Sources

Notes & References ! A day that has been full of horrors has turned out something here that may be the answer to a big glitch. A gulch between DAVID and my GGGgrandfather. Harry Blair was the son of David [below]. Now, the question is, "David" you talk about and is associated with Bethel Church, Green Twp & the Rayne Twp connection - all good as a detective would see it. I have recent photos of the graves of Harry Blair [b. 1888] & David Fleming [b. 1845] would seem to fit Morton b.[1824] lake a glove. The M. Blair goes to show a trend in the Fleming Family. The only gap is that of David Fleming, although, we can't be sure that his name well might have been David [Blair] Fleming. My name, after all, is Robert BLAIR Craig, Mother was daughter of Harry BLAIR Fleming. If you like a mistory listen to this. There IS A HUGE discrepancy here, or there [the Sample Run Cemetery SEE SOURCE NOTE # 10]. I have published what I call a vertual Cemetery at MyFamily.com. If I haven't invited you, I can. In the Vertual Cemetery I comment on 11 little Infant graves. How on memorial day as far back as I can remember - say 3rd grade in school - we would travel up Sample Run Hill near Clymer, PA and clean the grave yard. This went on for years. Just once - I could be mistaken. However, during those visits I would be the one to clean around a little stone marker fence [about 5 or 7" high and about a foot wide that encircled/fenced the grave site of 11 little mounds of the infant FLEMING graves. I unmistakenly recall that these 11 were backed by two larger markers [I have no idea who] that were encased within this little stone fenced in area. There were at least two - I know because of the rcollection of using those hateful little hand clippers to cut the grass around them. And it was my job to do it, often helped by my father. In an effort to explore this mystery this writer made a quick trip to Pennsylvanina on December 7, 2001 - I find one (1) little marker for the 11 Fleming Infants, no dates, no names, no mounds, not fence or stone enclosure and misteriously, no larger tomb stones. Who was there? What were their names? Why wouldn't any of the Fleming relatives that live up there give me any information on them? I couldn't even find out who my great-grandfather was or what his name was! My mother filled in my Family Bible in great detail of all her FLEMING, HOLMES, MENTCH & LEARN relatives, but in a space where she could have placed my Great Grandfather David Flemings name - it is blank. She died in the 60s. I am about the only person who even cares -- apairently. It is a mistery. The book page # 1508 of the History of Indiana County, Pennsylvanina does cause one to wonder if the writer of the data for David A Fleming has made a couple of errors like I am likely to do. It does cause me to wonder if my Great Grandfather, David, may have been married twice, or once and one on the side, or whatever. The name of Sarah A. RAIRAGE does not come to mind, however the (SPICHER) rings a bell. The fact that there were7 children including HARRY - my Great Grandfather would seem to be Blair rather than Clair. This is so interesting. To think, I used to watch TV for entertainment! Regards. Bob Craig He died on August 25, 1889 in Cookport, PA. Francis J Felming died 25 Aug 1873, age 69y 9m 2d Christian Fleming w/o Francis J died 27 Mar 1889, age 74y 6m 5d William I Fleming 1849 - 1930 Mattie E. Fleming w/o William I, died 11 Jul 1977, age 24y 20d Bartholomew Fleming, died 1 May 1863, age 23y 7m 25d From Email Confirmation Thanks! If this is correct, David Fleming's father would be Frencis J Fleming Abt 1830-1930, Cookport Cemetery, Cookport, Indiana Co., PA and mother would be Christiana Haley. David would have had 2 brothers, William Ivan and John, both of Cookport, PA?!? This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Surnames: FLEMING, HENRY, BYERS, HENRICH Classification: Query Message Board URL: [URL hidden - tried it today and it would not pull up??? <!