Wayne Co Press
Jan 3, 1918

The community will be sorry to hear of the death of William Fleming whose granddaughters frequently visit in Fairfield. (The Misses Berenice and Merle Holand and Mis Mary Nichols).

Mr Fleming passed away on the 28th of December, 1917. He was one of the oldest citizens in the county and one who was loved and respected by all who met him because of his gentle and  dignified manner his innate  love for flowers which he enjoyed cultivating, his great  love for music and literature  and all the more refine things  of life.

The deceased was born the 17th of August, 1837 at Newton--- Linnavady, in Ireland of Scotch parents and was desdended from the famous Gordan clan. He was christened and  confirmed in the Church of  England in the Boreva Parish, near Sondonderry. Mr Fleming had lived in  various places of the world and spent his boyhood in Scotland with an uncle who  was an educator and poet of note and whose son was a skilled violinist and com- poser having studied at the University of Edinburg, Scotland. In the cultured atmosphere home he acquired a great love and knowledge of English History and while he mingled very slightly  with people outside of his own family, he was  appreciated as an  authority  on this subject and he was  a constant reader until his death. He was educated privately and developed a remarkable memory being able to quote  pages of literature accurately.  One of the most remarkable  tests of his memory being  the fact that at one time he could quote all the Psalms of David.    His relatives insisted on his  receiving a commission in the British army but he  had no taste for the military and had a horror of the brutalities of war.

William Fleming married Mary Rutherford, also of the distinguished ancestry of Scotland. He leaves  besides his widow, all of his four children.  All  his grandchildren and great grand children are alive and attended his burial service.

Mr. Fleming came to Wayne County from Ohio some twenty years ago,  and came to America 58 years ago.

His children are Mrs. Hugh Nichols, Mrs N. H. Holland, Elias Beaver  Fleming and William Fleming, Jr.