Flesher, Stephen

FLESHER

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 6/29/2021 at 00:08:28

History of Warren County, Iowa from Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, by Rev. W. C. Martin, Clarke Publishing Co., Chicago, Illinois, 1908, p.546

STEPHEN FLESHER
Stephen Flesher has spent his entire life in Warren County and throughout his business career has been prominently identified with its farming and stock-raising interests. He now operates a fine farm of one hundred and fifty-four acres near Hartford in Richland Township, and also rents another place of one hundred and twenty-five acres, both being well improved and highly cul­tivated.
Mr. Flesher was born in Lincoln Township, October 24, 1860, a son of Benjamin F. and Caroline Flesher who came to this state from McLean County, Illinois, and were pioneers of Warren County. The father, who was also a farmer by occupation, died in May 1891, and the mother, surviving him for a few years, has also passed away. They were the parents of twelve children, eight sons and four daughters, of whom six sons and two daughters are still living.
Upon his father's farm in Palmyra Township, Stephen Flesher spent the days of his boyhood and youth, and his education was acquired in the schools of the neighborhood. On the 25th of December 1890, he was married in Palmyra, to Miss Clara Kerr, who was born and reared near that village. Her father, L. H. Kerr, was one of the pioneers of this county and a soldier of the Civil War. He owned and operated a good farm of one hundred and sixty acres in Palmyra Township, where he died on the 15th of May 1905, but his wife is still living and now makes her home in Palmyra. Mr. and Mrs. Flesher have two sons: Everett and Warren.
They began their married life upon the farm now owned and operated by Coy Craig, but two years later Mr. Flesher purchased a farm in Palmyra Township, upon which the following two years were spent. At the end of that time he sold out and removed to a farm west of Palmyra, being engaged in its cultivation for three years. In 1896 he located upon his present place and has since rented other property, so that he now cultivates about two hun­dred and eighty acres of highly improved land. Stock-raising claims a large share of his attention and he has upon his place some fine pure-blooded shorthorn cattle and Poland China hogs. At a sale of shorthorn in 1905 he sold twenty-five head of registered stock. He also owns some high-grade horses, which he has exhibited at the Indianola fairs and has secured some good prizes. He fattens about two carloads of hogs for market annually and also a number of steers. He is regarded as one of the leading farmers and stock-raisers of his community and as a public-spirited and enterprising citizen he receives and merits the esteem of all with whom he is brought in contact either in business or social life. His political support is given the Democratic Party but he has never cared for official honors.