Pfluger Cemetery

By: Nathan O’Brien

Boy Scout Troop 214
2009
I chose the Pfluger
cemetery for my Eagle
Scout project. It has been
a wonderful experience.
And I am honored that
the Pfluger family has let
me restore this historic
cemetery. This is my slide
show of the information I
collected from the
headstones.
PFLUGER CEMETERY
by Verna Pfluger Hebbe
October 1974

The Pfluger Cemetery is named for the Henry

Pfluger, Sr. family.

The Pfluger Cemetery is situated on land that

the Republic of Texas, under President Anson
Jones, granted to John Liese on October 25,
1845, being a tract of 960 acres. On January
29, 1853, John Liese sold this tract of land to
Henry Pfluger, Sr., John Liese being a
brother-in-law of Henry Pfluger, Sr. This
tract of land being in Travis County, on the
east side of the Colorado River, about 14
miles east of Austin in the forks of Wilbarger
Creek, known as Brushy Knob. This place is
five miles east of Pflugerville, on the
Cameron Road. The Henry Pfluger, Sr.
homestead, now owned by the J.A. Pfluger
Estate, where the cemetery is located, is a
mile off of Cameron Road.
 Henry Pfluger, Sr., was the first to be buried here. He was born August 30, 1803, and died
November 8, 1867. Henry Pfluger, Sr. was born in Hessia, Germany, where he lived many years. He
married Catherine Liese, and lived in Altenhasungen, Germany, which was near Cassel. They had six
children, namely: Conrad, Cath Elizabeth, George, Marie, Ludwig, and William. The mother died and
was buried in Germany. Conrad was born March 25, 1830, and William November 29, 1842. Henry,
Sr. then married Anna Christina Kleinschmidt, born July 20, 1820, in Balhorn, Germany. This union
had six children, namely: Henry, Jr., born in Germany, December 17, 1847; John; Charley, a child
that died in infancy; August; and Elizabeth. John was born on the boat enroute to America, and the
others in Travis County.
Conrad and George arrived in America in 1849. The other members of the family left
Germany in the fall of 1849. Coming by sailboat, after 13 weeks, they arrived at Galveston, Texas, in
January, 1850. It took two weeks to travel by ox wagons from Galveston to the John Liese farm (John
Liese was a brother of Henry Pfluger, Sr.’s first wife) located about two miles east of Austin. Henry
Pfluger, Sr., was a farmer in Germany, and a wealthy man, but during the war in 1848 he lost all of his
property. Receiving encouraging letters from his relatives in America, he decided to come to
American to make his home. Arriving here he had $1600 which he had carried in a bag under his
clothes. The Pflugers purchased 160 acres of land near the Austin east city limits. They lived there
three years, then traded the land. In 1853 Henry Pfluger, Sr., paid to John Liese $960 for a tract of
land, being 960 acres in the forks of Wilbarger Creek, known as Brushy Knob.
 These were pioneering days. The country at this time was all a prairie, covered with sage grass – the
average height about four feet. Buffalo were numerous, and Indians were seen roaming the country. Buildings
were of logs, and wooden pegs were used for nails. The dwelling house consisted of five rooms and a porch.
Once a month some member of the family traveled to Austin with an ox team for supplies. At one time there was
only Confederate money and the merchants would not accept it. So butter, lard, chickens, corn, etc., were taken in
exchange for coffee, flour, etc. Cloth was spun of wool and cotton they raised, and then made into garments sewn
by hand. The materials were dyed with black walnut, pecan, and sumac.
In 1861 the Civil War began. William, age 19, and Ludwig, age 22, served in the army from April 13,
1862, to the end of the war. George and Conrad hauled freight for the government. The Henry Pfluger, Sr.,
family like all pioneers, were confronted with problems of cattle rustlers after the Civil War. The Pfluger cattle
brand was L.H.F. on the left side, and for a mark both ears were split.
For divine worship they attended services in Dessau, traveling in an ox wagon, or sometimes on a sled.
Henry, Sr., lived on his homestead until his death November 8, 1867, being troubled with rheumatism and unable
to work for years. His wife remained on the homestead until she moved to the home of her daughter, Elizabeth
Braker, in Taylor, where she died December 4, 1897. Sons of Henry Pfluger, Sr., namely: Conrad, George,
William, John, Ludwig and William Bohls, husband of Cath. Elizabeth Pfluger, are listed as charter members of
