Charles FLEMING, b. 1842
Charles Fleming. a representative of one of
the old and prominent Pioneer families of
Mahaska county now living on section 10,
Richland township, where he carries on general
agricultural pursuits,was born in West Virginia, January 18, 1842. He was ten years of age
when the parents came to Iowa. His father,
Robert L. Fleming. is now deceased, but for many years was closely associated with
agricultural interests in this part of the state. The
family came here in pioneer times when Charles
was only about ten years of age. His childhood
and youth were passed under the parental
roof, and he worked upon the home farm until
he reached the age of twenty-six years, his education having been acquired in the common
schools.
On the 6th of October, 1867, Charles Fleming was married to Miss Emily Samantha
Spain, who was born in Union county, Ohio, March 28, 1851. Mention is made of her parents in connection
with the sketch of T.J. Timbrel on another page of this work, Mrs. Timbrel being a sister of Mrs. Fleming. From his
father Mr. Fleming received forty acres of
laud, a part of which he purchased in 1853. The
forty acres was all wild, not a fence having been
built nor an improvement made upon the property. He erected a good frame residence, also
built barns and fences and has since made his
home upon the farm, which under his careful
direction has been transformed into a rich and
productive property. He bought forty acres
adjoining the original purchase on the west and
still later bought sixty acres, all of whicli is improved with good buildings lying north of the
second forty acres. Mr. Fleming has met the
usual experiences of pioneer settlers. There has
been much arduous labor in connection with the
development of his land, but his work has triumphed over the pioneer conditions and he has
made a good home and farm from the wild
prairie. He now owns one hundred and forty
acres of good land which is clear of all indebtedness. His memory goes back to the early
days when in his father's home grease lamps
were used and afterward candles. They cooked
over an open fireplace and the women of the
household in those times spun their yarn and
wove their own cloth. On one occasion when
they first came to Iowa they were stopping at
the home of an early settler named Petty. The
supply of flour gave out and they thought none
was to be had. Mr. Fleming rode all day in
search of flour or meal, and returned with a
peck of sour corn meal, from which they made
bread, eating it with a relish because of their
hunger. Long since, however, the hardship
and difficulties of pioneer life have given way
before an advancing civilization and the prosperity which has been won by Mr. Fleming and
other settlers.
Unto our subject and his wife have been born
two children: Dosha Drusilla and Almarillis,
Dosha was married to Benjamin Warbleton,
August 31, 1894, and to them have been born
two children: Icy, who died in infancy; and
Lelia. The younger daughter, Almarillis, was
a teacher in the public schools for several years,
but at the present time is at home.
In politics Mr. Fleming was a democrat until about twenty years ago, since which time he
has voted the republican ticket. He has served
as school director, but has held no other office
nor has he desired political preferment. Both
he and his wife are believers in the Christian religion as taught by the Methodist Episcopal
church, but are not members of any congregation. Mr. Fleming is a well posted man and is
a good farmer. It has not been the aim of
his life to become wealthy, but he has been successful in what he has accomplished and now
has a good farm property. He is spoken of
in creditable terms by all who know him and
is one of the respected and worthy citizens of
Mahaska county, where for more than a half
century he has made his home.
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from Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge
The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co. 1906
Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa
Mahaska County, Iowa Genealogy
Iowa Genealogy
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