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Also know as: Abraham Phlegar Note change of spelling from PFLIEGER to PHLEGAR. The following information is from Historical Society of York County, York, PA, letter from George Goodykoontz: Abram Pflieger married Margaretha Goodykoontz, who was the daughter of George Goodykoontz (Gutekunst), a Revolutionary soldier, born in Haiterback, Germany, Feb 6, 1732, died Frederick Co., Virginia, 1784. According to Robert G. Phlegar of Salem, VA, Abraham and his brother, George Frederick, left York in the late 1770s or early 1780s and settled at Middletown, Frederick Co, VA. In 1804 they moved to Jacksonville, Montgomery Co, VA which is now Floyd, Floyd Co, VA. He believes that the third brother, Michael, joined them in Floyd Co. The following information is from D.A.R. Nos. 273832 (Arabella Willis Bishop), and 127605 (Eula Willis Bell). From Mrs. Bell's notes, which were attached to her D.A.R. Application (in D.A.R. Library): ABRAHAM PFLIEGER About 1800 Abraham Pflieger, or Pfluger, with his brothers John George Frederick and John Michael, sons of George Frederick Pfluger or Pflieger, came from York Pennsylvania, to Middletown, Frederick County, Virginia. Both George and Abraham bought land in Frederick County, but sold it shortly afterwards and moved to Montgomery County, Virginia, where they purchased adjoining tracts. Abraham sold his land in Frederick County August 13, 1802, and bought the Montgomery County land on November 15, 1802. Michael, too, bought land here and the three brothers lived on these adjoining lands for the remainder of their lives. In 1832 the part of Montgomery County in which they had settled was cut off and made into Floyd County. The congregation of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, in what is now Floyd County, Virginia, was organized May 13, 1813, and among the charter members we find George Frederick Pflieger, Abraham Pflieger and Michael Pflieger. Though this church was organized in 1813, the records in the Church Book go back as far as 1792. In this Zion Church Book we find the following (translated from the German): Abram Pflieger and his wife, Margaret their son (error for daughter) Arabella, born the 12th of December (on the margin and torn), baptized (torn) 1809. The legend on her tombstone gives her birth date as Dec. 12, 1809. This Arabella Pflieger married Jonathan Willis in 1733 [sic, should be 1833], by whom she had fourteen children, of whom George Augustus Willis was the youngest save one. Seven of these fourteen children are still living [the date of the D.A.R. application was 1916]. The above mentioned Abraham Pflieger, son of the Revolutionary soldier, Frederick Pfluger, and father of Arabella Pflieger, married Margaret Gutekunst (later spelled Goodykoontz) Dec 12, 1797. This date is taken from the genealogy in "Goodykoontz's Manual", which was compiled by Jasper Goodykoontz from the old Gutekunst records. Abraham Pflieger and his wife Margaret had the following children: Leah (born Oct 18, 1798), Rachel (born 1800), Eliza (born March 29, 1801), Maza (born 1802), Delilah (born 1804), Eli (born 1808), Arabella (born (1809), Levina (born 1813), Lucinda (born 1815). The following is a transcription of an article in the Floyd News, undated, taken from backup material to D.A.R. No. 413745 (Josephine Phlegar Preston). It was written prior to the May 16, 1951 date stamped on the page. Judging from the dates mentioned in the article, it may have been written around 1920: Phlegar-Willis Home by Jessie Peterman The land on which the Phlegar-Willis home stands just on the edge of Floyd was bought in 1802 by Abraham Phlegar, who was born in 1776, from his friend, Colonel Andrew Lewis. A house was built at once, but was succeeded by the house still standing, built in 1822. Could its solid walls, built of hewn logs, and its wide fireplaces speak, they would tell of kin and guests prominent in the religious and civic affairs of the past and present. Abraham Phlegar's father and six other of his family were soldiers in the Revolutionary war, as records show at York, Pennsylvania. Also, many of his descendants were in the Civil war. "Uncle Abram" gave to Floyd county the land on which her Court House stands. At his death, his grandson, David Willis, became the owner of the house and part of the land, which are still owned by his children. Some of the original furniture is here preserved with great care. The German Bible, 199 years old; the pounce box, the "pie-crust" candle stand, the "ladder-back" chairs, the corner cupboard, the walnut chest of drawers, the walnut chest, and two maple four-posters, are worthy of notice. The tall Grandfather's clock still stands on the floor and ticks away the hours. In the garden back of the house grows some wonderful old boxwood. Part of this was brought from Pennsylvania more than 112 years ago. The magnificent oak that stands in the yard is a survivor of the original forest, and has seen six generations of the family that acquired it 127 years ago. Other information from Michael C. Gulden (records of Zion Lutheran Church, Floyd Co, VA), and Frederick Lee Phlegar. |