ABEL J. FLEENOR,
Born at Benham, Washington county, Virginia, September 15, 1847,
is living in his native county, engaged in farming. He married near
Benham, November 28, 1872, at the bride's residence and birthplace,
Mary Louisiana Sproles, who was born February 7, 1855. Their
children are four: Hugh James, Stephen D., Charles Somers and Mattie
Catharine.
Elisha Fleenor, farmer, born and raised in Washington county, is the
father of Abel J. His grandfather, Henry Fleenor, and his great grandfather,
Nicholas Fleenor, were pioneer settlers of the county, coming
from Pennsylvania. His mother is Rhoda C., daughter of George Lore,
who came to Catawba county, North Carolina, from Germany. Mrs.
Fleenor's father is a farmer near Benham, Thomas Sproles, son of
James Sproles, whose father, Samuel Sproles, was an early settler in
Washington county. Her mother was Elizabeth J., daughter of
Charles Mann, who came to this county from Eastern Virginia.
In September, 1864, at the age of seventeen years, Abel J. Fleenor
was conscripted into the Confederate Army, serving until the close of
the war, Company C, 6th Virginia Infantry. He was slightly wounded
by shell, in shoulder, in battle at Saltville, October 2, 1864. His father
served three months in the same company; was captured by Stoneman's
men in February, 1865, but escaped.
