My Genealogy Hound

JAMES H. FLAGLER is a son of John H. and Adeline B. (Rhodes) Flagler, and was born in Royalton, Niagara county, New York, March 8, 1835. His grandfather, James Flagler, was a descendant of one of two brothers, who came to America from Germany, and was born in Dutchess county, this State, from whence he removed to Washington county, where he followed the occupation of a farmer until his death in 1825, at the age of forty-five years. He married Vincey Hall, and by her had five children, four sons and one daughter, who reached maturity. The maternal grandfather of J. H. Flagler was named William Rhodes, born in Connecticut and removed to Washington county, this State, where he followed farming and also served as a soldier in the war of 1812. He died in Washington county in 1869, at the age of eighty-two years. John H. Flagler (father) was born in Washington county, this State, September 15, 1806. He came to this county and located at Summer Dale, a place west of Mayville, where he engaged in farming. In politics he was an old-line whig and took an active interest in them. In religion he was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and also a local preacher therein. He married Adeline B. Rhodes, January 25, 1831, and had five children, three sons and two daughters. One of the children died quite young; another one, Fletcher J., lives in Kansas. John H. Flagler died in September, 1887.

James H. Flagler was educated in the common schools of Chautauqua town, and Westfield academy, and began to earn a livelihood as a school teacher. He taught fourteen years altogether, including two terms of four months each in the corporation of Mayville. When he had completed his experience in teaching the young idea how to shoot, he moved to Chautauqua and from there to the farm of his father at Summer Dale, which originally contained three hundred acres, and of which he now owns two hundred and forty acres. In 1872 he operated a dairy farm at this location. He then moved to Mayville, where he has since resided, mainly engaged in the coal business. In politics he has been a republican since the birth of the party, voting for Fremont and Dayton in 1856, and has been a member of the board of assessors of Mayville for six years. August 8, 1890, President Harrison appointed him postmaster of Mayville. In religion he is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. He is a member of Mayville Lodge, No. 284, I. O.O. F. of Mayville, of which he is N. G., and has been financial secretary of Mayville Lodge, No. 25, A. O. U. W. for eight years.

James H. Flagler was married November 1, 1859, to Nancy A Keyes, of Mayville, by whom he has two sons: Elmer E., who is married to Frances Van Volkenburg, and is in the dry goods business in Westfield; and Grant S., married to Alta M. Owen, is receiving and paying teller in the Westfield National Bank, in which town he also resides.