Generation Three |
20. SARAH3 FLEMING (Samuel2, John1); born 14 February 1815308 in Allegheny Township; died 6 March 1899, of pneumonia,309 buried in Fairview Cemetery (members of her family are interred in Section B, Lots 28 and 29), Pleasantville, Pennsylvania. 310 In 1852, at age 37, Sarah married WILLIAM LYTLE, born 30 August 1815; died 12 November 1865; buried in Miller Farm Cemetery.311
William, Sarah and family lived in Pleasantville, Oil Creek Township, Pennsylvania. William was a carpenter by trade. In 1860,312 George S. Fleming (aged 9), the son of George Washington Fleming (#95 of “Flemings”), was enumerated with William and Sarah Lytle; and in 1880,313 George Washington Fleming was living with Sarah Lytle. After the death of Della (Berlin) Lytle (wife of William and Sarah (Fleming) Lytle’s son William Lytle—see below), Sarah Fleming Lytle (her husband William was deceased by this time) raised William and Della (Berlin) Lytle’s children, Minnie Lytle and Hazel Lytle.
William was an older brother of James Lytle. James married Susan Watson (daughter of Robert and Margaret (Henderson) Watson. One of James and Susan’s children was my grandmother Josephine Lytle who married William H. Fleming (see #119”).
Sarah’s will314 mentions sons William I. Lytle, Samuel A. Lytle, Mortimer E. Lytle, and “my daughter–in–law Mrs. Emma J. Lytle.” Witnesses were D. S. Oiler and G. [Gilbert] B. Fleming (#118 of Flemings).
From Newton’s (1879) History of Venango County, Pennsylvania, page 623:
Sarah Lytle, the eldest of eleven children and daughter of Samuel Fleming, was born Feb. 14th 1815, in Oil Creek Twp., Venango Co. At thirty seven years of age she married William Lytle, and by him had three children–sons who are living. On the 12th of Nov. 1865 Mr. Lytle died. When Mrs. Lytle first saw Pleasantville, there were but 2 houses, and they were built of logs; one was near the storehouse built by Aaron Benedict and the other near where Dr. Wilson now lives. Mrs. Lytle is one of the oldest ladies living in Oil Creek twp. who was born there. She is in good health and is straight as an arrow, quick, strong, and as active as most ladies of forty. She has always worked hard and is of the opinion that work is good for one’s health. The first sermon she ever heard was preached at Titusville, when she was nine years old. The first school she attended was in a log house, formerly occupied by a Mr. Kidd, a blacksmith. Even wagons were then scarce, and people either walked or went on horse–back.
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| + | 94 | i. | Samuel4 A. Lytle; born 8 November 1852 in Allegheny Township, Venango County; died 29 December 1924; buried in Fairview Cemetery Pleasantville, Pennsylvania; married Emma J. Folwell |
| + | 95 | ii. | Mortimer Etenna Lytle; born 18 August 1855; died in Columbus, Ohio; date of death not known; married Lillian Sarah Williams. |
| + | 96 | iii. | William I. Lytle; born 2 November 1857; died August 1908; buried in Fairview Cemetery, Allegheny Township, Venango County; married Della Berlin. |
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97 | i. | Mary4 Jane Dale; born circa 1844; in 1850, she was living with her uncle George Washington Fleming and Hannah Stewart Fleming in Allegheny Township.318 In 1860, Mary Jane Dale was enumerated with her uncle Samuel L. Fleming and aunts Nancy Jane and Matilda Fleming in Allegheny Township.319 |
In October 1981, Mrs. Alice Morrison (Venango County
genealogist) received a letter from Lucille Dale Ponder (of the Jesse
Dale family):
Another mystery. My great–grandfather, John L. Dale, is supposed to have made an earlier marriage and fathered one child, a girl. He tried to keep this marriage secret from his second wife. According to the family legend, the daughter appeared and introduced herself to Wife #2. I don’t have any dates or names of this first marriage. He married my great–grandmother, Massie Jordon, in Elk County, Pa., in 1849 when he was 33 years old and seems to have been cut out of Jesse’s will in 1849.
23. GEORGE3 WASHINGTON FLEMING (Samuel2, John1); born 19 October 1821 on the old Fleming Farm, which would become better known as the Atkinson Farm; died 6 January 1902,320 of gangrene;321 buried in Fairview Cemetery;322 married 1849 HANNAH STEWART,323 born circa 1822; died 1850; buried in Cherry Tree Cemetery.324
In 1850, George and Hannah were in Allegheny Township325 with Mary Jane Dale, daughter of Ann (Fleming) Dale, who died in 1848. Hannah (Stewart) Fleming was a daughter of Elijah (born 1782, Chester County; died 14 August 1847 in Cherrytree Township) and Lydia (Reynolds) Stewart326 (born 23 August 1786 in Birmingham, England; died 19 April 1864 in Cherrytree Township). Lydia was a daughter of William and Lydia (Thomas) Reynolds.
