Samuel Chrislip, son of Jacob and Nancy Christlieb
1800–1889
The Christlieb-Chrislip-Crislip Family Association, in the 1980s, asked Association members to design and construct banners for each branch of the Christlieb-Chrislip-Crislip family. This banner represents Samuel Chrislip, the thirteenth child of Jacob and Nancy Christlieb.
Samuel Chrislip
Samuel Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2) was the thirteenth child born to Jacob and Nancy Christlieb. He was born in Harrison County, Virginia (later Barbour County, West Virginia) on 2 May 1800, the same year that Thomas Jefferson became the nation’s third president. Below is Samuel’s birth entry copied by him from an earlier record; probably his parents’ family Bible.
A surviving artifact, once belonging to Samuel, is a single page from his “Hand and Pen Copy Book.” Dated December 1818, when Samuel was 18 years old, the page contains eighteen lines of penmanship.
One of the lines reads, “He that is wicked is hatefull.” Another reads, “He that sins will sink in sorrow – Crislip.” Samuel’s name appears a third time at the bottom of the page, as seen below. In all cases, he spelled the family surname without the “h”, evidence that he had yet to decide how he would spell his name in adult life.
Samuel Chrislip was 39 years old when he married Eleanor Jane Board, on 19 May 1839. Born 28 January 1824, she was 15 years old when she married Samuel. Eleanor Jane Board was the eldest of seven children born of Reuben and Nancy (Pepper) Board, Fauquier County, Virginia.
Eleanor Jane (Board) Chrislip
Samuel Chrislip's Lands
According to the terms of his father’s will that was drafted in April 1821, Samuel and his six brothers were to share equally in the profits from the sale of all the lands that he had accumulated in his lifetime.
In his will, Jacob required that “my three sons to wit: William, Abraham, & Samuel do hold possession of all my lands to improve and cultivate at their will and for their profit and benefit inclusive of the said maintenance of her my wife Nancy during her natural life.”
A tax list compiled in 1847 shows that Samuel Chrislip paid taxes on 300 acres of land on Limestone Creek in Harrison County. According to the tax table, the value of the acreage plus building was $750. The amount of tax paid by Samuel appears to have been 75¢. List of the Land Tax Within the District of J.B. Denham, Commissioner of the Revenue in the County of Harrison.
On 8 February 1858, Samuel and Eleanor sold to Abraham [sic Abram] Chrislip 133 acres of land on Elk Creek. Barbour County Deed Book 4, p. 142. On that same date, Samuel purchased from Abram and his wife, Amanda, 52 acres. The location of the acreage is not mentioned in the index of deeds. Barbour County Deed Book 4, p. 140.
On 11 March 1865, Samuel and Eleanor deeded to J.N. Hall 150 acres of land on Elk Creek. Barbour County Deed Book 8, p. 441.
On 24 June 1875, Samuel Chrislip deeded 190 ¾ acres on Elk Creek to his sons, Gipson Roy and Samuel Lee. Barbour County Deed Book 16, p. 347. Within the next twelve years, Gipson acquired more than 190 acres of land in that vicinity, through two other purchases.
Back to TopChildren of Samuel Chrislip and Eleanor Jane Board
Sarah Melissa Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, Samuel Chrislip3) [790], born 14 June 1840; died 7 February 1929; married 1st, 17 October 1857, Lamar M. Hoff; born 1825, in Harrison County, Virginia; son of Henson Lewis and Ann (Rightmire) Hoff. Lamar Hoff died 18 October 1865, at age 32. Sarah Melissa Hoff married 2nd, Theodore Nutter.
Virginia Alciuda “Ann” Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, Samuel Chrislip3) [791], born 6 November 1842; died 29 March 1908; married, 20 October 1864, in Barbour County, West Virginia, Job Harrison Glasscock.
Deniza Ann Lieubertima Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, Samuel Chrislip3) [792], 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.
Harriet Alice Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, Samuel Chrislip3) [794], born 17 October 1845; died 18 June 1916, in Salt Lick, Braxton County, West Virginia; married, 18 October 1869, in Barbour County, West Virginia, Charles Wilson Wade, son of Henry Slaven Wade and Frances Arbogast; born September 1847; died 22 February 1927.
