BIOGRAPHY: Joseph M. FLEMING, Mifflin County, PA

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by P. S. Barr 

Copyright.  All rights reserved.
http://files.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm
http://files.usgwarchives.net/pa/mifflin/
_______________________________________________ 

The Commemorative Biographical Encyclopedia of the Juniata Valley, Comprising 
the Counties of Huntingdon, Mifflin, Juniata, and Perry, Pennsylvania.
Chambersburg, Pa.: J. M. Runk & Co., 1897, Volume I, page 631.

  JOSEPH M. FLEMING, Menno, Mifflin county, Pa., was born on the homestead in 
Menno township, February 2, 1833, son of John and Mary (Wills) Fleming.  His 
paternal grandfather, John Fleming, was of Scotch-Irish extraction, and was born 
at Brandywine, Pa.  He served in the Revolutionary war as a private, and took 
part in several battles.  In the latter part of the last century he came to the 
Kishacoquillas valley, and purchased 500 acres of timber land, which he began to 
clear and cultivate.  He first built a log house, in which he lived for a number 
of years.  This rude affair then gave place to a better dwelling, and later, 
with the help of his family, he built other houses and barns.  He was a 
successful farmer and stock-raiser;  his fondness for horses was well known.  He 
was a Democrat.
  Joseph Fleming was married to Miss Martin.  They had six children:  Joseph;  
John;  James;  William;  Elizabeth (Mrs. Dr. Finley), of Altoona;  and Margaret 
(Mrs. Thomas Wilson).  Mr. Fleming died in the valley on what in now known as 
the Henry Wilson farm.  Mrs. Fleming also died in the valley.  They were members 
of the Presbyterian church.
  John Fleming, the second son, spent his boyhood on the homestead.  He attended 
a subscription school, which was a long distance from his home, for public 
schools had not then been established in the valley.  At the age of twenty-one 
his father started him in the business of agriculture by giving him a farm.  He 
proved himself a skilful and judicious farmer, and owned before his death 1,100 
acres of valuable land;  800 of which was in Iowa, now cultivated by three of 
his sons, and 300 acres in the valley.  He made many improvements on the 
homestead.  He built a large brick house, the bricks for which were burned on 
the farm, also barns and other buildings.  Like his father, he was fond of 
horses, and was successful in raising fine herds of horses and cattle.  Mr. 
Fleming's Scotch-Irish thrift and energy characterized him down to his death, 
which occurred May 16, 1868.  He was a progressive and public-spirited citizen.  
He was highly esteemed for his excellent qualities, and his influence was felt 
in the community.  He was always a Democrat.  He served ten years as a justice 
of the peace, and held the office of assessor and tax collector for two years.  
He was married to Mary Wills, of the valley.  Their children are:  Joseph M.;  
John, resides in Iowa;  William, of Iowa;  Robert;  James C., of Iowa;  Samuel 
W.;  Sarah (Mrs. Philip Weiler), of Kansas;  and Thomas C., who died in youth.  
Mr. Fleming was an earnest member of the Presbyterian church.  He served for a 
long term of years as an elder and trustee, and was superintendent and teacher 
of the Sabbath-school.
  Joseph M. Fleming first attended school at the Weiler school house, and 
afterwards at Port Royal, Juniata county.  He was an efficient assistant to his 
father, after whose death he and his brother Robert took charge of the 
homestead, and continued with much success the cultivation of its three hundred 
acres, and the raising of fine horses and cattle.  Mr. Fleming takes an active 
part in local and political affairs.  He is well known throughout the county as 
a useful and worthy citizen.  He is a Democrat.  He was elected a director of 
the poor for a term of three years, by a large majority;  he was a member of the 
board of school directors for nine years;  he served one year as assessor and 
three terms as supervisor.  Mr. Fleming is a member of the Presbyterian church.  
He is a trustee and a teacher in the Sabbath-school, of which he has been a 
life-long member.