My Genealogy Hound

John Fleming, an acknowledged representative citizen of Crawford County, was born in 1820, in Ireland, the eldest of four sons and four daughters of James and Rachel (Strain) Fleming. The former was a weaver and farmer of County Monaghan, Ireland, in which locality young John was reared and educated, receiving a common schooling. At the age of twenty he began learning the trade of stonecutter and brick-mason, at which he soon became an adept. In 1845, filled with a spirit of determination and courage that knew no failure, he immigrated to America, and began work at Quebec, going thence in about eight months to Kingston; following this he worked at various places, including the bridge at Niagara. During this time he was in the Government employ—part of the time for the British Government, or until 1848, when he was employed by the United States Government at Fort Phillip and Fort Jackson. In 1852 he came to Crawford County, Mo., and worked at the Moselle furnace two years, and the Meramec Iron Works for some time. By good management and keen judgment he made fortunate investments in land, and added to his original purchase of 200 acres of land from time to time, until he now owns about1,200 acres, half of which is in one tract. In 1853 Mr. Fleming was married to Eliza J., daughter of Archibald and Matilda (Montgomery) Jones, and from this union eleven children have been born, two of whom (sons) are dead. Jane, James, Rachel, John S., Matilda, David, Elizabeth, Margaret E. and William G. still survive. During the late war Mr. Fleming was a member of the Home Militia, but not in active service. Since his marriage he has followed agricultural pursuits and stock-raising, the latter receiving a considerable share of his attention, His home life and surroundings are all that could be desired. Politically, he is a Democrat, but by no means a political aspirant. He and his wife are worthy members of the old school Presbyterian Church, in which he is a ruling elder, and it is a fact worthy of mention that he built the church house at Cuba with his own means, afterward selling it to the church for less than one-third of its cost. He also took prominent part in the organization of the schools of the county, and erected at his own expense and presented to the people the first school building in Cuba; in other ways he has borne his share of public improvement. Mr. Fleming is a member of Lebanon Lodge, No. 77, A. F. & A. M., at Steelville.