Immanuel Lutheran Church of Pflugerville – May 31, 1874. The community was named for the Henry Pfluger
family. Divine services were held prior to this. Since pioneering days the church as been a focal point in the
community. Mother Pfluger and other members of the family also were members of Immanuel Lutheran Church,
Henry Pfluger, Sr., and his family colonized this area of Travis County and central Texas. Besides farming and
ranching, they founded the town of Pflugerville. All the children of Henry, Sr., lived in Travis County. In 1882
the pioneering spirit led Charley Pfluger to West Texas where he and his family invested in ranch land, and in
1889 Elizabeth Braker moved to a farm near Taylor, Texas.
 On April 7, 1880, Christina Pfluger (wife of the late Henry Pfluger, Sr.) conveyed to her children Henry
Pfluger, Jr., John Pfluger, Charley Pfluger, and August Braker, trustees, a certain burying ground containing
nearly one acre of land, the same being in Travis County, Texas, on Wilbarger Creek; the same being part of the
Liese 960 acre survey – to have and to hold the above described tract of land for the above use to them and their
successors in office. When Henry Pfluger, Sr., died in 1867 there was no cemetery in the area, and he was buried
on land east of the Pfluger home. It was this same plot of land that was deeded as a burying ground in 1880. At
the time the land was deeded, a son, August Pfluger, and a grand-child also had been buried there.
As noted above, Christina Pfluger, who deeded the land as a cemetery, was born in Balhorn, German, in
1820; came to America with her husband and family in 1849;and finally settled on their homestead in the forks of
Wilbarger Creek. She continued to live on the homestead, from time to time selling off some of the acreage to her
children and friends. (After the death of Henry, Sr., Christina paid the children on his first wife $650, thereby
settling his estate with them.) On Jan. 28, 1893, Christina Pfluger sold her homestead of 154 acres to Henry
Pfluger, Jr., and went to live with her daughter Elizabeth Braker in Taylor. She died there Dec. 4, 1897, and was
buried in the Pfluger Cemetery.
 Henry Pfluger, Jr., and members of his
family have been caretakers of this cemetery for
the last 85 years. Henry Gottlieb Pfluger, son of
Gottlieb and Sophie Pfluger, and grandson of
Mr. and Mrs. Henry Pfluger, Jr., is the present
caretaker. Mrs. Henry Pfluger, Jr., provided a
fund for the cemetery upkeep. After the death
of Henry Pfluger, Jr., an ornamental fence was
erected to replace the old fence. (This fence
does not include a small portion of the burying
ground which had not been used). All graves
have tombstones except three. There are two
markers for Henry Pfluger, Sr. An old native
stone placed there shortly after his death was
moved aside in 1888 when the granite stone was
placed on his grave. The first stone, besides
name, birth date, and death date, has the
inscription I Corinthians 15:53, and a German
verse. The second also has an inscription verse,
as does the stone on Christina Pfluger’s grave.
This cemetery is a family cemetery, having
eighteen graves, including Henry Pfluger Sr., his
wife Anna Christina Pfluger, two sons – Henry,
Jr., and August Pfluger, and other members of
the family. No record has been found of who
buried Henry Pfluger, Sr., as there are no church
records for 1867. Deaths since 1874 are
recorded by pastors in the Immanuel Lutheran
Church records. There was no epidemic to
account for these deaths. A large number died
as children, or as infants born dead. The older
people had short illnesses, or died of old age.
Mrs. Henry Pfluger, Jr., died March 10, 1917.
The last burial was that of the Priess twins on
March 28, 1917. Graves in the Pfluger
Cemetery are listed on the following pages.
 In 1933 at a request of Charley Pfluger, son of Henry Sr., a reunion was planned. The first Henry Pfluger Reunion was
held July 12, 1934, in the Fritz Pfluger grove in Pflugerville. Charley, age 81, and his wife Mary, and Mrs. John Pfluger were
present, and were the only living members of the second generation. Four hundred and fifteen members and seventeen guests
registered. Reunions have been held each year since, except in 1945 (because of gas rationing). At the first reunion it was
decided to print a Pfluger History. It was dedicated to Charley Pfluger, and cost twenty-five cents. Another book was
printed in 1949, being dedicated to Henry Pfluger, Sr., and his children. In 1961 another edition was made, and in 1969 the
fourth edition was brought up to date.