In 1853, Washington Fleming sold property in Pleasantville Borough to J. R. Shugert.327 Perhaps this is where Washington and Hannah Stewart Fleming lived during their short married life. Prior to the oil excitement of the early 1860, Washington also sold land in Allegheny Township to William R. Stewart, James B. Stewart and Fanny Stewart, three siblings of Hannah Stewart Fleming,328 and land in Cranberry Township to Hamilton McClintock of Cornplanter Township.329 Since Hamilton McClintock [Sr.] died 9 May 1857, the Hamilton would be Hamilton McClintock [Jr.] of Cornplanter Township (#72 of “McClintocks”) or Hamilton McClintock (son of James and Louisa Reynolds McClintock) also of Cornplanter Township.
Apparently George Washington did not leave a will. He is recorded in Venango County Register Docket 5, page 269.330
Wash, as he was called at least in family circles, was a farmer and lumberman in the Oil Creek area. Family legend has Wash as physically the strongest of the early Flemings.331 In 1860, George Washington Fleming was head of a household with Rachel E. Lavele? (age 38), Elizabeth Rogers (age 30), and Ida Sauley (Solley?) (age 2).332 At the time, George’s son, George, was living with William and Sarah Fleming Lytle.333 In 1880, Wash was living with his sister Sarah Fleming Lytle in Oil Creek Township, Venango County.334 In 1900, George (Sr.) was enumerated with his nephew Gilbert B. Fleming (#118) in Oil Creek Township, Venango County.335
From Franklin (Pennsylvania) Public Library, obituary abstracts, Citizens Press (Franklin), 16 January 1902:FLEMING, G. W., an aged resident of Shamburg, died at Titusville Hospital Jan. 6. Mr. Fleming was born Oct. 19, 1821, at what is now known as the Atkinson Farm, near Shamburg. In early life he followed lumbering and was for many years a pilot on the Allegheny and Ohio Rivers. In 1849 he married Miss Hannah Steward, of Cherrytree, who died two years later, leaving a son George S. Fleming, last heard of 6 years ago in Montana. He is survived by two brothers, S. L. Fleming of Pleasantville, and Hamilton Fleming of Rimerton, Pa. One sister, Mrs. R. L. Seeley of Lawrence, Kansas. Interment Fairview Cemetery, Pleasantville.
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| 98 | i. | George4B.
Fleming; born April 1850.336 In 1860, George S.
Fleming, age 9, was living
with his aunt Sarah Lytle and William Lytle in Allegheny Township.337
George eventually moved to Montana. In 1900, George, single, was living
alone in Cooke Township, Park County, Montana, where he was enumerated
as a quartz miner.338 He possibly was the George S. Fleming living
as a boarder in Sunlight Township, Park County, Wyoming in 1910; this
George was
widowed, having his own income, born circa 1850 in Pennsylvania, and
both his parents were reported born in Pennsylvania. I believe he
was our George B. Fleming339
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24. HAMILTON3 FLEMING (Samuel2, John1); born 28 December 1823,340 died 23 April 1905 on his farm near Rimerton, Madison Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania; buried in Tidal Cemetery,341 Madison Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania; married ROSANNA HOLMES, 342 born June 1833;343 died 1903 in Armstrong County Pennsylvania; buried in Tidal Cemetery.344
There was less information for Hamilton Fleming,345 only his birth date, in the “Fleming Family Records” and the “Heald Manuscript.” than for any of the other sons of Samuel and Jane. In 1850, Hamilton was single and living with his parents and siblings in Allegheny Township, Venango County.346 In 1860, he had married and was still living in Allegheny Township, where he owned and farmed a tract of about 100 acres.347 This land was conveyed to Hamilton on 19 June 1848 from Harm Jan Huidekoper.348 Hamilton moved to Armstrong County about 1868. His 160 acre farm was about 1 mile northwest of Rimerton, Madison Township.349 The 1870 census reported real estate of $7000 and personal property of $700.350 Note there was also an early Hamilton Fleming of Crawford County, Pennsylvania, see end note #352. The family was still in Madison Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, in 1880 with children Charles, George, Grace, Blanche, Edith and Pearl (as Carrie) (page 301). In 1900, only Pearl and grandchildren Nita and Goldie McGorty were living with Hamilton and Rosanna (page 14B).
