acres of virgin timberland. They cleared and farmed vast acreage. Since there was not much demand for lumber, much of the timber was rolled down hill and burned. The houses were all built of logs. The roofs were made of hand-split shakes.”
Martin Luther Crislip
Marriage Bond of Martin Luther Crislip and Sarah Ann Chrislip
“The cracks were chinked with clay. The chimney was made of wood and lined heavily with clay. The floors were mostly clay, packed hard. They raised their family at this place.”
“They sold many mules and hogs to both sides of the army, during the Civil War. When the war was over the slaves were freed, but an old couple wouldn't leave. They were too old to make a go of it. They lived with "Massy and Missy" until they died. Martin built them a house of their own and provided for them to the end. They lived to be very old. My father remembered them.”
Marriage License of Martin Luther Crislip and Nancy Sleith Carson
“When the war was over, even though they had a butter churn packed with money, they found themselves not so rich, as most of it was Confederate money. However, they still had their land and livestock, and so they got along fine. They had been married about 17 years when the Civil War broke out. After his family had grown up and his wife had passed away, my great-grandfather married a widow by the name of Nancy Sleith Carson, the mother of his son-in-law.”
“One day he was out working, and while clearing some timberland, a log got away from him and rolled over him. He was killed. His widow was still living at that time. She was the great aunt of Ray Sleith, husband of Fanny Crislip.” James Clyde Crislip, Rock Creek, Ohio.
Children of Martin Luther Crislip and Sarah Ann Chrislip
William Luther Crislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, John Chrislip3 & William Chrislip3, Martin Luther Crislip4 & Sarah Ann Chrislip4) [440], born 10 October 1847 near Philippi, Barbour County, (West) Virginia; died 19 June 1924; married Mary Jane Frymier, daughter of William and Eliza (Crites) Frymier, born 22 May 1847, Upshur County, (West) Virginia; died 13 April 1935.
John L. Crislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, John Chrislip3 & William Chrislip3, Martin Luther Crislip4 & Sarah Ann Chrislip4) [526], born 1849; married Margaret C. Post.
Caroline Crislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, John Chrislip3 & William Chrislip3, Martin Luther Crislip4 & Sarah Ann Chrislip4) [526], born 1853; married 1st, John Nixon; married 2nd, George Tyler Faris, born 14 August 1849; died June 1883, Braxton County, West Vriginia; married 3rd, Isaiah Gillispie.
Theodore Riley Crislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, John Chrislip3 & William Chrislip3, Martin Luther Crislip4 & Sarah Ann Chrislip4) [534], born 19 February 1854, Harrison County, Virginia; died 20 December 1898 at age 80 years, 10 months and 1 day – buried at Spencer, West Virginia; married, 5 May 1881, in Harrison County at age 27, Mary Adeline Richards, age 16, daughter of David and Elizabeth Richards, born 22 July 1865; died 9 October 1944 in Charleston, West Virginia.
Martin Acquilla Crislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, John Chrislip3 & William Chrislip3, Martin Luther Crislip4 & Sarah Ann Chrislip4) [544], born 1856.
Charles Wesley Crislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, John Chrislip3 & William Chrislip3, Martin Luther Crislip4 & Sarah Ann Chrislip4) [544], born 1858; married 1st, Dora G. Nutter; married 2nd, Villia Bell Boyles.
Samuel Draper Crislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, John Chrislip3 & William Chrislip3, Martin Luther Crislip4 & Sarah Ann Chrislip4) [526], born ca. 1860; died young.
Leah Ann Crislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, John Chrislip3 & William Chrislip3, Martin Luther Crislip4 & Sarah Ann Chrislip4) [526], born ca. 1863; died young.
Margaret Ann Crislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, John Chrislip3 & William Chrislip3, Martin Luther Crislip4 & Sarah Ann Chrislip4) [526], born ca. 1866.