1934 850 persons in family 724 living

1949 1,357 persons in family 1149 living
1961 1,984 persons in family 1,703 living
1969 2,532 persons in family 2,181 living
1974 2,732 persons in family 2,321 living

At the present time we have gone into the seventh generation of family. The Henry Pfluger, Sr., children had 91 children,
so the Pflugers are known today, as in 1849 when they came to America. There are seven of the third generation still living –
the oldest being Ada Pfluger, 88, and Minnie Braker Krieg, 76. Alma Pfluger, fourth generation, is 90 years of age.

Bibliography
History of the Pfluger Family
Deed Records of Travis County, Travis County Clerk’s Office
Immanuel Lutheran Church records
Personal files of Verna Pfluger Hebbe
TRAVIS COUNTY CEMETERY PROJECT

Name of cemetery Pfluger Cemetery

Location: 16442 Cameron Road, Pflugerville, Travis, Texas
Date Transcribed: 7 Feb 2009
Transcribers: Hope Comacho, Vernegene Hebbe Mott, Laura O’Brien, Nathan O’Brien,
Sara Strouphauer, Nathan Weiss

1. Unknown Infant
2. Priess Twins
3. Ervin H.E. Bohls
4. Wilhelmina Pfluger
5. Henry Pfluger
6. Anna Christina Pfluger
7. Emma Willhelmmiene Liena Pfluger
8. Catherine Louise Bruder
9. William C. Pfluger
10. J. G. Lucinda Pfluger
11. Wilhelmine Niemann
12. Amanda C. Pfluger
13. Christian Braker
14. W. A. Pfluger
15. Henry Pfluger (new headstone)
16. Emma Pfluger
17. Henry Pfluger (old headstone)
18. John Henry Schlittler
1. Unknown Infant
2. Twins of Eugene & Mary Priess

Born 28 Mar 1917

Died 28 Mar 1917
3. Ervin H.E. Bohls

Son of
E.H. & Julia Bohls
Born 4 Feb 1897
Died 27 Jun 1897
4. Wilhelmina Pfluger
Born 18 Aug 1850
Died 10 Mar 1917

We miss you Mother from thy

place, we miss the sunshine
on thy face; we miss they
kind and willing hand, thy
fond and earnest care. Our
homes are dark without thee.
We miss thee everywhere.
5. Henry Pfluger

Born in Germany, Dec. 17, 1847

Died in Travis Co., Texas
April 14, 1904

We miss thee from our home

dear. We miss thee from thy
place. A shadow oer our life is
cast. We miss the sunshine of
thy face. We miss thy kind and
willing hand. Thy fond and
earnest care. Our home is
dark without thee. We miss
thee everywhere.
6. Anna Christina Pfluger
Born 20 Jul 1820
Died 4 Dec 1897
Born in Balliorn, Germany.
Died in Taylor, Tex.

Oh mother thy gentle voice is hushed.

Thy warm true heart is still.
And on thy pale and peaceful
face, Is resting death’s cold chill.
Thy hands are clasped upon thy
heart we have kissed thy marble
brow And in our aching hearts
We know we have no mother now.

Ich sterbe gerne, warum sollt

I am glad to die, why should
ich mich Vor dem Grabe
I be afraid. My faith swept over me
scheuen, meinen Glaube pflegt --
about my death and I
oftmals sich auf meinen Tod
have often times looked forward to my death,
zu freunen, ich weis das Gott
I know that after this time God made me glad and
nach diesen zeit mich droben
renews me wonderfully above
in der Ewigkeit gar herrlich
in the Eternity.
wiederneuen.
7. Emma Willhelmmiene Liena Bruder

Born 3 Mar 1889

Died 11 May 1889

Wohl dem, der in seiner Jugend

They will be well, who in their youth
In des zarten Alters Blüh
blooms in the tender age
Dann von Jahren alt von Tugend
Then from years grown old in virtue
Seines Lebens Ende sieht
sees his life ending
Und den Himmel steigt empör
and ascends on high to heaven
In der Engel Freudencohr
in the angel’s joyous choir(chorus)
Da das Lied zu Gottes Ehren
Because the song to the glory and honor of God
Ewig ungesört soll währen.
Shall eternally endure.
8. Catherine Louise Bruder
Born 25 Nov 1868
Died 25 Mar 1889
Die Herberg ist zu böse,
This shelter is so evil
Der Trabsal ist zu vil,
The troubles are so vile
Ach Komm mein Gott und läst
Oh, come my God and let
Mein Herz, wa n dein Herz will
my heart, if it is Thy will
Kom, mach ein selig Ende
come, put a blessed ending
An meiner Wanderschaft
to my travels and what ails me
Und was mich Krankt, das wende
by giving me a turning point by
Durch deines Armes Kraft!
the strength of your arm!
Wenn der Gott auch Kummer schickt
When God sends grief(sorrow)
Weine nicht darüber
Do not cry over it.
Auge dass in Ihränen blickt
Eyes that see in a blink
Sieht die Welt noch drüber
the world over
Nim das Leben wie es Kommt
Take life as it comes:
Lust und Leid daneben
Joy and pain together
Uns gedenk dass nur was from---
We think only what is Holy
Dich der Herr wird geben
That God will give you
Gedenke noch, gedenke fern
Think still, think far
Gedenke wie nur oft und gern
Think only often and happily
Gedenke einst an meinem Grab
Think now at my grave
Wie viel ich Dich geliebet hab.
How much I have loved you.
9. William C. Pfluger

