John J. Fleming

As printed in 1905

JOHN J. FLEMING.

John J. Fleming, a leading real estate and loan agent of liurlington, also associated with other business interests of the city, so that his activity and the scope of his labors make him one of the leading residents here, was born at Donaldsville, La., March 19, 1851, his parents being Aiichael and Bridget (Alaher) Fleming. The paternal grandfather, John Fleming, was a resident of Mitchellstown, in county Cork, Ireland, where he conducted a mercantile enterprise, and was also prominent in politics. He was known as a pacificator. He was also active in military affairs, serving as a lieutenant under the famous Daniel O'Connell, who phone as one of Ireland's bright political stars during the troublous period of 1798-99. This was just preceding the passage of the.\ct of 1800, whereby Ireland was deprived of the political rights which up to that time she had enjoyed. John Fleming died about 1823, when forty years of age. He left a comfortable property and a large family. Michael Fleming, the sixth in order of birth among seven children, was born in 1823, just prior to his father's death. In his youth he attended the common and national schools of Ireland, pursuing his studies until sixteen years of age, when he entered upon his business career as a clerk in the employ of the Hackett Distillery Company. He occupied that position for two years, after which he crossed the Atlantic to St. Johns, New Brunswick, where he started a repair shop, which he conducted for two years. He then went to F.boston,.A I ass., where he entered the coffee and tea importing house of Appleton Brothers. A year later he went to New Orleans, where he followed the cooper's trade, having his works at Donaldsonvilie, and using his own boats and barges to convey his product to the Xew ( )orleans market. His business grew to extensive ])reportions, and he employed about twenty-five men in its conduct. He there continued in business until 1858, when he came with his family to Burlington, Iowa. Here he continued in the cooperage business for a short time, after which he established a retail grocery. The business developing, he conducted a large grocery house on Jefferson Street, at the corner of Fifth Street, until about 1875, when he retired from business. He was for ten years subsequent to that time police magistrate of Burlington; was also justice of the peace. He was very- fond of books, and was a well-read man. In his political affiliation he was a Democrat, taking an active interest in politics, and keeping well informed on the questions and issues of the day. His religious faith was that of the Catholic denomination, and he was active in church work, contributing liberally to its support, and doing all in his power to advance its cause. Strictly temperate, he was a man of high ]principles, conscientious in purpose, upright in action, and never faltering in the performance of any duty which devolved upon him. In his official service he was a terror to habitual criminals, for they knew that he would not exert clemency when justice demanded punishment. He was serving as magistrate at the time of the great railroad strike, and he did as much as any one man to keep the lawbreakers from interfering with those who worked for the railroad company.

In 1850. at Xew Orleans, Michael Fleming was married to Miss Bridget rIaher, a daughter of Kyran and Margaret (Carey)

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

/ ite Brick Company, manufacturers of vitrified brick, and is a director of the Kelly Land and Fuel Company. In his political affiliation he has always been a Democrat, but has never sought or desired public office. He is a member of St. Paul's Catholic church, of which he is a strong supporter. He is a past grand knight of the Knights of Columbus, and is district deputy of that order, having charge of the councils of the order at Burlington, Fort Madison, Keokuk, and Ottumwa.

Mr. Fleming was married in May, 1884, at Parker, Penn., to Miss Mary Bracken, of that place, born Feb. 13, 1863, a daughter of Patrick and Esther M. Bracken. Her father was a contractor, and operated in Pennsylvania and Maryland extensively. He built all of the Western Manyland Railroad, and parts of the line now included within the Pennsylvania Railroad system. He afterward became an extensive oil operator in Pennsylvania. He died in 1892, his remains being interred at Oil City. His wife, who bore the maiden name of Miss Braden, is a representative of an old Revolutionary family, and a niece of ex-Governor Johnson of Pennsylvania. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fleming have been born six children: Esther Marie is a graduate of Mount Aloysius Academy, Cresson, Pa., from which institution her mother was also graduated. Philip Bracken is a graduate of the Burlington high school. Agnes is a student at Mount Aloysius.Academy. Elizabeth Pollard, Mary Braden, and John J., Jr., complete the family. Mrs. Fleming takes a very- active part in church work, and for a long time was at the head of the reading circle connected with St. Paul's church, and is a member of the Ladies' Musical Club. She is actively interested in literature, and her home is the center of a cultured society circle, in which she dispensed a gracious and cordial hospitality. Mr. Fleming belongs to the Burlington Boating.Association, of which he was for years an officer, acting for three years as its president, and is also a member of the Burlington Golf Club. He is accounted one of the eminent residents of the city, prominent in its business, social, and church circles, and standing as a representative.American, capable of planning and controlling extensive interests, and at the same time finding opportunity for other interests in life that lead to the development of a well-rounded character.

As printed in Biographical review of Des Moines County, Iowa (1905). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.