George Fluckey presented by Charlie Evers
President Betty Meier introduced our speaker, longtime Marion broadcaster Charlie Evers. He began his presentation by telling of his involvement with Ohio’s official groundhog, “Buckeye Chuck,” who was named for him.
Evers then related the story of George Fluckey, a Hessian soldier whose original name was Jorge Flocke. Conscripted by the British to fight in the war against the American colonists, Fluckey was shocked by the British atrocities. He deserted and was given shelter in a brick beehive oven by a woman named Margaret Stotts, whom he later married. Fluckey joined the colonial army and because of his skill as a tailor, he was assigned to General Washington for whom he made uniforms. He was with Washington at Valley Forge and at the Battle of Trenton.
After their marriage in 1782, George and Margaret lived in Philadelphia where they raised a family of seven children, who produced many descendants. When George was in his 60s, he and several family members moved to the Bethel community north of Cardington, which at the time was part of Marion County. There he farmed and lived to the age of 97. He and Margaret are buried in Bethel Cemetery. Evers stated their monument is weatherworn and difficult to read. He would like to see an Ohio historical marker erected in Fluckey’s honor.
One Fluckey daughter, Mary Jane, married Thomas Morton and another, Effa, married Jacob Sellers. Several of their descendants were present for this meeting.
In closing, Evers said he is donating his file on Fluckey to the Genealogy Library.