The Oil Creek Flemingsand related families |
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121. DELLA MINNIE4 SEELEY (Rachel3, Samuel2, John1); born 23 February 1860 (or July 1862) in Pennsylvania; died 8 May 1918; married 15 May 1884 JESSE GRAHAM of Coffeyville, Kansas,706 born December 1857 in Pennsylvania. Jesse and Minnie Seeley are buried in the Graham plot in Coffeyville, Kansas.707 Note also the Minnie Solley (#109), daughter of James L. and Lucinda (Fleming) Solley. In 1880, Minnie was still living with her parents in Johnson County, Kansas, and was enumerated as a school teacher.708 In 1900, Jesse, Minnie and their two children were living in Toledo, Ohio, where Jesse was listed as an oil producer.709 Recall that four of John S. and Hannah Fleming’s children (Samuel P, James L., Lillie Fleming Heald, and George B. Fleming, all in the oil business, also lived in Toledo in the early 1900s. In 1910, the family was in Coffeyville, Kansas, where Jesse was listed as a railroad engineer.710 Also living with Jesse and Minnie in 1910 was Hazel Lytle, age 20, “niece.” She was a daughter of William I. and Della (Berlin) Lytle. William I. was a son of William and Sarah (Fleming) Lytle, see #20. Also see #13 of Lytles in the section ”Descendants Reports.” By 1920, Minnie had died, but Jesse, now listed as a gas and oil producer, and daughter Gertrude, now married, and her son were still in Coffeyville, as was Hazel Lytle, enumerated as a hat maker in a millnery.711 Hazel eventually married Robert T. Spriggs.
125. ROBERT4 B. FLEMING (John3, Edward2, John1); born 28 February 1845 in Pennsylvania; died 23 June 1880714 in Titusville, Oil Creek Township, Crawford County (there are Oil Creek Townships in Venango and Crawford Counties); buried in Woodlawn Cemetery (Plot E–14), Titusville, Pennsylvania;715 married ROSA [—?—], born circa 1847 in New York state. 716 According to Dr. Bar’s maternity patients records (see below), Rosa was born either 1843 or 1844. I could not find a will for Robert B. Fleming, either in Venango or Crawford County, Pennsylvania. There are three deeds to Robert B. Fleming in Venango County: (1) from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for a land patent in 1864;717 (2) from Samuel H. Small (his step–father) in 1868;718 and (3) from Roswell Breed (who married Robert’s aunt, Amelia Fleming, #33, but he could be James Roswell Breed, son of Roswell Breed) in 1880.719 The Venango County Grantors Index lists several deeds from Robert B. Brooks. The post–1865 map of upper Oil Creek, Oil Creek Township, Venango County, shows a tract of land below and one tract removed (that of the Richardson’s) from a tract of James R. Fleming with the legend: “Pat. to Sarah E. Fleming and only child Robt. B, heirs of John Fleming. Robt Fleming to Jona Watson. 397A–12P.” 26 January 1860, Robert B. Fleming, being a minor over the age of 14, petitioned the Court to appoint a guardian. The court appointed Thomas Hamilton.720 (The same day, same document, same page, Sarah E. Fleming petitioned the Court to appoint guardians for her other two sons, James E. and John L. Fleming. The Court appointed Thomas Hamilton.) In 1864, there was another document relating to a petition of Robert B. Fleming for a guardian:721 “… As a reason why I do not appear in Court to transact this business I am absent from my Regiment on furlough and my furlough does not [?] to time of court.” Two days later, Thomas Hamilton, petitioned to be discharged from his duties as guardian because of “age and infirmities.” The same day Sarah E. Fleming was appointed guardian.722 Robert was in Company K, 57 Regiment, Pennsylvania., Infantry. He served from 2 September 1861 to 27 November 1864; 723 see also his obituaries below. In 1870 and 1880, Robert and family were living in the Fourth Ward, Titusville, Oil Creek Township, Crawford County.724 In 1870, he was listed with real estate of $10,000 and personal estate of $1000. A servant, Ellen Hagerty, born circa 1840 in Ireland, was also enumerated with Robert and Rosa and family. In 1880, Robert was listed as disabled, being a consumptive, and no real or personal estate was reported. The 1880 census was taken about two weeks before Robert died. He died about 2 months after his son John Walter Fleming died. Robert’s occupation was that of a constable at the time of his death, from consumption.725 Living next door to Robert and family in 1870 (but not 1880) was Smith Jones, presumably the Smith Jones who bought land from some of the Oil Creek farmers, for example, land from Edward Fleming’s (#6) estate726 and land from Francis McClintock’s (#17 of “McClintocks”) heirs.727 This Smith Jones was listed as a speculator, with $25,000 real estate and $15,000 personal estate. He