-- http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/UaB.2ACE/554.108.109.112.671.1987.1 991.3.1 --> Message Board Post: David's wife Jemima, I believe was Jemima Henry, Born 1855. D/o Johannes Daniel Henrich, ch. 1813, Heuchelheim, Hessen, Germany, d. 1883, Cherryhill Twp., Indiana Co., PA and Sarah Byers, b. 1816, Schuylkill Co., PA, d. 1908, Indiana Co., PA., bur. Harmony Cem., Cherryhill Twp Bob, It looks like there were two Francis J. Flemings. (One) born 23 Nov 1803, d. 25 Aug 1873 and married to Christina. (Two) born 1862 and died 1929 and married to a Laura M, 1868 to 1937 Notes from 1913 History of Indiana County, Pa p. 993-4 Francis J. Fleming was born Aug. 22, 1811, in Allegheny county, Pa., and came to Indiana county at an early day. He settled in Green township, near Cookport, about 1839, bought land and carried on farming in that vicinity, living on what came to be known as the old Fleming farm near Cookport, where he remained until his death, Aug. 25, 1871. He married Christiana Haley, a native of Ireland, born Aug. 22, 1814, who came to America when seven years old with her parents, Thomas H. and Christiana Haley, the family settled in Pittsburg, where Mr. Haley passed the remainder of his life. His family consisted of nine children, three sons and six daughters, all now deceased, namely; William, Patience, George, Mary, Jane, Christiana (Mrs. Fleming), Emma, Elizabeth and Thomas. Mrs. Christiana (Haley) Fleming died March 27, 1889. She and her husband had a family of eleven children, viz.: One that died in infancy; George H., deceased, who was a soldier in the Cvil war, enlisting from Indiana county (he is mentioned elsewhere in this work); Bartholomew, deceased, who was also in the Union service during the Civil war; Margaret, deceased, who was the wife of William H. Munshower, of Lovejoy, justice of the peace; Thomas H., deceased; Jane Zidana, wife of George Lutman, of Green township; James, deceased; William I., a resident of Indiana county; one child that died in infancy; Robert F.; and Mary Elizabeth. Interested in Francis J Fleming married to Laura Cook from the Cookport area. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !1913 BIOGRAPHY: PA, Indiana, 1850-1905, History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania, by J.T. Stewart, Vol 2, FHL Film #F277, pg 993-994: Francis J. Fleming was born 22 Aug 1811 in Alleheny Co., PA. He is the son of Robert Fleming, a native of Scotland. Francis J. Fleming came to Indiana county at an early day. He settled in Green twp, near Cookport, about 1839, bought land and carried on farming in that vicinity, living on what came to be known as the old Fleming farm near Cookport, where he remained until his death, 25 Aug 1871. He married Christiana Haley, a native of Ireland, born 22 Aug 1814, who came to America when 7yrs old with her parents, Thomas H. & Christiana Haley, the family settling in Pittsburg. Mrs. Christiana (Haley) Fleming died 27 Mar 1889. She and her husband had a family of eleven children, viz.: One that died in infancy; George H., deceased, who was a soldier in the Civil war, enlisting from Indiana Co.;Bartholomew, deceased, who was also in the Union service during the Civil war; Margaret, deceased , who was the wife of William H. Munshower, of Lovejoy, justice of the peace; Thomas H., deceased; Jane Zidana, wife of George Lutman, of Green Twp; James, deceased; William I., a resident of Indiana Co.; one that died in infancy; Robert F.; and Mary Elizabeth. I followed the family of Francis J. and Christina in the census, from 1850-1880. I thought that John, age 6 in the 1850, could be Jane, age 15 in the 1860 and 22 in the 1870, and age 34 in the 1880. I have found no records for John, but of course that doesn't mean that he did not exist. This is just another possibility. The Francis F. Fleming could be the son of Bartholomew and Mary Elizabe Lockard Fleming, b. 1855 or 1852, d. 1910: !1910 CEMETERY: PA, Indiana, Cookport, 1900's, Cemetery Records of Indiana Co., PA, FHL Film #517251, pg 96: Cookport Methodist Cemetery, Francis F. Fleming, born 1855, death 1910. !1910 DEATH: PA, Cambria, Lovejoy, Pennsylvania Bureau of Vital Statistics, Certificate of Death, Cambria County, Spangler, Registration Dist #318, File No. 26128: Francis Fleming, Male, White, born 1852, age 58, Married, birth place P Occupation Farmer, Father Bartel Fleming, birthplace of father PA, birthplace of mother PA, Date of Death 8 Jan 1910, cause of death Hemorrage, Residence Lovejoy, PA, Burial Lovejoy, PA, date of burial 1-10-10. I have no record or mention of a Susanna.

