There has been some confusion as to exactly who this Sarah is. Some sources have listed her last name as Smith and others have had Kregar. In fact, two different William Crist families have claimed her as his wife. So this is an attempt to look at the information available.
First, it does appear that there are two different Sarahs. The Ohio 1850 census has six William Crists. Two of these have a spouse whose name is Sarah. To complicate the matter, for these two Sarahs, there is only a one year difference in their ages.
The source of the problem is that there is only one marriage record that has been found. It is recorded in Perry County, Ohio for the marriage of William Crist and Sarah Smith on May 15, 1834.
One of the William and Sarah Crist families lived in Allen County, Ohio in 1850. It appears that this may be the William and Sarah from the Perry County marriage. Williams father is John Milton Crist and further research should show him living around Perry County in 1834.
The second William and Sarah Crist were living in Ross County in 1850. They had moved there from Fairfield County, Ohio where William had lived since at least 1820. So the geographical distance would make it much less likely that this was the William married in Perry County.
A couple of other clues help confirm that this is how the puzzle pieces fit together. This second William and Sarah later moved to Illinois. None of the Illinois records mention the name Smith, however two have been found that mention Kreger. The first is the carving on Sarah's headstone which states "Sarah Krecer - wife of William Crist". The stone is worn and it is believed the 'G' probably eroded to a 'C'. A picture is shown further down.
The other mention of her name is found on her daughters death certificate. Three of their childrens death certificates have been found but two of them contain no record of the mother. However, on Louise Perrys, it lists the name of her mother as Ellen Kruger. The source of the information was listed as the hospital records.
So every indication seems to be that her name was Sarah Kregar. Though a connection has not been made, the additional information found down below on this family looks promising:
CREGER, Andw//CHAMBERLANE, Rachel; 27 Dec 1808; Samuel Wiseman; PAA-57, [CREAGER, Richard]YEA
-Probate Marriage Book A part A, page 57 (from the Fairfield County,Ohio Web Page- marriages between 1800 and 1811).
1830 Census Index for Clearcreek Township, Fairfield County, Ohio
CREAGER, Frederick p 279
-Fairfield County, Ohio Web Page
Looking for anything on BOURY/BURY/BOREY, Joseph M., b. 1822 Germany? and KREAGER/Creager, Rachel, b. Sept. 1825 Ohio - Daughter of Andreas and Nancy/Rachel ?. They married in Fairfield County Ohio, on 18 June 1843. Located family in 1850 census under James Morey in Brown TWP, Delaware Co. OH. 1860 Census in Brown TWP, Delaware Co. OH under Joseph Boury. Joseph disappears from all records after that, even though Rachel is listed as married. Rachel and family shows up in 1870 in Marshalltown, Marshall Co., IA. The County History notes that it is just her and her family that arrives - No Husband. In 1880 and 1885, she is listed as married in the Boulder Co. Colorado Census. By 1900, Rachel is age 76 in Union Co. OR and a widow. Don't know yet when she died. Their children : Homer b. 1845 OH died at Battle of Chickamauga, TN; Andrew J., b. 1847 OH; Catharine b. 1849 Oh d. April 1862- Delaware Co.; Adolphus b. 1851 m. Ellen; Hezekiah b. 16 Nov. 1853 Oh, d. 1930 Marshall County IA; Sarah b. 1858 Oh; John b. 1862 Delaware Co. Oh; Nancy Jane b. 6 May 1863 m. Arthur A. HALL, d. June 1933 OR; Charles b. 1864 Delaware County Oh. ek@zianet.com
-Query on the Fairfield County, Ohio Web Page
Searching for information on HAVER family of Walnut Township prior to arrival in Fairfield County. Haver family bought farm from original settler ANDREW KREAGER who moved on before 1820. Andrew is brother to my ggg grandfather GEORGE KREAGER, SR., an original settler of Bowling Green Township, Licking County. Their mother was ____ HAVER, married to JACOB KREAGER, d. 1822, Licking County. Looking for a clue to this female line. FKreager@aol.com
-Query on the Fairfield County, Ohio Web Page
Does anyone know the location of a 19th century school building in Walnut Township, Fairfield County, OH known as the "Kreager School." The schoolhouse was adjacent to, or across the road from, a farm where the HAVER family resided after about 1825. Previously, the property belonged to an original settler of Walnut Township, Andres or Andrew KREAGER/KREGER (April 27, 1779 to cir. 1844). FKreager@aol.com
-Query on the Fairfield County, Ohio Web Page
Home Page
(c) 1998, Jeff Carter