William Henry Fleming (1911)

BUTLER, FLEMING, HILL, JUNKIN

Posted By: Kent Transier (email)
Date: 5/8/2008 at 14:56:35

Winterset Madisonian
Thursday, September 07, 1911
Page 2

Earlham

Wm. Fleming was born in the year 1835, in Ohio, came to Penn township, Madison county in 1858 and resided on the same farm until 1908, when he moved to Earlham, and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Frank Junkin, on August 30th and was buried Sunday, Sept. 3d. The remains were laid beside his wife, who died April 1910.

He leaves six children, three sons and three daughters. The sons are as follows: Ed, residing in Colorado; Marion on the old homestead and John, in California. The daughters are: Emma Butler, of Earlham, Jennie Junkin and Nellie Hill of Penn township.

All the family were present at the funeral, which was largely attended by friends from Dexter, De Soto and Des Moines, old neighbors of the deceased. The funeral was conducted by Rev. H. O. Bethel of Dexter, assisted by Rev. Demorce of the Presbyterian church, where the services were held.
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Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
September 1911

Mr. Wm. Fleming passed away Wednesday afternoon as the result of the natural decline of the vital forces, his constitution having been feeble for many years. The funeral will be held Saturday or Sunday, depending upon the time of arrival of the son John, who started from Sebastopol, Cal., Wednesday evening.
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Earlham Echo
Earlham, Iowa
September 7, 1911

THE PASSING OF A PIONEER

William Fleming

Old Dr. Death is a wonderful physician. He wraps us up in clay and heals us. We go in at the back door of the doctor’s house and come out at the front. We go in blind and come out gazing on golden streets and heavenly mansions. We go in deaf and come out hearing the sweetest celestial music. We go in mute and come out with tongues unloosed to join the angelic songs. We go in halt and come out strong to run with joy the shining way. This is the blessed assurance of those who know Jesus Christ as the “Resurrection of the Life.” Such regard death as God’s method of promotion. This was the faithful, and this the victory of William Fleming, who was born in Jaysville, Ohio, November 16, 1834, and died at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Frank Junkin, near this city, on August 30, 1911, at the age of 76 years, 9 months and 14 days.

He was the last to survive of a family of three, two brothers and one sister.

On the 27th of January 1859, he was married at Jaysville, Ohio to Deborah Kilborn of that place, and together they walked life’s journey for more than half a century celebrating their golden wedding in Earlham in January 1909.

In the autumn of 1859 they came to Iowa and settled on a farm 3 ½ miles southwest of Earlham, which Mr. Fleming had secured and broken out on a previous visit to this section. Here they lived and prospered for many years, or until he moved to Earlham in 1908. On the farm they suffered many of the hardships and reverses that belong to pioneer life. On one occasion he froze both his feet. This would not be remarkable were it not that his death seems to have followed as a result several decades thereafter. Years after the freezing experience a diseased condition developed in one of his toes and the foot had to be taken off.

This was in 1895, and thirteen years afterwards the same disease appeared in the corresponding toe of the other foot and he lost that foot also. It is a question whether or not his death was caused by this poison finding a more vital spot, and developing a cancerous condition of the stomach.

Mr. Fleming survived his wife nearly one and a half years. Nine children have blessed this home. Ida and Mary died in infancy and Verna at 18 months. The other six and Mrs. Emma Butler, Mrs. Jennie Junkin, Mrs. Nellie Hill, and Marion, all of this vicinity; Edward of Silt, Colorado, and John, of Sebastopol, California. All were present at the funeral.

Mr. Fleming was converted at the age of twenty-seven years and lived a consistent Christian life. He was among the earliest members of the Earlham Presbyterian church and served faithfully as an elder for thirty-six years. His fidelity to Christ and the church during the years of his affliction should put to shame those who, in full possession of their powers, are using them for the service of Satan.

Until he was totally disabled, he was a man of great activity. He was a good neighbor and citizen, and very devoted to his family.

He came to his death as one prepared. He was ready for his promotion. He could truly say “I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown.” He had not become so attached to the material swamp of this world but that he was ready and willing to go up and live on the hill tops of Glory.

The funeral services were held at the Earlham Presbyterian church at 3 p.m. Sunday, September 3rd, Rev. H. O. Bethel of the Presbyterian church of Dexter officiating, assisted by Rev. Victor Demaree, who is just opening his pastorate at Earlham. The burial was at the Earlham cemetery. As he was one of this community, a large company of the oldest and best known citizens of friends and neighbors joined in paying their tribute of love to his memory.

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