Reference Notes: Robert F. Fleming was educated in the public schools of Green township, passing hisboyhood days on the old home farm, where he continued to live until after the death of his mother. He then sold his interest in the property and went to learn the trade of carpenter which he has ever since followed, now doing general contracting work. In 1905 he moved to Starford building the home which he occupies there, owning that as well as other property. He has succeded in his business undertakings, and has gained the confidence of his fellow citizens to such an extent that he has been chosen to various local offices of trust, having been school director three years, and present servinc as auditor. He was elected on the Republican ticket. ROBERT F. FLEMING, carpenter and contractor, at present serving as auditor of Green township, has been a resident of Starford for several years past and is one of the best known citizens of his section of Indiana county. Born in Green township Oct. 15, 1853, he is a son of Francis J. and Christiana (Haley) Fleming, and grandson of Robert Fleming, a native of Scotland. Robert Fleming settled in Alleghenycounty, Pa., when he came to this country, and remaind there until his death. His family consisted of five children, Bartholomew, William, Francis J., Elizabeth and Mary, all deceased. 1913 History of Indiana County, Pa p. 993-4 Robert F born Oct 15.1853 could the F be Francis in the 1860 Robert is 6 in the 1880 Francis is 26 could this be the same person? in a history it said they had 11children with the help of Susan and Gary thank you we have 11 if the history is correct. As for Susanna that my gram had it could be something they called one of the girls they had a bad habit of this time will tell. This Francis is in the same cemetery as they are so is George and my Francis J. This could be him born 1845 died 1910 depends on the month of the census and the month he was born it could be him. My cuz taught me this. Or does someone know who this Francis F. is? George H Bartholomew Margaret Thomas Jane James William Robert John Molly Mary Hi Laura and Susan, I agree that Robert in 1860, is Frances in 1870 & 1880. Here is the 1870 Census and on as I tracked Robert F.: !1860 CENSUS: Robert Fleming, age 6. !1870 CENSUS: Francis Fleming, age 17 Francis Fleming, 59, Male, Farmer, $6000 real estate, $600 personal property, born PA; Christiana Fleming, 55, Female, Keep House, born PA; Francis Fleming, 17, Male, born PA; Jane Fleming 22, Female, born PA, Margaret Fleming, 15, Female, born PA. !1880 CENSUS: Francis Fleming, age 25. This is also what I have found for Robert F. Fleming: !1895 BIOGRAPHY: PA, Indiana, 1891, History of Indiana County, Pennsylvania, by J.T. Stewart, Vol 2, FHL Film #F277, pg 993-994: Robert F. Fleming, carpenter and contractor, at present serving as auditor of Green Twp, has been a resident of Starford for several yrs and is one of the best known citizens of his section of Indiana co. Born in Green twp 15 Oct 1853, he is a son of Francis J. and Christiana (Haley) Fleming and Grandson of Robert Fleming, a native of Scotland. Robert F. Fleming was educated in the public schools of Green twp, passing his boyhood days on the old home farm, where he continued to live until after the death of his mother. He then sold his interest in the property and went to learn the trade of carpenter, which he has ever since followed, now doing general contract work. In 1905 he moved to Starford, building the home which he occupies there, owning that as well as other property. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !1910 CENSUS: PA, Indiana, Green, 22 Apr 1910, SD 20, ED 78, Sheet 12A, Line 44, FHL Film #1375363, Household 210: Robert F. Fleming, Head, Male, age 56, Single, born PA, Father born PA, Mother born Ireland, Carpenter, Own Free Home; Mary Fleming, Sister, Female, age 58, Single, born PA, Father born PA, Mother born Ireland. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ !1920 CENSUS: PA, Indiana, Indiana Boro, 7 Jan 1920, SD 18, ED 113, She 7A, Li 12, FHL Film #1821574, pg 7A: Robert F. Fleming, Head, Own Home Free, Male, age 65, Single, born Pa, Father born Pa, Mother born PA, Carpenter--houses; Mollie A. Fleming, Sister, Female, age 62, Single, born PA; Hazel Fleming, Niece, age 29, Single, born PA. Robert and Mary Ann Fleming never married. Any ideas on who Hazel Fleming, Niece, could be?

Reference Notes: Surnames: FLEMING, HENRY, BYERS, HENRICH Classification: Query Message Board URL: http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/UaB.2ACE/554.108.109.112.671.1987.1991.3.1 [SEE LINK 9] Message Board Post: David's wife Jemima, I believe was Jemima Henry, Born 1855. See notes on Jemima Henry - Father was most likely Daniel Henry ERROR: D/o Johannes Daniel Henrich, ch. 1813, Heuchelheim, Hessen, Germany, d. 1883, Cherryhill Twp., Indiana Co., PA and Sarah Byers, b. 1816, Schuylkill Co., PA, d. 1908, Indiana Co., PA., bur. Harmony Cem., Cherryhill Twp., PA This is so close. My Great Grandfather is David Fleming, b 1845 [Indiana Co, PA I believe] & d 1928, m Jemima [?] - Just took picture of grave at Sample Run Cemetery yesterday, 12/07/2001. They are both buried there next to my Grand Father, Harry Blair Fleming, b 1888, Clymer, PA, d. 1976. He and his wife, Madge Alberta Holmes are buried there and I have photos of that grave as well. Thanks! If this is correct, David Fleming's father would be Frencis J Fleming Abt 1830-1930, Cookport Cemetery, Cookport, Indiana Co., PA and mother would be Christiana Haley. David would have had 2 brothers, William Ivan and John, both of Cookport, PA?!? Hi Ann Marie! A day that has been full of horrors has turned out something here that may be the answer to a big glitch. A gulch between DAVID and my GGGgrandfather. Harry Blair was the son of David [below]. Now, the question is, "David" you talk about and is associated with Bethel Church, Green Twp & the Rayne Twp connection - all good as a detective would see it. I have recent photos of the graves of Harry Blair [b. 1888] & David Fleming [b. 1845] would seem to fit Morton b.