Flenniken, John Calvin 'Cal' 1862 - 1940

FLENNIKEN, MORELAND, PEASE, CRAGEN

Posted By: Reid R. Johnson (email)
Date: 10/16/2023 at 20:58:09

Clayton County Register, 17 July 1940.

STRAWBERRY POINT: Funeral services for J. C. Flenniken occurred at the home, Wednesday afternoon, conducted by the Rev. James E. McLain, pastor of the Congregational church. A hymn was sung by Mrs. Jennie Howard and Mrs. Carrie Slagle with Mrs. J. S. Knight playing the accompaniment. Masonic rites were conducted at the grave in the local cemetery with Gorda J. Gill reading the committal service.

The pall-bearers were: Dr. F. H. Howard, J. J. Matthews, G. W. Barr, Rich Laity, Jr., Dr. H. M. Eaton and Jon Wherry.

John Calvin Flenniken, or better known as "Cal," was born at Millville, Clayton county, on August 17, 1862 and died Sunday morning at his home following an illness of several months. He was the son of Wallace and Gertrude Flenniken. His father was temporarily there during the construction of a grist mill. Soon after his birth his father died. He was educated in the public school of Elkader, after which he learned the jewelry trade from his step-father, Capt. A. B. Moreland in Elkader. He was employed as jeweler in Elkader, Manchester and McGregor, later owning a jewelry store at Traer and Strawberry Point. During the 29th and 30th general assemblies he served as state representative and was chairman of the committee that introduced the primary election bill. He served as mayor of Strawberry Point from 1908 to 1912 during the period the present town hall was built. On Oct. 01, 1890, he was married at Strawberry Point to Mary Pease by a Universalist minister, Rev. Wing, and plans were being made to celebrate the golden wedding anniversary in October.

Mr. Flenniken was a member of the Masonic lodge over 50 years, a member of the Iowa Consistory and the El Kahir Temple, the Order of the Mystic Shrine of Cedar Rapids and a charter member of the Knights of Pythias of Strawberry Point. Surviving are his wife and three nephews, J. C. Flenniken of Boone, Don A. Flenniken of Cedar Rapids and John Harold Cragen of Joplin, Mo.