was born circa 1832 in New York; his wife was Rosa, born circa 1846 in Michigan, and child Wesley, born circa 1862 in Pennsylvania. Robert B. Fleming’s wife was also named Rosa and as was Smith Jones, she was also born in New York. But compounding this speculation: “Margaret, wife of Smith Jones and dau. of D. and C. Warner[728] Died May 5 1864. Aged 26y 1m 4d” buried in Breedtown Cemetery,729 Cherrytree Township, Venango County (the cemetery is a few miles south of Titusville). Margaret, therefore, was the first wife of the speculator Smith Jones. According to History of Crawford County, Pennsylvania,730 I. S. (Smith) Jones, a Titusville business man, was born 15 February 1834 in Chautauqua County, New York. He came to Titusville in 1863. He married (first) Margaret Warner; married (second) Rosa Bassett, born 1846, of Coldwater, Michigan. Children of Smith and [presumably] Rosa Bassett Jones were Irving and Ernest Jones. One wonders whether there was a relationship between our Cherrytree Flemings and the Warners of the same area, and through this relationship an association with Smith Jones. Silas Warner, Margaret Warner Jones’ brother, witnessed the will of John R. Fleming, Robert’s father. Also, Smith Jones was a next door neighbor of Robert Brooks Fleming in Titusville in 1870. For the 1850 federal census report for David and Cynthia Warner’s family, see end note #728 From the Titusville Herald, 24 June 1880, Thursday:DEATH OF EX–CONSTABLE FLEMINGA shorter obituary also appeared in The Oil City Derrick, 25 June 1880: Robert T. [sic] Fleming, ex constable of the Fourth ward, and a member of the Citizens Corps, died yesterday [sic], and, and will be buried with military honors by that organization at two o'clock tomorrow. He served during the rebellion in Company K, fifty–seventh Pennsylvania veteran volunteers, and while in the service contracted a disease which was the cause of his death. He was confined to his bed for several months past, and suffered increasingly until relieved by death. He leaves a wife and several children [?] to mourn his loss. Post 500 G. A. R. will also assist at the funeral. Robert B. Fleming, being the sole remaining heir (with his mother), came into possession of his father’s oil–rich Cherrytree land, land that was originally that of Robert’s grandfather, Edward Fleming. From Venango County, Pennsylvania, Orphans Court, January Term 1860, number 9:731PETITION OF THOMAS HAMILTON GUARDIAN OF ROBERT, JAMES AND JOHN FLEMING In 1864, Sarah tried to sell the potentially oil–rich land of her son Robert Fleming. These 1864 documents were written two years after the death of Sarah’s daughters and two of the three sons, leaving Robert B. Fleming as the sole heir of John’s land. In summary, Sarah Fleming, on 26 August 1860,732 reported that it “was very uncertain whether any oil will ever be found on said tract … but other persons are willing to pay the sum of ninety thousand dollars for the said tract.” (Just 12 years earlier, in 1848, the entire 365 acres tract was assessed at $639, see under Edward Fleming, #6.) Sarah further stated that her ward [Robert B. Fleming] is in the military service and can not appear to join in the application. A second part of Sarah’ petition tells us that Sarah in fact sold the land to [—?—] Hyde and David Harris for $90,000 and she petitions the court to confirm the sale. The same day the sale was confirmed by the Court. Although the sale went through, the purchasers “refused to pay the said purchase money,” and Sarah was back in court in October 1864.733 Sarah informed the court that the said Hyde and David Harris refused to pay, although she felt they had “sufficient property to collect the amount of their offer for said real estate.” Sarah then informed the Court that she can make an equally good sale of the real estate to other parties, and “prays the honorable court” to vacate the order concerning the sale to Hyde and Harris and to allow her to make a private sale. A second short paragraph was added by the court but difficult to decipher. It would appear “the cause” was granted. These documents indicate intense interest by oil speculators in the land Robert Fleming inherited from his father. There is no record in the Venango County Grantor Index,734 that the land was sold to Hyde and Davis; and Robert (and Sarah E.) probably never received $90,000 for the property. However the Venango County Grantor Index does list Robert B. Fleming as grantor for six property or lease transactions in Cherrytree Township. And from these, Robert must have received enough money to live comfortably. In 1870 he was living in a plush Titusville neighborhood, with $10,000 in property; in 1880, Robert was at the same location, although income was not reported.