In September 1862, Hamilton sold for $1000 at least part of his Venango County land to John Barnsdall and James Parker, both of Titusville and both presumably oil speculators.351 On 20 November 1864, Hamilton sold probably the remainder of his land for $5000 to John W. Potter352 This deed was recorded the same day that John W. Potter’s purchase of the John S. Fleming’s property (which was to become known as the Atkinson Farm) was recorded.353
Rosanna (Holmes) Fleming was a daughter of Samuel and Ellen Holmes of Sugarcreek Townships. In 1850, Samuel Holmes, born circa 1800, his wife Ellen, born circa 1807, and their children (Rosanna, Elizabeth, Martha, Margaret, Samuel, Julianna, and Hezekial) were enumerated in Sugarcreek Township, Venango County.354,355
Hamilton Fleming’s will was written 16 September 1901, recorded 25 May 1905.356 Besides Rosanna and sons Lawrence H., George W. and Charles W. (each of the sons receiving land and other property), the following daughters (receiving money) were mentioned: Emma J. Early, Julia A. Dillon, Grace Morgan, Blance Belle White, Pearl Fleming, and granddaughter Flossie Fleming. There is no indication who the parents of Flossie might have been. Hamilton appointed his son George W. Fleming and Calvin Rayburn executors.
Two of Hamilton and Rosanna’s children, Lawrence Fleming and George Fleming, had the same names as two children of Lawrence and Margaret (Cooper) Fleming of Sugarcreek Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania. Lawrence and Margaret’s last two sons were George Fleming, born 20 November 1828; and Lawrence Fleming [Jr.], born 7 July 1830.
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| + | 99 | i. | Emma4 Jane Fleming; born circa 1854 in Allegheny Township, Venango County; married Samuel Early (also spelled Earley). |
| 100 | ii. | Ellen Fleming; born circa 1856 in Allegheny Township, Venango County; died probably before 1870—she was in the Venango County 1860 census358 but not the Armstrong County 1870 census. Ellen was not with Hamilton and Rosanna in 1900 and not mentioned in Armstrong County Pennsylvania (1914) nor in Hamilton’s will, written 1901. | |
| + | 101 | iii. | Lawrence Hamilton Fleming; born March 1858 in Allegheny Township, Venango County; died 1923; buried in Tidal Cemetery, Madison Township, Armstrong County Pennsylvania; married Anna E. (Betty) [—?—]. |
| 102 | iv. | Julia Alice Fleming; born April 1860 in Allegheny Township, Venango County; married John Dillon; born April 1855 in Scotland. They were living in Spring Township, Crawford County in 1900 (page 3A), where John was listed as a Christian Minister, and Alice was reported having one child, deceased. They apparently did not have additional children. In 1910, John and J. Alice lived in Monroe Township, Randolph County, Indiana (page 5A). In 1920, the couple had moved to Rush Township, Monroe County, New York. John was listed as a minister in these cenuses. | |
| + | 102 | v. | Charles W. Fleming; born October 1862 in Allegheny Township, Venango County; married Agnes Wyley. |
| + | 104 | vi. | George W. Fleming; George W. Fleming, born August 1865 in Allegheny Township, Venango County; died 1959; buried in Tidal Cemetery; married 1 March 1888 Eva Seybert. |
| 105 | vii. | Grace Fleming;
born Augsust 1867 in present–day Oil Creek Township, Venango County;
married Oliver Morgan (also Howard O.); born September 1869 in Pennsylvania. The family lived in Duquesne, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania in 1900 (page 27B), 1910 (page 12B), 1920 (page 20B), and 1930 (page 16A) where Oliver was enumerated as house carpenter in 1900 and 1910 and a carpenter in a steel mill in 1920 and 1930.
Children of Oliver and Grace (Fleming) Morgan known from the federal censuses (all children born in Pennsylvania): (a) Joseph Howard Morgan; born 19 October 1892 in McKeesport, Pennsyvlania; married Ada [—?—]; born circa 1897 in Pennsylvania. Joseph's 1942 Draft Registration Card reported Ada and him living in McKeesport, where Joseph was working for the Carnegie Steel Company. In 1930, the family was still living in McKeesport and Joseph was still working in a steel mill (page 11A). Also in the family in 1930 was Joseph's uncle Trotvillo Morgan. Children of Joseph and Ada known from the 1930 federal census (all born in Pennsylvania):(b) Twilla V. Morgan; born circa 1895. (c) Nelson Morgan; born May 1897; deceased by the time of the 1910 federal census. (d) Another child, name not known, had also died by the time of the 1910 federal census. (e) Myrtle T. Morgan; born circa 1900; married [—?—] Spahr; born circa 1899 in Pennsylvania. In 1920, Howard and Myrtle Spahr were living with Myrtle's parents in Duquesne, Pennsylvania. No information on children. (f) Clarence Morgan; born circa 1903. (g) Ethel Morgan; born circa 1907. |
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| 106 | viii. | Blanche Bell
Fleming;359; born December 1870 in Madison Township, Armstrong County; married Samuel J. White of Goheenville, Boggs
Township, Armstrong County; born July 1871 in Pennsylvania. In 1900, Samuel, Blanche and niece Tressie Fleming, born December 1894 in Pennsylvania (I can not place Tressie—possibly her name was Flossie instead of Tressie), where Samuel J. was a farmer. In 1920 (page 6B) and 1930 (page 3A) the family was living in Boggs Township, Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, where Samuel was farming.
