Tombstone Tuesday–Michael G. Pflueger

Michael Pflueger, Greenbriar Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

Michael Pflueger, Greenbriar Cemetery, Van Wert County, Ohio. (2013 photo by Karen)

This is the tombstone of Michael G. Pflueger, located in row 6 of Greenbriar Cemetery, Willshire Township, Van Wert County, Ohio. The marker is inscribed:

Michael G. Pflueger
Died 1 Jul 1903
Aged 79 y, 1 m, 13 d
Gone but not forgotten

There is also a flagstaff near his marker that is inscribed: GAR 1861-1865.

Michael’s tombstone has fallen from its base and is partially embedded in the soil, as are many tombstones in this cemetery. It appears that the fallen stones did not have a cement foundation, while most of those with a cement foundation are still standing.

Michael G. Pflueger. (2013 photo by Karen)

Michael G. Pflueger. (2013 photo by Karen)

Greenbriar Cemetery is located about 3½ miles west of Ohio City, at the intersection of Willshire-Ohio City Road and Glenmore Road, Section 13 of Willshire Township. There are three sections in the cemetery, section one being the oldest. Many of the grave markers have fallen over in section one and that is where Michael Pflueger’s tombstone is located. Bethel Church was next to Greenbriar Cemetery and the frame church building is still standing.

Georg Michael Pflüger was born 18 March 1824 in Schrozberg, Württemberg, the son of Johann Christian and Anna Barbara (Sekel) Pflüger. [1] George “Michael” Pflueger was my second great-granduncle, the brother of my second (and third) great-grandmother, Maria Barbara Pflueger, who became the wife of Johann Ludwig Schumm.

Michael Pflueger married Maria “Catharine Brant” on 28 May 1846 in Holmes County, Ohio. [2] According to the records of Zion Lutheran Schumm, they were probably living in the Schumm area by 1848 when their daughter Maria Rosina was born and baptized. Michael and Catharine had at least eleven children and at least six of them died young and are buried in Zion Lutheran Schumm Cemetery. Catharine (Brant) Pflueger died in 1882 and is also buried in Zion Schumm Cemetery. I do not know why Michael is buried at Greenbriar instead of with his wife and children at Schumm. [Their children’s names are listed in last week’s Tombstone Tuesday, Maria C. Pflueger.]

Michael Pflueger was a private during the Civil in Company C of the 41st Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served from 4 September 1864-13 June 1865, for 9 months and 12 days. During the war he suffered from camp diarrhea and rheumatism. [3] [4]

Michael G. Pflueger GAR 1861-1865 flagstaff. (2013 photo by Karen)

Michael G. Pflueger GAR 1861-1865 flagstaff. (2013 photo by Karen)

According to the 1872 map of Van Wert County “M. Pflueger” owned land in the southwest quarter of the northeast quarter of Section 26 and the southeast half of the southeast quarter of Section 29 in Willshire Township. Both farms were on Willshire Eastern Road. The 80 acres in Section 26 was east of Zion Lutheran Church. The 55 acres in Section 29 was closer to Willshire and what is now State Route 81 ran through the farm.

In 1900 widower Michael Pflueger was living with his son Adam in Willshire Township. [5]  

 

[1] Evangelische Church at Schrozberg, Württemberg, entry 5 (1824 Baptisms), unpaginated, Family History Library microfilm #1528613, birth and baptism of Georg Michael Pflüger.

[2]Ohio , County Marriages, 1789-1994,” index and images, FamilySearch.org (www.familysearch.org : accessed 12 May 2013), citing Holmes County Marriages, Vol. 2:298, Michael “Pfleger” and Catharine Brant, 1846.

[3] 1890 Veterans Schedules, Van Wert County, Ohio, Willshire Township, p. 3, line 34, Home 121, Family 126, Michael Pflueger, database, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com : accessed 3 Apr 2013), from National Archives Microfilm, Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, Publication M123, Record Group 15.

[4] U.S. Civil War Soldiers, 1861-1865, on-line database, Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com : accessed 10 May 2013), from National Park Service, Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System, http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/.

[5] 1900 U.S. Census, Van Wert County, Ohio, Willshire Township, ED 0097, p. 9B, line 77, dwelling 185, family 199, Adam “Pfluegar”; digital image by subscription, Ancestry.com, (www.ancestry.com : accessed 12 May 2013); FHL microfilm 1241329, from National Archives microfilm R623, Roll 1329.

 

 

3 comments

  1. While it seems sad and shameful to see the neglect of these grave markers when it would take so little to repair and replace them, there is the other side of the issue. What should be done when no one any longer knows, cares or takes responsibility for these markers? Are we to the point that many European cemetaries use, where graves must be maintained with annual fees or the grave is simply “recycled.”? Why on the one hand do we consider graves (native American, Egyptian, or historical groups, church cemetaries, etc.) such sacred places and yet often treat them as junk, trash or trouble when in the way of our progress? Is it pure senitmentality, or pure selfishness? Is it noble or crass? Why do we etch our names in stone?

    • Mike Pflueger on September 4, 2013 at 9:53 am
    • Reply

    Hi Karen

    Just found this blog post. I am a descendant of Georg Michael Pflüger – he’s my great-great grandfather.

    I really appreciate this, I’ve gotten as far back as his name and Catherin in the 1880 census but was getting stuck there. I am traveling to Germany soon and will be in the Stuttgart area and wanted to see what I could find about my ancestry back there.

    My grandfather, George Augustus, was a son of Adam (Michael’s son). I grew up in Lima, but have lived in Arizona since 1981.

    If you happen to have scans of any of the information you cite above, and you’re willing to share them, I would appreciate it if you could email them.

    1. Hello! Great to hear from you. How exciting to be traveling to Germany. Enjoy your trip and please let me know if you find any good information about our Pflueger ancestors. I’ll have to look back at that post and see what scans I used and get back with you. I would love to have information from your grandfather’s branch. I’ll e-mail you about that. Thanks for writing!

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