J. T. FLEMMING, merchant, Fairfield. The family from whom the gentlemen whose name heads this sketch is defended originally came from Scotland to this country about 1683, and settled in Delaware, and there they made their stand for upward of a hundred years. In 1789, a part of the family moved to West Virginia and settled in what is now Marion County, along the banks of the Schuylkill River; and most of the land then entered is owned by their descendants until this day.
There Matthew and Mary Flemming, the great-grandparents of subject, grew to mature life. and to them were born eight children. Of that number, Alexander was the third child, and was born January 5, 1775. In due course of time he reached manhood's estate and on March 27, 1793, he was married to Mary Hays. That union resulted in twelve children, of whom Zadock, the father of our subject, was the ninth.
The grandfather died in Virginia on October 11, 1847, aged seventy-seven years nine months and six days.
The father lived in Virginia until about 1828, and then came to Zanesville, Ohio. On March 11, 1830, he married Ellen Powell, and to them were born ten children--
Of this number four only are now living- Joseph, Melissa, Lucinda and Mary E.
The father, who was a shoemaker by trade, resided in Ohio until 1834, and then moved back to Middletown, W. Va. (now Fairmont). While a resident of that State, his first wife died on August 18, 1854, and on March 2, 1856, he was married to Sarah A. Stadden.
In 1857, he removed to Newark, Ohio, and lived there until 1861, then came to Fairfield, Ill. and resided here until his death on September 21, 1874.
Subject was born on May 13, 1833; his education was received in the olden times subscription schools, and at the early age thirteen he commenced to learn his father's trade, that of a shoemaker. When sixteen years of age, he commenced his chosen profession, that of the mercantile business, as a clerk in a dry goods store in Fairmont, Va.; and he has been engaged in that business most of the time since. For a number of years he clerked and also operated a store for himself in Maryland and West Virginia, and in February, 1857, he came West and first settled in Warsaw, Ill. His first venture in that village was in following the trade of an ambrotyper, but soon commenced clerking again.
In the spring of 1860, he crossed the plains and mined for one season in Colorado. When he returned to the States, he came to Fairfield, and has since been a resident of this place, with the exception of the year of 1875, when he traveled for Bond Bros., of Cincinnati. During his sojourn in this city, he has followed the mercantile life, with the exception of about three years, from 1875 to 1878, when he acted as an agent for the O. & M. R. R., and also operated in grain some in his business; he has been associated at different times with the substantial business men of this city. First with a Mr. Adams, next Dr. S. W. Vertrice, and also with J. C. Alexander. He afterward sold out entirely and clerked subsequently for Patterson & Barkley, and also for Martin Somers & Co.
In February, 1881, he again embarked in the mercantile business for himself, with Edward Bonham, under the title of Bonham & Flemming. This firm is still in business in this city.
Mr. Flemming was married, in Fairmont, W. Va., on May 29, 1854, to Miss Cordelia Dudley, a daughter of Elias and Hannah (Jones) Dudley; her parents are also natives of that State. She was born on November 7, 1832, in Marion County, Va., and is the mother of nine children, of whom four are now living--
Of the deceased children,
Mr. and Mrs. Flemming are members of the Presbyterian Church.
He is a member of Fairfield Lodge, No. 206. A. F. & A. M., Fairfield Chapter, No. 179, and Gorin Commandery, K. T., No. 14, of Olney. In politics, he is a Republican.
Mr. F. was one of the projectors, incorporators and directors of the Springfield Division of the 0. & M. Railroad.
His mother was a lineal descendant of Sir Francis Drake, the celebrated English explorer.
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