Children of Samuel and Blanche (Fleming) White known from the federal censusues (all born in Pennsylvania): (a) Edna White; born circa 1905. (b) Elgie (Elsey?) M. White (son); born circa 1908. In 1930, Elgie, single and living with his parents, was enumerated as a public school teacher. (c) Freda L. White; born circa 1911. |
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| 107 | ix. | Pearl (Carrie?)
Fleming;
born November 1876 in Pennsylvania; married Michael (Nick?) McGorty of Chickasaw,
Armstrong County, born circa 1880 in Pennsylvania. In 1910 and 1930,
the family was living in Bradys Bend Township, Armstrong County, where
Michael was listed as a coal miner in 1910.360
Their children known from the 1910 federal census: (a) Nita M. McGorty, born July 1897 in Pennsylvania. (b) Goldie McGorty, born January 1900 in Pennsylvania. Pearl was apparently the Carrie, age 3, enumerated in 1880 for Hamilton’s family.361 In 1900, Pearl and children were enumerated with their grandparents Hamilton and Rosanna.362 |
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| 108 | x. | Edith Fleming; born 1878 in Madison Township; died 1897; buried in Tidal Cemetery. The 1880 Pennsylvania soundex for Flemings363 reports Edith as age 7 (born circa 1873). Edith was not mentioned in her father’s 1901 will. | |
25. LUCINDA3 FLEMING (Samuel2, John1); born 27 March 1826; 364 died 1 January 1862, or died 1863;365 buried Miller Farm Cemetery;366 married JAMES SOLLEY,367 born circa 1820.368 In 1860, James Solley, a blacksmith, and family were living in Allegheny Township, Venango County.369 In 1870, about 8 years after Lucinda died, a James Solly, age 50, lawyer, was enumerated in Pleasantville,370 with Samuel Solly, age 86, born in Ohio, and Albert Solly, born in New York. Could this James Solly, lawyer, be the James Solley, blacksmith, who married Lucinda Fleming; they were both born circa 1820.
The James Solley who married Lucinda Fleming was probably the James Solley who lived in Tionesta Township, present–day Forest County, Pennsylvania, and had a first wife, Matilda [—?—]. James Solley and his wife Matilda were mentioned in an 1849 Venango County land deed pertaining to selling a lot in Tionesta Township to a James Hewitt.371 Also, James Solley and wife Matilda and James V. Watson [James Van Lear Watson, born 1822; died 1877, a son of William V. and Nancy Gates Watson and wife Lucretia, all of Tionesta Township), sold land in Tionesta Township to James Fisher in 1855.372
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| 109 | i. | Mina4 (Minnie) Ann Solley; born circa 1859.373 Note: there was also a Minnie M. Seeley, (#121) born 1860, daughter of Edward and Rachel (Fleming) Seeley, Rachel Fleming being a sister of Lucinda. Also in James and Lucinda Solley’s household in 1860 were a John Solley, born circa 1844 (he could be a child of James Solley by an earlier marriage with Matilda [—?—]) or Caroline Bready (Brady?), born 1842. | |
Venango County Orphans Court, 1868, page 340:374
The petition of Nancy Fleming [a sister of Lucinda Fleming], guardian of Minnie Ann Solley, respectfully showeth that said minor under the age of fourteen years that she is the owner in fee simple of ten acres of land situated in Oil Creek Township, Venango County bounded north by the public road running from the Miller Farm to Pleasantville, east and south by the Albenson farm, and west by lands of the Independent Oil Company. That James Solley the father of said minor desires that said land should be sold. That said James Solley has an interest in the same and that no other person _____ [? does]. Said minor and said James Solley _____ interest therein, the said minor being _____ _____ representative of her mother, Lucinda Solley, wife of said James, from whom said lands descended to said minor. Your petitioner further showeth that she believes that said land can be sold advantageously as private sale for about three thousand dollars and that said James Solley is willing to _____ with your petitioner in making a conveyance of that land. Your petitioner believes said sale will be a great benefit and advantage to said minor. Your petitioner further showeth that the said piece of land is unproductive and is the _____ estate of said minor child, and that the sale of the land [?] is necessary for her maintenance and support, she having no personal property. She therefore prays your Honor [?] grant an order for the sale of said at private sale for a _____ _____ three thousand dollars and your petitioner will ever pray. Filed Report of _____ Bushnell, Auditor on the above case, recommends sale as prayed for. August 24th and _____ granted to sell at private sale for _____ _____ $3000. Guardian to give bond on the sum of $6000 with two sureties before confirmation of sale. By the Court.
James W. Strawbridge.
August 27th A. D. 1868. Filed _____ of Nancy Jane Fleming in the sum of $6000, with S. L. Fleming and J. S. Fleming [brothers of Nancy Fleming and Lucinda Fleming Solley] as sureties. Bond approved by the Court.