Another George F. Fleming of Titusville. 139. HIRAM4 GRANT FLEMING (Hiram3, Ezekiel2, John1); born April 1872 or March 1873, died 15 September 1949; married (first) ANNIE D. [—?—], born February 1876 in Texas. In 1900, Hiram, Annie and family were living in the same dwelling as Hiram’s mother Celina, in Hardeman County, Texas, where Hiram was enumerated as a farmer.755 In 1930, Hiram and (second) wife, BEATRICE STELLA DENTON, born 24 January 1916 in Texas, were living in Hunt County, Texas, where Hiram was still farming.756
141. LYDIA4 VIOLA FLEMING (Ezekiel3, Ezekiel2, John1); born December 1874 in Missouri;760 married 27 August 1892 in Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa, WILLIAM JESSE HOBBS, born January 1875 in Missouri; he was a son of W. T. and Lydia Holsoy Hobbs. In 1900, William, Lydia and family were in Des Moines, Iowa, where William was listed as a day laborer.
142. HENRY4 P. FLEMING (Ezekiel3, Ezekiel2, John1); born 9 February 1875 in Missouri; died 1 October 1956763 in Wapello County, Iowa; buried in Shaul Cemetery,764 located south of Ottumwa; married 8 August 1904 SARAH (SADIE) THOMAS,765 born 1886 in Iowa. Her parents were John M. and Hattie Clark Thomas; Sadie’s sister Mary Ellen Thomas married Thomas S. Fleming, a brother of Henry, see below. From the Ottumwa Daily Courier, 1 October 1956: Henry Fleming, 81, died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Floyd Palmer, 329 Taft avenue, at 8:45 p. m. Monday. The son of Marion E. [sic] and Mary Jane Gee Fleming, he was born in Wapello county [sic] February 9, 1875. He had been a resident of the county and of Ottumwa all of his life. Surviving are one son, Harry Fleming of El Monte, Calif.; three daughters, Mrs. Mabel McGachey and Mrs. Helen Palmer, both of Ottumwa, and Mrs. Freeda Esinger of Moline, Ill.; 19 grandchildren, 14 great–grandchildren, and one brother, Thomas Fleming of Ottumwa. He was preceded in death by three sons, two brothers and one sister. The body is at the Johnson funeral chapel pending completion of arrangements. Henry was a farmer and trucker. He was a member, as apparently were his parents and siblings, of the First Church of the Open Bible Church. Henry and Sadie eventually divorced.766 In 1910, Henry, Sarah A. and oldest child, Harry, were living with Henry’s sister, Lydia, and her family in Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa (page 134A). In 1920 and 1930, Henry, Sadie and family had their own home in Ottumwa, where Henry was enumerated as a general drayman in 1920 (page 16A) and “hauling, odd jobs” in 1930 (page 4B). ![]()
. 143. JOSEPH4 JEUNIOUS FLEMING (Ezekiel3, Ezekiel2, John1); born 8 February 1881 in Iowa, died 19 July 1948 in Wapello County; buried in Memorial Lawn Cemetery,768 located north of Ottumwa, Iowa; married 16 August 1906 in Ottumwa, NELLIE GERTRUDE MANN, born circa 1888 in Clayton, Illinois.769 Her parents were Elida (listed as born 1818) and Roxanna Hoyt Mann.770 In 1910, Joseph and Nellie were living in Ottumwa, Iowa.771 No children were listed for this census, however Joseph’s brother Thomas Solomon (as S. T.), single, and Nellie’s brother Robert Mann, single, were living with Joseph and Nellie. In 1920, Joseph, Nellie and family were living in Des Moines, Iowa, where Joseph was enumerated as a painter in a carriage factory.772 Probably from the Ottumwa Daily Courier, no date:Joseph J. Fleming, 67, of 531 Morris street, died Sunday at 11:30 a. m. at the Ottumwa hospital. Joseph and Nellie eventually divorced.773 The Ottumwa City directories listed Joseph as a laborer and teamster.
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