Jacob Berger (1745-1838) and His Descendants

Entrance gate to the Berger Cemetery on the Toshes Road

Jacob Berger Sr.'s Gravestone

Jacob Berger was born on December 21, 1745 in Frankfort, Germany and died on January 25, 1837 at his Clifton Plantation on Frying Pan Creek in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Jacob's sister Catherine Berger, who was born about 1749, married Daniel Crider and they settled on an adjacent plantation on Frying Pan Creek. Daniel Crider built his mill in 1791 a short distance downstream.

Jacob Berger's wife Christina's Headstone

Christina Berger was born January 31, 1753 and died November 11, 1838 in Pittsylvania County, Virginia. Jacob and Christina had 12 children.

Jacob Berger paid 1000 pounds for 240 acres on both sides of Frying Pan Creek on June 15, 1779. Edward Wade and David Wade and David Ross owned adjacent land.

Jacob's brother-in-law In 1785, Daniel Crider was working as a blacksmith in a forge in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. On January 16, 1786, purchased 300 acres on Pigg River. On January 30, 1790 Ann and William Cornelius and Jephtha Cornelius sold Daniel Crider 202 acres on both sides of Buck Branch of Frying Pan Creek "adjoining the lands of Jacob Berger and David Ross." Daniel Crider's 1791 mill site that we located was a short distance below Buck Branch on this tract.

Then on April 10, 1790, he paid only 25 pounds for 500 acres on the "draughts of Frying Pan Creek." This land shared 1,560 feet with Jacob Berger and 3,102 feet along his own lines "crossing Green Branch."

This old chimney was built in 1779 for the original Jacob Berber cabin.

Burger house at Clifton. The older cabin was nearby, where the chimney remains. To the left here is the Frying Pan Creek and not so far down stream the old Daniel Crider's 1791 mill stood. This house was built by Jacob's grandson George Tyree Berger

Berger's Store

Berger's Store, on the Toshes Road, was built in 1829 by Samuel Berger, Bryan and Samuel Nowlin. Berger’s Store building had a front room 18 by 20 feet. Back of this was a “counting room.” Early voting was at the courthouse, but about the time in 1829 when this store began operation, voting was by districts. Berger’s Store became one of the voting places. There was a larger “warming room” in back with a bid fireplace. A stairway led from this room to a room above where the clerk had sleeping quarters. There was a post office in the store beginning in 1841.

Capt. Samuel Berger's home was near the store and across the road from the Berger graveyard. Across the road was a "Tobacco Plant" for "manufactured tobacco."








On the southwestern banks of Frying Pan Creek Jacob Berger built his Clifton Plantation House. This is a retaining wall and at left above is the chimney for the original Berger 1779 home.