Robert L. Fleming

As printed in 1906

ROBERT L. FLEMING.

Robert L. Fleming, who for many years was a respected and leading agriculturist of Mahaska county, was born in Harrison county, West Virginia, September 3, 181 1, and died upon the home farm in Richland township, June 28, 1894. He started out in life on his own account when only thirteen years of age. living employed as a farm hand by various farmers in the neighborhood in which his parents lived. He later served a three years' apprenticeship at the blacksmith's trade and in compensation for his services was given a suit of clothes and a sum of money. He then started west, intending to go to Indiana, which was regarded as the "far west" in those days. On reaching Vood county, West Virginia, about eighty or one hundred miles from his home, he found a chance to teach school and, abandoning his idea of going to the Hoosier state, he there engaged in teaching and at the same time devoted all of his leisure time to study, so that he greatly improved his own education. He Iiecame a well informed man and throughout his entire life added to his knowledge through reading and investigation.

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1857, when Mr. rdeming built a rock house which is still standing, Mr. Fleming making his home therein until his death. As he prospered in his undertakings he addcrl more land to his original ]purchase and afterward divided this among his children. He was a self-made man in the trust and best sense of the term. He taught school for three terms after coming to this county, and as he possessed considerable knowledge of surveying be followed that profession to some extent and did much toward bringing about changes in his township along lines of general improvement and progress.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Fleming were born thirteen children, Init the first three died in West Virginia. Seven were brought by the parents to Iowa, and the remaining three were born in Mahaska county. The family record is as follows: Leander J., born March 15, 1834, died October 9, 1840; Edward Randolph, born October 27, 1835, died October 24, 1840; Robert Luther, born December 26, 1837, died in Virginia; Martha V., born January 8, 1840, is the wife of J. R. Ryan, a minister residing in Nebraska: Charles, bom January 18, 1842, is living in this county; Orin, born December 17, 1843, and now residing in Prairie township, married Elizabeth Evans, now deceased; Justin, born March 13, 1846, wedded Man- E. Murdock and resides in Greenfield, Iowa: Austin, born September 23, 1847, married Janette McCutcheon and is living near Grinnell. Iowa; George, born August 6, 1849, is married and resides upon a part of the old home farm in Richland township; Fletcher, bom May 8, 1831, died October 17. 1852; Nancy, born August 4, 1853, died February 2/. 1881: R. C, born November 2, 1857, is mentioned elsewhere in this work;.\my Cornelia, born November 2, 1857, is the wife of D. W. Richards, of Greenfield, Iowa.

For twenty-five years Robert L. Fleming was a preacher of the Methodist Episcopal faith, after which he became a believe in

Christian Union. He never had a regular charge, but promoted the interests of the gospel as a local preacher and until nearly eighty years of age conducted funeral services when called upon. In politics he was a democrat of the old school, and he often made political speeches. For twenty-eight years he acted as secretary of the district school board but advanced age finally compelled him to abandon that task. He was a man of sound judgment, whose opinions were largely considered authoritative on matters which he discussed. He was an extensive reader and his books and records, many of which are very old, are now in the home of his son, R. C. Fleming. Two volumes of history of the Revolutionary war, published in 1779 and written in Quaker style, are very interesting mementoes of those early days. He also owned a pair of scales or old-fashioned balances which are still in possession of the family and which was presented to Captain Prunty, a grandfather of our subject, by General George Washington at the close of the Revolutionary war. Mr. Fleming stood as the supporter of all that is just, right and honorable in man's relations with his fellowmen. He lived to the advanced age of more than eighty-two years, enjoying the full confidence and respect of all who knew him and when he was called away the county mourned the loss of a worthy pioneer and valued citizen.

As printed in Past and present of Mahaska County, Iowa : together with biographical sketches of many of its prominent and leading citizens and illustrious dead (1906). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.