James W. Strawbridge.
There was an 1883 land deed375 where Minnie Solley sold 10 acres of land in Allegheny Township to Samuel P. Fleming (#108), a son of John S. Fleming. This would indicate that Minnie was still in Venango County in 1883. Possibly she was the Minnie E. Solley; single, no occupation, born circa 1850 in Pennsylvania, both parents born in Pennsylvania; living in Elmira, Chenaung, County, New York in 1910 (page 2B).
25. SAMUEL3 LAWRENCE FLEMING (Samuel2, John1); born 25 April 1828 in Allegheny Township; died 29 December 1917,376 buried in Fairview Cemetery, Pleasantville, Pennsylvania (Section B, Lot 24).377 Samuel L. was the last of the eleven children to pass away. His death certificate states Samuel died of senile debilities—arteriosclerosis.378 In an 1857 land deed, in which Samuel sold land in Allegheny Township to Sinia Watson (see Watsons in the section ”Descendants Reports.” ). Samuel was listed as Samuel, Jr.379
In 1860, Samuel was living with sisters Nancy Jane and Matilda in Allegheny Township, Venango County. 380 In 1870, Samuel, single, was living in the household of his unmarried sister, Nancy Fleming, in Oil Creek Township, where he was enumerated as an oil producer.381 I could not find Samuel in any 1880 federal census. In 1881, at age 53, Samuel L. married HANNAH STAHL,382 born 11 November 1848 in Union County, Pennsylvania;383 died February 1942 in Youngstown, Ohio; buried in Fairview Cemetery, Pleasantville. 384 In 1900 and 1910, Samuel L. and Hannah Stahl Fleming were living on the “Oil City-Titusville Road” in Oil Creek Township, Venango County; in 1920, Hannah, now a widow , was living by herself in Oil Creek Township.385
Hannah Stahl’s half–sister, Anna Stahl, married Samuel P. Fleming (#111), a nephew of Samuel L. Fleming. Enos Stahl, born circa 1818,386 and Hannah [—?—], of Union County, Pennsylvania, had two daughters, Hannah and Leah Stahl. Enos Stahl’s second wife was Lydia A. Johnson, and Anna Stahl was one of 12 children of this union.387 In 1880 Enos and second wife Lydia, born circa 1833, were living in Allegheny Township with seven children of Enos and Lydia and one child, our Hannah Stahl, of Enos and Hannah Stahl.388
Heirs mentioned in Samuel L. Fleming’s will were his wife Hannah and nephew William H. Fleming (#119).389 A biographical sketch of Samuel L. Fleming is on page 1104 of Bell (1890).
Titusville Herald, 3 January 1918:
(Contributed)
The community of Shamburg, suffered the loss of their oldest resident when S. L. Fleming passed away at 8 o’clock Saturday evening, Dec. 29, 1917, at the ripe old age of 90 years. Mr. Fleming’s grandfather was a soldier of the Revolutionary war. He settled in Fayette county, Pa., where he died about 1780 [sic]. The widow and six sons came to Oil Creek township, Venango county, prior to 1800 and settled on the farm now known as the Daily farm above Miller Farm where Mr. Fleming’s father, whose name was also Samuel, grew to manhood and was united in marriage to Miss Jane McClintock. Mr. Fleming was born in 1828 and with his death there passed away the last of a family of eleven children.
Mr. Fleming was united in marriage to Miss Hannah Stahl in 1881 and to this union was born an only child, Maud May, whose untimely death occurred at the early age of 14 years. Mr. Fleming became associated with the township affairs as a teacher in the public schools and then as a director, acting in this capacity for nearly seventy years. Through his efforts, the school known as the Fleming school was established in 1870 and for the building of this school he donated the lot on which it still stands. He was a justice of the peace for a great many years as well as treasurer of the township and served well the interests of Oil Creek township in his faithfulness and integrity.
He became a member of the Christian church recently built near his home and was a liberal giver to its cause and a faithful Christian to the end. He is survived by his wife Hannah Fleming who has been a faithful helpmate and a joy and comfort to her husband through their declining and childless years.
The funeral was held at the home Tuesday, Jan. 1 at 1 o’clock p. m., Rev. Meeker of Cory officiating. A quartet composed of J. B. Osborn, Miss Arlie Lytle [daughter of Samuel and Emma Folwell Lytle], Miss Clara Monroe and V. G. Monroe [Clara and Victor Monroe were siblings; Victor married Leota Lytle, another daughter of Samuel and Emma Folwell Lytle; Clara Monroe did not marry] rendered the beautiful songs, “There is Rest for Weary, “ Sometimes We’ll Understand,” and Asleep in Jesus.” Miss Marie Fleming [my mother] assisted at the piano.
