Association President

Lisa began her interest in genealogy in grade school when she had an assignment of creating her family tree. She still remembers her Dad helping her do the research to find the first few generations of her ancestors. Never, did she imagine that that would lead to accepting the Presidency of the Christlieb-Chrislip-Crislip Family Association, an organization that has been in existence over 39 years, and boasting a database of over 11,000 descendants of Friedrich Carl and Anna Catharina Christlieb.

Lisa has been teaching music and theater in a private Christian School in Lake Forest, California for 14 years. She has also volunteered at her church for over 20 years in the children's ministry. Several years ago she and her sister decided to pursue higher education together. They enrolled in an online university, Grand Canyon University, and supported each other in studying for their bachelor's degrees. Living over 2,000 miles apart they both completed their requirements three years ago, when Lisa received her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education degree and her teaching credential soon afterwards. Hopefully, our members have read their story in the Applause! Applause! column of Jacob's Ladder.

Lisa has written several articles for Jacob's Ladder in an attempt at generating interest keeping the association alive and viable. She has always been a leader and a teacher who teaches by example. So it is not at all surprising that she decided to take the plunge and attempt to get the next generation, her generation, to step up to the challenge in learning and sharing family stories and memorabilia.

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Vice President

Michael was born in 1954 to Gail Patricia Barber née Crislip and George Paul Barber in Ashtabula, Ohio. At that time, his parents lived in Rock Creek, Ohio.

He married Laurie Rae Michelson in 1977. To them were born two sons: Matthew George Michelson Barber, 1982, Fairfax, Virginia; Nathan Michael Barber, 1985, Westminster, London, United Kingdom; and one grandson, Oliver Michael Barber, 2016, Reston, Virginia.

Michael's advanced studies include: Billings Senior High, Billings, Montana; undergraduate work at Rocky Mountain College, Billings, Montana, and Universidade de Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal; and graduate studies at the University of Montana, Missoula, Montana.

Michael was hired by the Central Intelligence Agency in 1980, serving both overseas and domestically. He retired in January, 2014, after 33+ years of service. After retirement he co-founded GoWildPeru, LLC to provide customized junmgle adventures based out of Madre de Dios, Peru. Currently, he is a co-leader of tropical fish collecting expeditions with MT Amazon Expeditions operating out of Iquitos, Peru.

Michael's hobbies include: collecting and keeping tropical fish; woodworking; and gardening.

He is a member of the Potomac Branch of the American Begonia Society (Treasurer), Potomac Valley Aquarium Society (Treasurer and past President-two times), Greater Washington Aquatic Plant Association, Capital Eichlid Association, James River Aquarium Society and the Catfish Study Group. Michael is serving on the board of two non-profits; The PVAS Foundation focused on preserving the reinforest and giving grants for neo-tropical research; and Project Amazonas, a joint USA and Peruvian humanitarian, conservation, and education organization operating in the upper Amazon River region.

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Secretary-Treasurer

Dave Downs has been a member of the Christlieb-Chrislip-Crislip Family Association for nearly 30 years, becoming Secretary in 2005, and later Secretary-Treasurer. As an avid photographer, he has provided most of the photo spreads for the Jacob’s Ladder reunion edition newsletters.

David recently retired after nearly 20 years in senior tech support for Nizex, Inc., a dealer management software company in the powersports, agriculture, power equipment, boating and marina industries. Prior to that he was an owner or franchise manager in the one hour photo industry for 22 years. David has a BS Ed in Communications from Miami University.

David credits his interest in family history and genealogy to his uncle, Wendell Lauth, past Christlieb-Chrislip-Crislip Family Association president, and his many local family reunions with his Christlieb-Davis, Lauth, Downs and Bennett relatives.

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Newsletter Editor and Webmaster

Lee Wise has been a member of the Christileb-Chrislip-Crislip Family Association for over 15 years and has become very active in the organization for the last several years. He assumed the position of Newsletter Editor in 2013, and has also volunteered to establish this website. Prior to assuming these duties, he has created an index for the entire 30-years worth of Jacob's Ladder newsletters, and participated in the preparation of Ancestors and Descendants of Friedrich Carl and Anna Catharina Christlieb by proofreading and creating its index as well.

Lee and his wife, Dorothy, have three children, Greg, Lisa, and Monica, 8 grandchildren, and 2 great grandchildren. Their son, Greg, and his family reside in the same state, Arizona, but their two daughters reside in California and Illinois. Lee's and Dorothy's retirement calling cards both say "Retired and Lovin' It!", but they both say they have never been busier than they are now.

Lee holds degrees in Electronics Engineering from Arizona State University and has worked for 30 years as a Display Systems Engineer for the US Navy in San Diego, California. As a retired electronics engineer, his background in computers, and computer design, has come in handy in beginning the task of website design. His hobbies include; genealogy, videography, woodworking, and hiking.

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Association Historian

Bill Crislip, a relatively new member of the Christlieb-Chrislip-Crislip Family Association, was born in 1941, and raised in Akron, Ohio. While growing up, his family frequently visited relatives in Buckhannon, Weston, Jane Lew, and Berlin, West Virginia. However, he has no immediate relatives in Ohio or West Virginia.

Bill has degrees in Education and in Library and Information Science from the University of Akron and the University of Maryland, respectively. His professional career included 42 years working for the Federal Government in various Defense intelligence positions, and 23 years as an Army Reserve Officer, retiring as LTC.

He and his wife, Arlene, have a son, Andrew, a daughter, Dana, and four grandchildren.

Bill's interests and current activities include: Civil War History organizations; Roundtables, National Parks; and he is active in the operation of a local Food Bank.

Past Officers

The following past officers round out the Executive Council:

• William "Bill" Crislip
• William Goode "Bill" Bland
• Neil Elem Crislip
• Terry Lane Crislip
• Pauline Reul Holland
• Gregory W. Kough
• Wendell F. Lauth
• Patricia Crislip Roberts
• Carolyn Yoest Turnbull