Born Jan. 6, 1871

Died Oct. 3, 1886

Hier ruht die saat von Gott gesüt

Here rests the seed which God has sewn
Her staub so künftig aufersteht
Here arises dust so life can come
verwesliches wird ausgestreut
perishable things will scattered
doch blüht es auf zur Herrlichkeit.
Yet it blooms Perfection.
10. J.C. Lucinda Pfluger

Born Aug. 4, 1881

Died July 1, 1882

Schlaf wohl du kleiner Erdengast

Sleep well, you little earthly guest
Der an den Herrn zum Freundehast
Whom God has as a friend
Schlaft wohl du ruhst in Jesu Hand
Sleep well you rest in Jesus’ hand
Der alles an dich hat gewandt.
Who skillfully has done everything
for you
11. Wilhelmine Neimann

Born 20 Jun 1817

Died 25 June 1886

Geht nun hin u. grabt mein Grab

Go there and dig at my grave
Meinen Lauf hab ich vollendet.
I’ve finished my run completely.
Lege nun den Wanderstab
Lay the wandering dust
Hin,wo alles Erd’sche endet.
down, where all earthly things end.
Lege selbst mich nun hinein
Just lay me in
In das Bette ohne Pein.
the bed without pain/hurts.
12. Amanda C. Pfluger

Born 12 Nov 1888

Died 21 Nov 1891

This lovely bud, so young, so fair,

Called hence by early doom
Just came to show how sweet a flower
In Paradise would bloom.
13. Christian Braker
Born in Travis Co., Texas
Feb. 2, 1892
Died in Williamson Co., Texas
Feb. 16, 1893

Peaceful be thy Zu Früh schlag Endlich hast

silent slumber biese bitt’re Du überstanden
Peaceful in thy Stunde, Die Manche Schwere
Grave so low. Dich aus unser harte Stunden.
Thou no more will er Mitte anhin Manchen Tag
Join our number. Doch ir oftend und manche Nacht
Thou no more will töut was unser hast Du in Schm
Sorrows have em Munde: erzen zugebracht
Yet again we hope Was Gott that Standhaft hast
We meet thee das ist Wohlge Du Sie ertragen
When the day of than! Dies Deine Schmerzen
Life is fled, Wort füllt unser Dein Blagen.
And in heaven with Bis der Tod Dein
joy to greet thee! Uagebreht.

Doch vergessen
Wir Dich nicht
14. W.A. Pfluger

Born in Richland,
Travis Co. Tex.
March 3rd 1855
Died Feb. 18, 1879
15. Henry Pfluger

Born in Germany
Aug 1803.
Died at his home in Travis Co.
Texas
Nov 1867
(new headstone)
16. Emma Pfluger

Daughter of
Chas. & M.A. Pfluger
Born Sept. 5, 1877
Died Dec. 29, 1877
17. Henry Pfluger

Born 30 Aug 1803

at Altenhasungen, Hessia
Germany
Died 8 Nov 1867
here at his home
(old headstone)
18. John Henry Schlittler

Died 20 Nov 1880

Aged 48 Y's 5M's 20 D's

Gone but not forgotten

From IH-35, take Exit 247 into Pflugerville. Turn east onto FM 1825 / Pecan Street and continue for 6.4
miles. Turn east at Cameron Road and travel for 1.1 miles. At the sharp bend in the road, turn north
onto the private drive and follow the farm road 9/10ths of a mile. The cemetery is in the middle of a
privately-owned cultivated field. Contact John Pfluger (512) 251-4439 for permission to access the
private property.
Credits
„ Cemetery Plot Artist
„ James F. O’Brien, Jr.
„ German Translators
„ Vernagene Hebbe Mott
„ Allison Trahan
„ Headstone Rubbings
„ Tyler Evans
„ Zachary Gassett
„ Heather Mayer
„ Laura O’Brien
„ Nathan O’Brien
„ Jackie Porter
„ Joshua Stoltenberg
„ Nathan Weiss
„ Family Historians
„ Ryan Bohls
„ Craig Hebbe
„ Verna Pfluger Hebbe
„ Map
„ GoogleEarth
„ Photographers
„ Hope Comacho
„ Laura O’Brien
„ Nathan O’Brien
„ Transcribers
„ Heather Mayer
„ Laura O’Brien
„ Nathan O’Brien
„ Vernagene Hebbe Mott
„ Sara Strouphauer
„ Nathan Weiss