A splendid arrangement of beautiful flowers together with the peaceful repose of the deceased as he lay in the massive oak casket lent a touch of beauty to the otherwise sad and solemn occasion. The bearers, life long friends of the deceased, were W. B. Poor, L. M. Barnard, George Waddell, Thomas Herron, M [W. ?], F. Folwell. A large company of old friends and neighbors were in attendance. Those from a distance were Mrs. Guiler of Vincennes, Ind., Mrs. Gardner and C. J. Stahl of Mt. Jewett and George (#104) and Lawrence Fleming (#101) from Rimerton, Pa.
Extracts pertaining to the Fleming Family from Babcock’s (1919) Venango County Pennsylvania. Her Pioneers and People page 875–876:
… In 1881 he [Samuel L. Fleming] located on the fifty–two–acre tract in Oil Creek township which was his home for the rest of his life, a valuable place lying on the Oil City and Titusville road, where it branches off to Pleasantville, two miles distant, and he owned another one of fifty acres one mile south, near what was once known as Black Oil Hill, later east Shamburg. He conducted profitable oil operations on both places, the production running fully as high as the average in that territory and yielding well on the investment …
Fleming clipping, Titusville Herald, 16 February 1942:
William H. Fleming of Shamburg received word yesterday of the death of his aunt, Mrs. Hannah Fleming, aged 93, which occurred earlier in the day at the home of her niece, Mrs. Arthur Whitmore of Youngstown, Ohio.
Mrs. Fleming was a daughter of Enos and Hannah Stahl and born in Mercer County, November 11 1848. She was married to Samuel L. Fleming at Shamburg in 1881 and lived there until his death in 1917. To them was born one daughter, Maude May, who died at the age of 14. The deceased was a life–long member or the Shamburg Christian Church and was well known among the older residents of the community.
The body will be brought to the Arnold funeral home, where services will be conducted at 2 p. m. Wednesday. Rev. Perry J. Cook will officiate and interment will be in the family lot in Fairview cemetery at Pleasantville.
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| 110 | i. | Maud4 May Fleming; born 1 December 1881; died 25 October 1896 at age 14; buried in Fairview Cemetery, Pleasantville.390 | |
Clipping from Fleming material, undated and no source given; probably from the Titusville Herald:
Maud May, only daughter of Samuel L. and H. M. Fleming, died at the home of her parents in Oil Creek township, Sunday morning, October 25th, aged 14 years, 10 months and 25 days.
Words of sympathy can but feebly console the broken hearts that have lost an only child, the hope and pride of their declining years—their joy, their all. It is difficult to bow in humble submission to the will of divine providence when one so bright and full of youthful vigor is hastily summoned from earth, and the home which seemingly they were sent to brighten and bless is left desolate by their untimely removal. Mr. and Mrs. Fleming feel the loss they have sustained more than words can tell.
The cause that led to the death of Miss Fleming was as strangely mysterious as her death was sudden., and so malignant was the destroying element of her malady that the skill of the physicians was baffled from the start. Apparently the trouble started from picking a cold–sore on her lip with a pin. This was less than a week previous to her death. Immediately her lip began to swell and a day or two later when Dr. Goodwin was called, his suspicions of blood poisoning was at once aroused. Both Drs. Lupher and Goodwin gave the case close attention, but the most powerful remedies offered no resistance to the ravages of the disease. The deceased was a remarkably bright, intelligent young lady, and a general favorite among her schoolmates, and friends young and old.
Funeral services were held at the family residence, Tuesday afternoon at 2 o’clock, where assembled a large number of friends and acquaintances of the family. Rev. Bennehoff conducted the funeral services, and the remains were followed to their last resting place in Fairview by one of the largest funeral processions ever in line in this neighborhood.
25. JOHN3 S. FLEMING (Samuel2, John1) (my great grandfather); born 5 October 1830 in what is now Oil Creek Township, Venango, Pennsylvania; died 18 January 1899391 on the Fleming Farm, Shamburg, Oil Creek Township, Pennsylvania; buried in Fairview Cemetery, Pleasantville, Pennsylvania (John and members of his family are buried in Section B, Lot 5); married 18 August 1853392 HANNAH REBECCA JAMISON, born 14 March, 1828, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, probably Unity Township; died 13 January 1899, Oil Creek Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania; buried in Fairview Cemetery, Pleasantville, Pennsylvania. Hannah Jamison was a daughter of James and Elizabeth (Lloyd) Jamison—see Jamisons in the section ”Descendants Reports.”
In 1890, John S. built the house now standing on what is called the Fleming Farm (see photographs under #119, William H. Fleming). According to my uncle, William H. Fleming, Jr., an earlier house was located northwest of the present farm. John was a farmer and owned and worked oil wells on the Fleming property (see “Oil and Our Oil Creek Ancestors”).