[1824] lake a glove. The M. Blair goes to show a trend in the Fleming Family. The only gap is that of David Fleming, although, we can't be sure that his name well might have been David [Blair] Fleming. My name, after all, is Robert BLAIR Craig, Mother was daughter of Harry BLAIR Fleming. If you like a mistory listen to this. There IS A HUGE discrepancy here, or there [the Sample Run Cemetery]. I have published what I call a vertual Cemetery at MyFamily.com. If I haven't invited you, I can. In the Vertual Cemetery I comment on 11 little Infant graves. How on memorial day as far back as I can remember - say 3rd grade in school - we would travel up Sample Run Hill near Clymer, PA and clean the grave yard. This went on for years. Just once - I could be mistaken. However, during those visits I would be the one to clean around a little stone marker fence [about 5 or 7" high and about a foot wide that encircled/fenced the grave site of 11 little mounds of the infant FLEMING graves. I unmistakenly recall that these 11 were backed by two larger markers [I have no idea who] that were encased within this little stone fenced in area. There were at least two - I know because of the rcollection of using those hateful little hand clippers to cut the grass around them. And it was my job to do it, often helped by my father. I went to Pennsylvania December 7, 2001 - I find one (1) little marker for the 11 Fleming Infants, no dates, no names, no mounds, not fence or stone enclosure and misteriously, no larger tomb stones. Who was there? What were their names? Why wouldn't any of the Fleming relatives that live up there give me any information on them? I couldn't even find out who my great-grandfather was or what his name was! My mother filled in my Family Bible in great detail of all her FLEMING, HOLMES, MENTCH & LEARN relatives, but in a space where she could have placed my Great Grandfather David Flemings name - it is blank. She died in the 60s. I am about the only person who even cares -- apairently. It is a mistery. The book page # 1508 of the History of Indiana County, Pennsylvanina does cause one to wonder if the writer of the data for David A Fleming has made a couple of errors like I am likely to do. It does cause me to wonder if my Great Grandfather, David, may have been married twice, or once and one on the side, or whatever. The name of Sarah A. RAIRAGE does not come to mind, however the (SPICHER) rings a bell. The fact that there were7 children including HARRY - my Great Grandfather would seem to be Blair rather than Clair. This is so interesting. To think, I used to watch TV for entertainment! Regards. Bob Craig Hi Tina. Someone is tinkering with my mind here. If I understand what you wrote BELOW, you say "What is grandpas' dad and mom's name it wasn't David?" . . . I wrote to Tooties daughter recently but there hasn't been enough time to get a reply. I too believe that everything points to David Fleming buried right behind Harry B. However, there is no on-line evidence to prove it. I really need something to substantially pin this down. Bible entries, photos - anything that will provide proof. Where did David come from. Did he own the farm nearby [the homestead], or did the Mentch family originally own the farm. Why did Harry Blair move from the Clymer area and end up on Bennett farm in Indiana. After grandmother [Madge Alberta] died he moved I think to Cherry Tree and lived with son Harold Blair, then went to the mountains for a time and then returned to live with your dad, Hayes Warden Fleming. So much that is so difficult to pin down. I used the other E-mail you sent me to answer this one. I agree! But I thought you rejected the notion of David Fleming . . . The birthday is all wrong, but sometimes not unusual for discrepancies to occur in online data collection. Often the dates are confused by someone simply not being careful in the way information is recorded. The location is what fascinates me. The area and the time frame is so close and the Mentch and Holmes connections, etc. It is more than just a date . . . it is also the Cookport and Learn connections to the William Ivan Fleming. Not arguing for ither. Am quite satisfied with the David. Have photos that make that case of the tomb stones at Sample Run. Ask Tootie for me/us. Hi! I am as well So Glad to meet you! I have been working around the William I. Fleming, b. 1807 d1889, m abt 1811 . . . I think the link is there to David [my ggfather], but cannot support my assumption. When you mean the later Mentch and Fleming, of Alexander, I have nothing. That is how I found your family tree information on Ancestry.com. My records stop at Maragrat Ann. One of these days, I intend to scan the hand written records I have on Maragret Ann and Michael Cramer's family, and then several documents on Harriet Cramer/Edward Carr Fleming's family. I have a secure website at myfamily.com which you can join, or I can send them via email when I get them done. I noticed your Fleming family came from around Indiana Co. PA, as did Edward Carr's family. I have older Fleming names, but can not connect Edward definately to his father, who I assume is William I. Fleming, b. 1807 d. 1889 m. abt 1811; spouse, Maria Wlson. William's parent's were Robert and Margaret IRWIN. Do any of those fit into your Fleming's? What a small world if they do. I had intended to go to your website and explore it futher when I have finished downloading the Alexander Mentch's & assorted info from Ancestry.com site. I am happy to borrow information, but just as happy to share as well. Glad to meet you. SusanS

Reference Notes: Hi Bob, I believe it says in the first paragraph his wife was Sarah (Byers) Henry. Daniel B. was David Flemings brother-in-law the way I read this part. He was married in 1866 so that would have made him 22 at the time if in fact he was born January 15, 1844. So Sarah (Byers) Henry would have been his mother. The first paragraph is about Daniel B.'s father and the third paragraph deals more with Daniel B.. This book is written in a way that it is very hard to understand sometimes. Now, let me get this straight, Daniel was married to Sarah Beyers and Daniel B. was married to Rachel Shank..I have had to read it over several times for different family members also...Just looked again, that would make Daniel B. and Jemima sister and brother... Think this is correct..... Bill . . .

