The Abraham Funkhouser Home

Location: Two miles west of Fisher's Hill, Virginia, on Tumbling run, on the north side of Route 601.

Built: circa 1800

Owners:

On January 9, 1752, John Funkhouser obtained a grant from the Proprietor's office for a tract of land containing 400 acres. On December 28, 1752, he obtained another tract of 194 acres.

27 Aug 1776: John Funkhouser and Barbara, his wife, of the county of Dunmore and colony of Virginia, sold to Abraham Funkhouser for 115 pounds, current money of Virginia, a certain tract of land being part of two tracts granted to John Funkhouser, deceased, by deeds from the Proprietor's office. The one tract containing 400 acres, deed dated January 9, 1752, and the other containing 294 acres, deed dated December 28, 1762. Deed Book B, page 378

11 Apr 1796: Abraham Funkhouser's will refers to the division of his farm of 208 acres between his two sons, Daniel and Abraham, "and to Abraham all the other part of my plantation." Will Book E, page 21

1 Apr 1851: Abraham Funkhouser, Jr. bequeathed to his daughter, Rebecca, wife of Isaac Pifer, and her heirs the home farm. Will Book 4, page 209

29 Oct 1904: Rebecca Pifer sold to her son, John H. Pifer, the home farm. Deed Book B, page 61

31 Dec 1929, John H. Pifer sold to his son, Herman L. Pifer. Deed Book 106, page 339

3 May 1935, Herman I. Pifer and Lillian, his wife, sold to Abner L. Hammon and Ora, his wife, for $3000. Deed Book 116, page 449




Physical Description

This house is a two and one half story ell shaped log house with plain weatherboarding on the outside, with a cellar with a partial stone floor and large fireplace. The roof is gabled and of metal. There are two inside brick chimneys. There are 23 windows, some with 12 panes 10x12 and some newer with 2 panes 27x24. The shutters have stationary slats. There is a large porch in the "L" of the house withplain round columns. The entrance has been remodeled and the door is ordinary glass.

There are eleven large rooms and the ceiling height is 9 feet. The open-string stairway has turned balusters and newels, and has been remodeled. One door is six panel, two cross variety, all other doors have been remodeled. The hardware is mostly common iron outside locks and hinges, with some long bar hinges and locks. The walls are painted and papered. The floors are of wide boards, twelve to fifteen inches on the second floor, with the first floor having modern hardwood floors. There is one tall, plain mantel in the kitchen, and the others are fancy modern mantels. The attic has a twelve foot ceiling. This house is in good condition.




Historical Significance

In 1740, John Funkhouser came to America from near Zurich, Switzerland, and settled about four miles west of Strasburg on the headwaters of Tumbling Run. He and his wife, Mary, were pioneers, settling in "Funkhouser Hollow."

He had a family of nine children. The eldest son, John, under the laws of the day, became heir. John lived on the home place, Abraham lived nearby on an adjoining place, and Christian lived just a few miles away. David lived and died at "Clover Hill", northwest of Woodstock, Virginia.

The site where Abraham settled is along Tumbling Run where a spring gushes from a large rock over which the house was built. Abraham resided here from the time of the American Revolution until the end of his life.

Isaac Pifer, son-in-law of Abraham, served in the Civil War, during which this home withstood much firing from the surrounding hills.

Source: Virginia W.P.A. Historical Inventory Project, 1937



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Created September 28 2001