Hannah and John both came down with what was probably influenza in the winter of 1898–1899. Hannah's condition became complicated by pneumonia, and she died 13 January 1899. Shortly after Hannah died, John S., according to family legend, walked to the barn without shoes, probably to attend to the stock, and he died of pneumonia 5 days after Hannah's death. Hannah’s illness was reported as 4 days duration and John’s as 6 days.393
There is no will recorded for John S. Fleming in the Venango County Will Dockets. Hannah’s will is in Venango County Will Book 9, page 292:394In the name of God Amen, I Hannah R. Fleming of Shamburg in the County of Venango and State of Pennsylvania being in good health and of sound and disposing mind and memory do make and publish this my last will and testament, hereby revoking all former wills by me at any time heretofore made. First, I hereby constitute and appoint my son Gilbert B. Fleming my sole executor of this my last will, directing said executor to pay all my just debts and funeral expenses. Second, after paying of my said debts and funeral expenses, I give to my beloved husband, John S. Fleming, the house and one half acre of land on which the house stands and is now occupied by me, and all the household goods for his sole use so long as he still lives and at his decease to my son Gilbert B. Fleming.
[signed] Hannah R. Fleming
The above _____[?] consisting of one sheet was now here subscribed by Hannah R. Fleming the textrix in the present of each of us, and was at the same time declared by her to be her last will and testament, and we at her request sign our names hereto as attesting witnesses.
S. L. Fleming
Miss Rosa A. Schwantz
Feb. 4? 6? 1899.
The S. L. Fleming was Samuel Lawrence Fleming (#26). Probably the Miss Rosa Schwantz was attending Hannah during her illness. Gilbert B. Fleming at that time was the only unmarried living child of John and Hannah. But the tenor of what was obviously a hastily written will is not clear, since at the time I believed the “new” house was occupied, in addition to Hannah and John, by their son William and family, consisting in 1899 of wife Josephine and children Marie and John Fleming. Perhaps at that time the old Fleming homestead was still being occupied by Hannah, John and son Gilbert.
Extracts pertaining to the Fleming family from Babcock (1919), page 874/875:John S. Fleming, son of Samuel and Jane (McClintock) Fleming, was born Oct. 5, 1830, in Oil Creek township, and received such education as the local schools afforded in his boyhood. His early practical experience and training came in the lines of farming and lumbering, and he was wide awake to the possibilities of the oil development, being one of the early investors in the new industry, which he followed with success. It is noteworthy, however, that he was formerly the owner of the Atkinson farm, where such a remarkable yield of oil was obtained noting after he sold it as to bring world–wide reputation to the spot known as Shamburg, causing it to spring almost overnight into a thriving village with stores, three hotels and banking facilities. Today it is hardly more than a memory. Mr. Fleming lived on his Oil Creek farm in Oil Creek township until his death, erecting there in 1890 the substantial dwelling now occupied by his son William H. Fleming. He also began the production of oil there, sinking three wells which formed the nucleus of the large production now obtained from the property. In 1853 Mr. Fleming married Hannah Rebecca Jamison, daughter of James and Hannah [sic, her name was Elizabeth] Jamison, of Venango county, and seven children were born to this union: S. P., James L., Lily (Mrs. R. J. Heald), George B., John L., Gilbert B. and William H. [actually nine children were born to John and Hannah, see Children of John and Hannah (Jamison) Fleming below]. The mother died Jan 13, 1899, the father five days later, Jan. 18th, both of pneumonia, and they are buried in Fairview cemetery at Pleasantville. They belonged to the Baptist Church [perhaps this is an error, see below], and Mr. Fleming affiliated with the A. O. U. W. and Royal Templars of Temperance, favoring the principles of the Prohibitionists. He was a Democrat, however, in political doctrine, and he took an active part in public affairs, filling several township offices.
Shamburg Christian Church
Shamburg does not exist today. Even in its heyday, Shamburg appeared to be almost as much a concept as a specific place.395 Bell (1890), page 730, put it nicely: “… the irregular and undefined limits of Shamburg.” Nevertheless the Shamburg area (see Map 2) had a large population for a few years during the oil–boom times of the 1860s. According to a 4 April 1984 letter from Nancy J. Wright, Church secretary, Shamburg Christian Church, a single small building (I believe it was in or close to what could be called the town site) served both as a school and a site for church and Sunday School services. Shamburg disappeared almost as quickly as it appeared and with it the school and church services, but not the little building. Before long, the Alonzo Poor family (Alonzo married Elizabeth Henderson, and Alonzo’s sister Nancy married Robert H. Watson began holding services in the little school, and they were soon joined by John S. and Hannah Fleming and family, probably around 1870 (but note John S. Fleming’s biography in Babcock, see above, stating John and Hannah belonged to the Baptist Church). Nancy Wright writes about several other families being involved. On 6 December 1903, the church was officially organized as a Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). The church was called the Shamburg Christian Church and was the first Christian Church in Venango County, Pennsylvania. The first officers396 chosen were Elder W. H. H. Monroe (his son Victor married Leota Lytle), Treasurer Gilbert B. Fleming (#118 of “Flemings”), and Deacon Justin Devoge. Justin (Jesse) Devoge was the second husband of my grandmother, Ida Zinn Clifford.In 1913, ground was broken for a new church, located at what was called Fleming Corners, on property owned by the Flemings. This is the church’s present–day site (see Map 2). In 1952, according to Nancy Wright, William H. Fleming, Sr., gave a building to the church to be used as a parsonage. I remember this “building,” which was actually a house built by my grandfather for, I believe, my parents when they were first married. They were living in this house when my sister Lillian was born in 1923. Afterwards the house was occupied by my aunt Ruth Fleming (#211) and her husband, Claire Caldwell, when they were first married. The house was originally located across the road from the church.