Craig/Fleming/Henry Cemetery

Reference Notes: I an not sure of which Fleming these 11 Infant Babies belonged to. I do remember some things from our trips to the Sample Run Cemetery early in my childhood. [1945-1955]. We would go there each Memorial Day to clean up around the graves. There used to be 11 little mounds, one for each infant, and the area had a brick or stone edge [about 6-10 inches tall] all around these graves. What haunts me now is that I seem to have a rather clear remembrance of larger tomb stones directly between the infant graves and the woods behind. Now the area is all cleared off, as you can see in the photo, and there is only one stone marking the remembrance, not the graves. Another thing I recall about the area is this: (should give credence to my recollections) The Grave Yard directly down from the Sample Run Cemetery is the Greek Catholic Cemetery. It used to have an old rusty fence, iron, all around it. And directly between the Catholic fence (outside the fence) there were a couple of tiny graves -- not in the Catholic Cemetery or the Sample Run Cemetery. I distinctly remember mother [Hannah Jemimah Fleming Craig] telling me that "These little graves were of infants that died before they were baptized and therefore the Catholics buried them outside the fence." Now that may not be true. But mom did indeed tell me that. Regards, --- Robert Craig E-mail: --- rbcraig@cox.net WEB Page: --- http://www.tribalpages.com/tribes/rbchopper

CraigFlemings Pages: TribalPages.com

Notes and references. Flemings & The Woods Since the earliest days of my childhood [Bob Craig], I recall Blair Fleming and his wife, Madge, living on Bennett's Farm on the outskirts of Indiana, PA. He was employed there as a caretaker & farmer. He raised a large family there and was living there when Madge Fleming died. His love was still for the mountains and woods. He missed the timber work and would soon return to it. My earliest recollections are of Madge churning butter, her becoming sick, having to have a foot, then a leg and then gangrene setting in and her death. The funeral was conducted in the home on Bennett's farm in Indiana, PA. They received friends and family and she lay in state in the living room. One time he told me that he worked in timber above Dixonville, PA, and floated logs down a stream [Dixon Creek] that is at present day only a trickle of a creek. After her passing, Blair spent much time in North Central Pennsylvania working as a lumberman. He lived at the saw mill camp until he retired. After retirement he lived with his son, Hayes Warden Fleming in Rossiter, PA until his death. I will edit this further as information is received. - Bob Craig HARRY BLAIR FLEMING FACTIONAL DEPICTION OF BLAIR [done by taking some things I do know and intermingling these facts with some fictional liberty]. It was a cold and frosty morning as Harry awoke. He slipped through the bear skin door of the camp and walked briskly toward the old gray mule that anxiously awaited his morning rations. There was this special long eared one that Harry had a keen appreciation for. The others, . . . well, they were just mules. This one Harry knew well. The sun was just beginning to appear over the trees on the far hill. Harry knew it wasn't below the freezing mark as yet because there was no ice on the make-shift watering troff. The cold wasn't far off though. He shivered as he stooped down and picked up the sack of grain that his mule friend was nudging him for. He pored out a generous portion of grain this morning. It was going to be a busy day. They needed to repair the breach in the earth works down stream from where they were presently taking timber. That blasted thing, when they weren't having to undo the backup of water that the beavers caused, they were having to rebuild their own so as to float the timber down to the mill. His father was busy building their own mill and he mused how different things would be once that was finished. Harry was to be a crew chief at the new mill. This would be quite an accomplishment for him. After all he would only be 12 years old. How about that, the turning of the century and becoming 12 years old - all that and he was to have his own crew. For now, though, he was quite satisfied to be in charge of a team of mules. Harry had a rough life according to some, but he really enjoyed all that was happening to and around him. His family had been in the timber business as far back as he could remember and with him, that was just fine. There was one thing he missed that other kids his age had though and that was schooling. Reckon he would catch up though. His father said something about his being able to catch up on schooling once the new mill was finished. There was just something about the deep timber that appealed to young Harry though. He wasn't at all sure he was ready for a more disciplined life near town. His mom kidded him about there being a lot of nice girls living in the village near where the new Saw Mill was being built. Girls? That was the farthest thing from his young mind at that time. The romance of going into the woods and hauling out timber was the most exciting part of his life and he thoroughly enjoyed everything about the work. Little did Harry Blair know that, even though he was only 12 years old, and that it was the turn of a century [1900], he would be married and have his own first child by 1907. The lumber business was at its peak and would continue at this swift pace as far into the future as anyone could ever dream. There were orders by land owners for lumber to build several new farms located between Clymer and Idamar - a new