Strickler James H. Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, Samuel Chrislip3) [805], born 1847; died 21 February 1853, age 5 years, 7 months, & 3 days. “In 1853 occurred the first murder trial in the county. Thomas Board waylaid and shot his nephew, Strickler J.H. Chrislip, a small child, and was indicted for the offence in April, was tried in July, and hanged in October.” History of Barbour County, West Virginia, p. 211.
Martin V. B. Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, Samuel Chrislip3) [805], born May 1850. Probably named after President Martin Van Buren, he is listed in the 1850 census at age 4/12 (age four months). Census records indicate that Martin may have died ca. 1853. A burial site is thought to be in the old family cemetery at Chrislip Hollow.
Samuel Lee Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, Samuel Chrislip3) [805], born 10 February 1851. The birth year for Samuel Lee was previously given as 1850. However, the 1850 Federal Census, which was taken on September 24th of that year, does not include him. Had he been born in 1850, he would have been 7 months of age when the census was taken. Samuel Lee Chrislip died single, of typhoid fever, in Kansas, at age 31, on 6 November 1881. His death notice was published in the Philippi Plain Dealer on November 10, 1881:
“It is with a great degree of sadness that we record the death of one of our old schoolmates, who departed this life a few days ago at his home in Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas. Mr. S. L. Crislip of whom we write had been residing with his sister for several years. But death has at last severed the cord of life and another soul whom we held in high esteem on account of his own intrinsic goodness and unbroken relations of pleasant fellowship born of associations bound up forever in the misty past, has been called, we trust to enter into the unspeakable rest of the righteous. Many are the times we have gathered like brothers kneeling together around one sacred family altar in our humble chamber, with still another who, not long ago crossed the strange, mysterious line, and exchanged our words of comfort, encouragement and hope. We cannot remember two men who were more closely bound to us by the cords of affection than Lee Crislip and Perry Marteney. But they are now wrapped in eternity’s robe. Above the grave of one will kindly bloom the wild prairie flower, while Flora’s mountain gems will stand like angel watchers round the other’s tomb. The deceased was that brother of Mrs. J. H. Glascock of this place. The cause of death was typhoid fever.”
Almond Draper Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, Samuel Chrislip3) [805], born 23 September 1853; died 2 January 1863, at age 9 years, 3 months, 28 days.
Gipson Roy Chrislip, (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, Samuel Chrislip3) [805], born 17 January 1855; died 4 January 1934; married, 1 January 1884, in Taylor County, West Virginia, Frances “Fannie” J. Reynolds. Gipson is believed named after his uncle, Gipson Board.
Floyd H. Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, Samuel Chrislip3) [808], born 11 August 1858; died 27 October 1865 at age 7 years, 2 months, 11 days.
Marcellus Reuben Chrislip, (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, Samuel Chrislip3) [809], born 17 May 1862; died 7 July 1931; married, 29 December 1887, in Barbour County, West Virginia, Mary Virginia Young.
Lucinda Chrislip (Friedrich Carl Christlieb1, Jacob Christlieb2, Samuel Chrislip3) [813], died in infancy in 1863. Her grave was marked with a fieldstone in the Chrislip Cemetery at Chrislip Hollow. It is assumed to be close to the graves of Samuel and Eleanor Jane.
Strickler James H. Chrislip, Died Feb.27 1853,
Aged 5 Y, 7 M, 3 D - Chrislip Cemetery,
Chrislip Hollow, near Philippi, West Virginia
Almond D. Chrislip, Died Jan. 21, 1863,
Aged 9 Y, 3 M, 28 D - Chrislip Cemetery,
Chrislip Hollow,
near Philippi, West Virginia
Floyd H. Chrislip Headstone - Chrislip Cemetery,
Chrislip Hollow, near Philippi, West Virginia
These are the gravestones of Strickler, Almond, and Floyd Chrislip, sons of Samuel Chrislip and Eleanor Board, who preceded them in death. For many years, Lucinda’s grave was marked with a piece of fieldstone that was later discarded. Unfortunately, the exact site of her grave is unknown.
