Revolutionary Roots: Slusher Family to reunite for special lunch
In 1970, descendants of Christopher Slusher (orig. Christophel Schlosser) met at Laurel Branch Church and formed the dues-paying Slusher Family Organization (SFO) for the expressed purposes of having funds for gathering genealogical research.
The 29th biennial reunion of the descendants of Christopher Slusher Sr., will be held at the VFW Park in Floyd on Sunday, July 19.
The doors to the Orland Phillips VFW Hall, located at 186 Epperly Mill Road, will open at 10 a.m., and the potluck lunch will begin at 12:30 p.m.
A short business meeting of the Slusher Family Organization (SFO) will be held after lunch with the balance of the afternoon for visiting, sharing family memorabilia and stories, and socializing with out-of-state relatives and Floyd County neighbors discovered to be relatives. Anyone with family in Floyd County in the early 1800s will likely discover some connection to Christopher Slusher. Those traveling the greatest distance to attend, as well as the eldest and youngest in attendance, will be recognized with special gifts. All attendees will be eligible for door prizes.
In 1970, descendants of Christopher Slusher (orig. Christophel Schlosser) met at Laurel Branch Church and formed the dues-paying Slusher Family Organization (SFO) for the expressed purposes of having funds for gathering genealogical research, making copies of records, getting a more complete family history, preventing unnecessary duplication of research, and resolving questions or fine points. Since that time, a tremendous amount of information has been gathered, organized, and shared. Payment of dues provides access to the SFO website and its wealth of information. SFO membership is not required to attend the reunion.
Christopher Slusher (1757-1845) was the settler ancestor of most of the Slushers in Floyd County. He was the youngest son of German immigrants, Peter Schlosser and Maria Margaretha Weschenbach Schlosser. Born in Lebanon Township, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Christopher served in the Revolutionary War as Private First Class in Captain Stone’s Company of the Second Battalion of the Lancaster County Militia. His name appears on the first of the bronze plaques placed in the Floyd Courthouse lobby by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
By 1789, Christopher and his family lived in Frederick County, near Strasburg. By 1802, they were among settlers who migrated down the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia to what was then Montgomery County. He had received a grant to survey and purchase land, and records show that in 1802 Christopher owned 600 acres on the West Fork of Little River in what is now Floyd County. Of Christopher and Eva Hancock Slusher’s twelve children, nine came to Floyd County in 1802 and the last was born here in 1803. In 1813, Christopher and Eva were among charter members of the Zion Lutheran Church.
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Christopher was a farmer, master carpenter, and cabinet maker. Several pieces of fine furniture have been handed down with the oral family history that they were made by him. A corner cupboard, confirmed to have been made by Christopher and described as "a masterpiece of Virginia cabinet making," is in the Museum of Early Southern Decorative Arts in Winston Salem, North Carolina. It was sold for $18,000 in the 1980s as part of the estate of Hattie Dickerson, a descendant of Christopher’s son David and daughters, Elizabeth and Mary Ann.
Christopher eventually owned more than 1600 acres by the time of his death, Dec. 11, 1845, at his home on Laurel Branch Road in Floyd. That home may be Floyd County’s oldest home to have had continual occupancy since its four original rooms were constructed in 1802. Locations of the farms for each of Christopher’s children have been documented — as have their burial sites and grave markers. As of this date, the burial sites of Christopher and Eva have not been confirmed although strong evidence suggests that they were buried on a hill near their home.
Christopher Jr., (1781-1853) married Hannah Meyers and in 1828 moved to Lafayette County, Missouri, where they reared a family of 11 children.
Peter (1784-1870) married Celia White and received from Christopher 200 acres on Mira Fork of Greasy Creek. Their children were Mary, Martha, Elizabeth and Joseph. Elizabeth married Henry Dickerson and was a great-great-great-grandmother of Dan Bolt; his daughter Miranda owns Gussied Up! salon in Floyd.
Elizabeth (1787-1860) married Solomon Harman; children were Jacob, John, Benjamin, Margaret, Mary Ann (Polly), Stephen, Peter, Mathias, and David. Descendants include Allen and Brian Harman of C.W. Harman Farm Center and Howard Conduff, Floyd dentist.
Barbara (1789-1856) married Elijah Turman; they were deeded 200 acres by Christopher in 1834. Their children were Charles, Christopher, Elizabeth, George, Matthew, Huldah, Joseph, Mary, and Benjamin. George married Elizabeth Sutphin; their son Elijah is a great-grandfather of Joe Turman, current chairman of Floyd County Board of Supervisors. Christopher’s signature is at bottom of the marriage certificate of daughter Barbara and Elijah Turman.
David (1790-1840) married Nancy Cox and in 1837 was deeded 180 acres along Huckleberry Creek from Christopher. Children were Levica, Cynthia, Ananias, Susan, Sparrell, Mary Ann, Landon, Lewis Hamilton, Julia Ann, and Elizabeth. Descendants of Lewis Hamilton include Anne Capps Robertson (first president of SFO; her daughters own the new shop, Cordelia’s, on N. Locust St.), Alice Hatcher Hollandsworth (treasurer of SFO), Allen Nester, Bud Slusher (his home is on land directly passed down six generations from Christopher), Brenda Allen and Allen Nester.
Susan Catherine “Caty” (1792-1815) married Cary Simmons; their children were Eva, Louanna, Elizabeth, Noah, Obediah, Mary Ann, Margaret Catherine, Barbara. Obediah’s daughter Minnie and her husband Tappe Howard built “Maples” (the home overlooking the Food Lion parking lot in Floyd). Other descendants of Caty include Zane Moran, FCHS teacher/coach, and Megan Simmons Nichols.
Solomon (1796-1878) married Permelia Reed and was deeded 200 acres on Greasy Creek in 1834 by Christopher. Their children were William, Sarena, Eva, Allen, Sarah, Celia, and Solomon, Jr. Descendants of Allen include Becky Thompson and Karen Hawkins.
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Jacob (1797-1871) married Telitha Hylton and was deeded 200 acres by Christopher on the West Fork of Little River. Their children were Jeremiah, John B., Leroy, Francis Marion, Oliver Perry, George Washington, and Mary Malissa. An elder of Topeco Church, Jeremiah became the first elder of Laurel Branch Church of the Brethren. Jeremiah’s great-granddaughter Glenna Slusher Weddle recently celebrated her 99th birthday. A great-granddaughter of Oliver Perry, Janet Slusher Keith, has served as SFO secretary since 1970; her son Kevin and his family are stewards of farmland on Laurel Branch Road that has directly passed down seven generations from Christopher. The stone marking Jacob’s grave has four whirling raindrops (fylfot cross) engraved within three concentric circles and twelve stars within the two outer circles.
Stephen (1800-1841) married Charlotte Hylton and received 100 acres from Christopher in 1829 in the Burks Fork area. Their children were Elizabeth, Henry, Susannah, Catherine, Mary Ann, Samuel, and Eva Jane. Descendants include Hilda Harman Dickerson of Willis.
Mary Ann (1803-1888) was born in Floyd County and married Burwell Hylton (brother of Telitha who married Mary Ann’s brother Jacob). Their children were Ira, Riley, Julie, Lorenzo Dow, Nathan, Jacob, John, Mathias, Eva, Nancy, Henderson, Ananias, Levi, and Catherine. All ten of their sons fought in the Civil War. Ira’s descendant Donald Hylton was father of Donna Smith (CEO of Citizens) who also traces lineage to Mary Ann’s sister Elizabeth and brother Jacob.