large coal mine way up Dixon Creek. They would require a huge order for those 10" X 10" X 8' shoring timbers, flat boards and more. Then, there was the rail road - no telling how many hundreds of rails they would require. New tracks to link the coal mines would really put a rush on things. That reminded Harry that they were to survey a new section of timber just south of Clymer. It was said that they would be able to float the timber down the stream for several miles. Of course, he knew the difficulty there. They would have to back the water up in a couple of places to accomplis that. It would be easier in the spring. One of the more exciting things to Harry was the travel they were required. There would be one job that would require the entire crew. More men may be required. They would have to lodge in Indiana PA and work the hill West of town. They would be lodging at the West Indiana House Hotel. [See Image shown on this page [West Indiana House]. Note the big Swede 2nd from the right next to Harry Blair and his team of mules. Speaking of the Swede . . . He loved to pull pranks on Harry Blair. One day Harry was sitting on the bank of Crooked Creek near Clymer not far from camp. They had been cutting timber nearby and one late Sunday evening Harry was fishing and Swede snuck up behind him and shouted out his loudest bear yell. Harry jumped strait into the swift running stream. They drug him out about a hundred yards down. DAVID FLEMING David was the father of Harry Blair, of that there is not much doubt. The Sample Run Cemetery includes the graves of Harry and Madge, his wife, right in front of David & Jemima. There is the question of who's were the "11 Fleming Infants" represented by the single tomb stone. There is no date on the marker so it is impossible to tell. It is remarkable, again, to me that the two larger stone markers I seem to recall are no longer there and no one seems to respond to questions I have ask over and over. About David: All the writer here knows is as a result of a youth, about 13 years old, sitting on the porch at Dixonville, PA, and listening to Harry Blair [grand father] tell of years past. What he talked about that late summer day didn't really sink in until about 53 years later. What he said that day comes flashing back because of that one statement, ". . . I used to float logs down that stream. The stream he was referring to is "Dixon Creek." It begins in the hills above Dixonville [wasn't a town at the time he floated the logs] far up in the farm country and snakes its way down the valley until it joins Crooked Creek in the town of Clymer [not a town at that time]. The reason it sunk in and remained an active memory is Dixon Creek's size. It is but a trickle of water and can be stepped over when the story was told. Today, 53 years later, it is but a ditch. The stip and pit mines have so polluted it that a yellow and orange color makes it a unsightly trickle of water. What he said that day on the porch is most likely true. If the water level of the stream decreased as much from the day Harry actually floated logs till the day he told the story as it has in my life time, it is more than possible. Another thing grandfather said was, ". . . my family all worked the timber on those hills all around what is now Clymer, Penn Run, Dixonville and Holme, PA." By "My family," he must have meant his father [surmised as David] and brothers. Neither grandfather or mother ever talked about any of the Fleming family. It is a mystery to this writer. There was always talk about the Craig ancestors. Why not the Flemings? But, Harry Blair did say that his family were all involved in cutting timber and building saw mills. In reading family stories about other Fleming families there is much said about timber and saw mills. This is the only way one is able to make possible links from earlier generations. Some Flemings settled in Pennsylvania Oil country and made good at that business. Others moved further West in Pennsylvania and settled in the Cookport and Clymer areas. It is these Flemings about whom we are considering. It would appear that the Mentch family were the ones though that had the money. The Holmes intermarried into the Mentch family and it was Madge Alberta Holmes that married Harry Blair Fleming. The Mentch and Holmes family had a large stock in the Indiana Savings and Loan bank and their influence was felt on that bank all the way down to at least the 1950s. Mother, being a descendant of the Mentch, Holmes family was able to barter for a loan that enabled the Robert LeRoy Craig family to purchase a home in Dixonville during a very tough financial time [the late 1940s]. There was a year or more that no payments were made on the home and they were allowed to keep the home by paying the minimal interest on the transaction. The Hill Above Dixonville The home in Dixonville was built on a hill that was at about 45 degree slope. The front up-stairs of the house was nearly level with the road that passed by. The same level of the home at the back was a bit more than 3 stories high. The hill continued up and climbing up about 30 yards put one far above the house. At that point a continuation on up the hill would allow one to see for miles. Although the writer was never able to see it, grandfather Fleming spoke of being able to see the dome of the Indiana Court house from the top of the hill. Indian was just about 14 miles through hills and valleys. To think about it seems impossible. But considering today's hazy atmosphere it may well have been possible to see that far years ago. Month of MARCH & KITE FLYING That hill became famous in the 1950s for