Loss of Children
Samuel and Eleanor endured the sadness of losing five children: In 1853, their son Strickler was murdered by his uncle, Thomas Board, at age 5; in 1858, their son, Floyd died at age 7; in 1863, their son, Almond, died at age 10; an infant daughter, Lucinda, died ca. 1863; and son, Samuel Lee, died of typhoid fever in Kansas, at age 31.
Deaths of Samuel and Eleanor Jane Chrislip
After being married to Eleanor for 50 years, Samuel died in 1889, just twenty days shy of his 89th birthday. Of his 13 siblings, Mary was the only one to live longer than Samuel. She died at age 90.
Samuel’s eulogy, which was given at his funeral in the Hall Church, later known as Elk City United Methodist Church, near his home, reveals a well lived life.
“Correct and prompt in his business, he never had a suit in court, but lost hundreds of dollars on his debtors. He was a friend to the poor man, realizing that it is more blessed to give than to receive. He always kept out of debt. Being successful in business he gave all his children a good start in the worlds. He wanted his children to go in good society.” The eulogy reveals that Samuel suffered from a chronic disease for many long years. “He endured his sickness as a good soldier for Jesus, without murmuring and without complaining.”
Eleanor Board was just 15 years old when she married Samuel Chrislip in 1839. A widow for twenty years, she died on 22 June 1909, at age 85 years. Dated June 1, 1901, an announcement of her death reads:
“Mrs. Eleanor J. Chrislip succumbed to Death Early Tuesday Morning. One of the noblest characters of Barbour County passed to her final reward Tuesday morning shortly after 4 o'clock, when Mrs. Eleanor J. Chrislip died at the home of her son, Marcellus R. Chrislip, on High Street, the congealing breath of death coming like the soft breeze on an autumn day.”
Samuel Chrislip Headstone - Chrislip Cemetery,
Chrislip Hollow,
near Elk City, West Virginia
Eleanor Jane Chrislip Headstone - Chrislip Cemetery,
Chrislip Hollow,
near Elk City, West Virginia
Samuel and Eleanor Jane are interred in the Chrislip Cemetery at Chrislip Hollow near Elk City, West Virginia. They are buried near their sons, Strickler, Almond, and Floyd.
A pair of Windsor-style chairs handcrafted by Samuel Chrislip, were inherited by his son, Marcellus, who handed them down to his son, Walter Grant Chrislip. Nancy Chrislip White, daughter of Walter, has generously passed them on to two other descendants.
Windsor-style Chairs crafted by Samuel Chrislip
Daughters of Samuel and Eleanor Chrislip. Standing left to right: Harriet Alice Chrislip Wade, Deniza Ann Chrislip Reger. Seated left to right: Virginia Ann Chrislip Glasscock, Sarah Melissa Chrislip Nutter. Lovingly restored, the loveseat graces the living room of descendant, Nancy Chrislip White, Grafton, West Virginia.
A view of Samuel and Eleanor Chrislip's home, ca. 1894. Seated left, Mary Virginia Young Chrislip. Standing, Marcellus Chrislip. Small child, Harriet Blanche Chrislip (McKinney). Seated, Samuel Chrislip's widow, Eleanor Jane Née Board. Older child, Edna Jane Crislip (Ryan). A farm hand is standing by the gate. The housekeeper and mid-wife is standing behind the fence.
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Here are photographs of Samuel and Eleanor Chrislip’s home as it appeared in its final years. The photo at the left reveals that the house was built in Federal style having a central chimney, gable return, and six over six windows, of which there may have been as many as eight on the second floor. The house appears to have had two entrances on the front. The photo on the right shows the other side of the house, where there were fewer windows. Samuel and Eleanor Jane Chrislip’s home and surrounding acreage was eventually acquired by their son, Gipson. Unfortunately, the house fell into disrepair and was eventually torn down.
Samuel and Eleanor Chrislip's home in decline.