The Flemings have been active in the church ever since the first services in the little school house. Gilbert B. Fleming, a son of John S. and Hannah Fleming, was a charter member and the first church secretary after its organization in 1903. William H. Fleming, Sr., was a church officer (treasurer, deacon, and elder) for 50 years and was active in church affairs, as were his descendants. In 1952, William H., Sr., donated to the church the small house, to be used as a parsonage, that was Ralph and Marie (Fleming) Clifford’s first home.
The Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) has been called the most American of the half dozen largest religious groups of the United States.397 The church has a Presbyterian, Seceder background. Many of the principles upon which the church was later based were laid out with the early frontier preaching of Barton Stone, Wallis Scott, Alexander Campbell, and especially Alexander's father, Thomas Campbell. These were a deep concern for Christian Unity, the belief and practices of New Testament Christianity, and the autonomy of the local church.
The Christian Church should not be confused with another group of churches associated with the Campbells. This group is called the churches of Christ and is not nationally organized but meet as independent congregations. An email from Elbert L. Johnson398 to me reports the congregations in the 1990s—of about 18,000—reject Alexander Campbell as the founder (Christ being accepted as the founder), but Alexander Campbell is considered as a restorer of the early faith.
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| + | 111 | i. | Samuel4 P. Fleming; born 16 June 1854; died 1 June 1927, Tulsa, Oklahoma; married Anna Catharine Stahl. |
| + | 112 | ii. | James L. Fleming; born 25 March 1856; died 12 August 1937 in Albany, Texas; buried in Sapulpa, Oklahoma; married Rillie J. Stevenson. |
| + | 113 | iii. | Lillie Ann Fleming; born 31 October 1857; died 20 April 1947; buried in Rosehill Cemetery, Tulsa, Oklahoma; married R. (Rueben) Jerome Heald. |
| 114 | iv. | Claude Everette Fleming; born 28 November 1859; died 19 January 1862; buried Miller Farm Cemetery, Oil Creek Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania.400 Family legend has Claude and his brother Joseph dying of diphtheria. Claude Everette and brother Joseph were re–interred in the Fairview Cemetery, Pleasantville, Pennsylvania.401 | |
| 115 | v. | George B. Fleming; born 17 March 1862; died 25 February 1928;402 buried in Sapulpa, Oklahoma; married Ella [—?—], who was born August 1853 in Ohio.403 In 1891, George, unmarried, was living in the Pleasantville area, Pennsylvania (re obituary of his brother John). In 1900, George, listed as working on oil wells, was living in Bluffton Village, Richland Township, Allen County, Ohio, with wife Ella, who was reported to have had three children, two living.404 Probably these were children of Ella’s by a previous marriage. George was still living in Bluffton, Ohio in 1906 (re obituary of his brother Gilbert). In 1910, George and Ella were living alone in Martinsville, Clark County, Illinois, where the couple was listed as being married 10 years and George was enumerated as a pumper in oil fields.405 In 1920, George B. was living by himself in Creek County, Oklahoma, where he was listed as widowed and a pumper on an oil lease.406 | |
| 116 | vi. | (twin) Joseph Jamison Fleming; born 2 August 1864,407 died 19 August 1864; buried in Miller Farm Cemetery,408 Oil Creek Township, Venango County, Pennsylvania. Joseph Jamison and his brother Claude were re–interred in the Fairview Cemetery,409 Pleasantville, Pennsylvania. | |
| 117 | vii. | (twin)
John L. (probably Lloyd) Fleming, born 2 August 1864; died 30 April
1891,410
buried Fairview Cemetery,411 Pleasantville,
Pennsylvania.
Fleming clipping from the Titusville Herald, 2 May 1891: |
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| + | 118 | viii. | Gilbert B. Fleming; born 31 August 1866; died 31 August 1906; buried in Fairview Cemetery. Gilbert did not marry. |
| + | 119 | ix. | William H. Fleming (my grandfather); born 20 April 1869 in Venango County, Pennsylvania; died 4 December 1957; buried in Fairview Cemetery, Pleasantville, Pennsylvania; married Josephine Louise Lytle. |