being up high and above any trees and a place that caught the wind in such a way as to be the perfect place to fly kites. One could go downtown Dixonville and at Sepcaks or the Dime Store buy the kite of choice. The only two choices available were the diamond or box-kite. The hardware store was the best place to get string. Kite flying in Dixonville came to the mind of this writer while watching a short news item showing kites [2002] that cost $100 to as much as $700 and how they could be maneuvered. Robert LeRoy Craig once made a kite for his boys out of some small strips of wood and newsprint paper. It was the best! The early March flying of kites depended much on the snow and temperature. There was no colder place than up on that hill when the wind was blowing and the temperature would be 50 degrees or less. The Industrial Arts class at Commodore High School allowed the making of a kite string winder that permitted a faster way of letting string out or winding it in. We made one that was of dial rods and about 12" from dial to dial. This meant that one could let out 2' of string by one turn of the device. One day we put up a box kite about 200 or so feet and then attached a diamond kite and put it up with about a 20' tail of mixed colors. With a huge amount of string we let them climb until they were out of site. They caught a strong gust of wind, the string broke, and they vanished. We never did locate those kites. It was great fun! We would spend hours flying those kites. It is hard to imagine the youth of the 21st Century enjoying this exercise as we did back then. Oh, yes, they enjoy it. But to spend hours and hours doing it. I doubt it. DID THE FLEMING FAMILY ORIGINATE FROM THE STEWARTSVILLE & PARKWOOD AREA AND RELOCATE TO CLYMER & SAMPLE RUN? It is a thought packed full of mystery and intrigue. As one looks at the RootsWeb and the maps available of Indiana Co that was made and published in the middle 1800s - there is only one Craig owned area to be found and that parcel is not in Stewartsville. There are now Craigs shown in the immediate area now known as Parkwood. However, as you study the map you will find the FLEMINGS owned land all around the area. Over the later half of the 1800s and early 1900s up to about 1960, Parkwood and the Craig name were the same. One would think that as many of them living there they would have named it Craigville rather than Parkwood. Today, 2002, there are few if any Craigs at Parkwood. WHY WAS STEWARTSVILLE CHANGED TO PARKWOOD? The FLEMING families seemed to disappear from Armstrong County and move or migrate back East to areas in Green Township like, Cookport, the Learn Settlement and Clymer, PA. The United Methodist Church grave yard in Cookport is made up of mostly Flemings. However, again, there are few Flemings to be found in either area. THE FLEMING FAMILY Sometime during the 1940s to 50s something happened to cause a rift of some sort amongst the Fleming boys. They were together while Harry Blair worked the Bennett Farm in Indiana, PA. Not long after the boys began to marry off, HAROLD Blair Fleming moved himself and his family to Erie, PA. Although there are no exact dates for these moves, Charles Fleming, shortly after the war was over moved to California and worked in the timber industry there. Hannah Jemimah Fleming, this writer's mother, along with the boys paid a visit to Erie and Harold Blair and his family. It wasn't too long after that Harold Blair moved his family back and moved into a huge home in Cherry Tree, PA. He joined the family in running a saw mill near there. In 1950 or 51, Hannah Jemimah and her two boys left on a trip for California on a train. They left the day after school left out and would return just before the start of classes in the fall. Robert Blair Craig had just completed classes at the Dixonville Grade School [8th grade] and was to begin classes at the Green Township High School located in Commodore, PA. Traveling light [limited clothing, suit cases or food], Hannah had packed up huge amounts of cheese sandwiches and snacks for food, they arrived in Phoenix, Arizona, about 10 or so days later. Phoenix was where John Henry Learn & Hannah Holmes Learn were living and they spent several weeks visiting with them. Hannah Holmes was directly related to Hannah's mother - Sir name of HOLMES. The then left Phoenix and traveled West to California and then directly North to the Red Wood Forest area of Northern California. This is where her brother, Charles Fleming and family, lived. It seems that "Dot" was his wife's name. Hannah and boys spent a couple of weeks with Charles and then left for the trip back home to Dixonville. BACK HOME IN DIXONVILLE When Hannah and her boys arrived back home they were surprised to find that dad, Robert LeRoy Craig, had dug and laid pipe about 100 yards down the hill to the spring and installed running water to the house. It was an amazing project. Being that the hill was so steep and the water had to be drawn such a long distance, he had installed the pump half way up the hill and built a shelter for it. He had it hooked up so that water would be drawn half way up - and a return pipe would allow water to fall drain back down to the spring causing a vacuum. This allowed the pump to have enough force to be able to push the water the rest of the way up to the house. In the 1950s this was a scientific achievement. Hannah & LeRoy did everything possible to bring up their boys with a good work ethic. The boys were responsible for making sure there was water at the sink for mother and that there was plenty of wood for the cook stove and at the heater in the front room. It was some years after they moved to Dixonville that running water was installed. Prior to that water was drawn from a hand pump located just off the front porch of the house. Usually two 3 gallon buckets of water would do the job - unless, of course, it was Tuesday. On Monday evening a huge tub in the basement would need to be filled and a 10 gallon boiler on top of the stove would be filled for wash day. Tuesday was the day of choice for Wash Day because work wasn't allowed on Sunday. Not long after Hannah and the boys returned back from their trip to see Uncle Charles in California, he pulled up and moved back and settled near the family. All the Harry Blair family having been brought back together once again they worked together to build and operate a saw mill not far from Cherry Tree, PA. The writer here has not idea, and would make no suggestion that Hannah was the drawing force that brought Harold Blair back from Erie, PA, or, brought back Uncle Charles from California. All that is sure, it wasn't long after these visits that they did return. MADGE ALBERTA HOLMES In 1901, Harry Blair Fleming married Madge Alberta Holmes. Madge was the daughter of Dorcie Dolphus Holmes and Mary Catherine Mentch of Penn Run, PA. Madge had "sugar" - was diabetic, and after injuring her foot blood poisining set in. Operations, starting with a toe, then the romoval of her foot, then the leg and finally up as high on the hip as possible - all efforts were defeated in stopping the gangerine that finally took her life. She died June 15, 1945. It wasn't long after this that Harry Blair returned to his profession as a lumberman. It was never said if it was Madge that prevented Harry from working in timber. One would assume so in that this is what he did as a young boy and this is what he did as long as he was able to work. After Harry Blair Fleming left Bennett farm and moved to Cherry Tree, PA, timber was all he worked at. Just before retiring Harry did work timber in Clearfield County, PA, for a time. The writer knows nothing of the reasons for this - or if the Fleming sons were with him while he worked in Clearfield, PA. HAROLD BLAIR FLEMING Visits by the LeRoy Craig family to the big house of Uncle Harold were frequent. The boys loved to play with Harold's five boys and Harold would cut LeRoy, Bob & Ken's hair. The relationship was really great between Hannah and her brother Harold. Some time passed and the day that Harold became sick caused the relationship to change. Harold had developed a brain tumor and had several operations in an attempt to save his life. It was about this time that Hannah, never having been a bad girl, non-the-less, she found religion in a big way. One might put it all together and believe that the pending loss of her brother, Harold, had a life changing effect on her. Harold, having been sick for a time, had to quit the lumber business and he purchased a Exxon Service Station at Cherry Tree, PA, and made an effort to provide a living doing that. Hannah and her family made several trips to Cherry Tree while Harold was sick and it is recalled one time when she may have gone at the wrong time. Harold told Hannah, sitting in the car at the service station, to come and visit any time. She would be welcome. "But, please, when you come to visit, leave your religion at home!" There was no mistaking this and it is as if the writer lived it just yesterday. Memories of Uncle Harold cease at this point. The other boys, Hayes & Charles and their families finally settled near Rossiter, PA. They continued working..... [A work in progress 3 5 2002] Harry Fleming SS#: 190-03-4387 Issued in: Pennsylvania Birth date: Aug 24, 1888 Death date: May 1976 Residence code: Pennsylvania ZIP Code of last known residence: 15772 Primary location associated with this ZIP Code: Rossiter, Pennsylvania

Indiana Gazette Madge Alberta Fleming Of Indiana R.D. 4, passed away Friday, June 15th, 1945 in the Indiana Hospital. She was born September 21st 1890 in Green Township, Indiana County, a daughter of Dorsey and Mary Mentch Holmes. Her early life was lived in Green Township, later moving to Clymer. Her church affiliations were with the Clymer Christian Church. She is survived by her widower, Harry. Blair Fleming; her mother, Mrs. Dorsey Holmes of Phoenix, Ariz; four sons, Frank M., Lovejoy; Harold B., Erie, Pfc. Charles W., U.S. Army in Europe; S. Sergeant, Hayes W. U. S. Marines, Cherry Point, N.C.; two daughters: Mrs Leroy (Hannah Jemimah) Craig, Kent and Mrs Carl (Bertha) Kunkle, Indiana R.D. 3. Sixteen grandchildren and two sisters, Mrs. John H. (Hannah) Learn, Phoenix, Ariz., and Mrs. Ward (Vira) Uncapher, Heilwood, also survive. Friends will be received in the family home from noon Sunday until Monday morning when friends will be received at the Robinson (Lyle) Funeral Home after the noon hour. Funeral services will be conducted in the Funeral home Monday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock. Reverend Clayton Straw will officiate. Interment in Sample Run Cemetery. 1945. The source for these two obituaries is: Genealogical Collection of Indiana County, Pennsylvania, FHL Film #517258. [At Virtual Cemetery above, Refs. 10, 12] Madge Alberta Holmes & Harry Blair Fleming 1885 ~ 1976 * This image shows the location of the graves and to the far left, the location of the Holmes farm Satellite Aerial Photo of Bennit`s Farm where Harry Blair Fleming worked as caretaker after loosing property near Clymer, PA during the great depression. November 30, 2001 - More information show in Obit. Source: Genealogical Collection of Indiana County, PA, FJL Film # 517258 - Provided to me by Linda Fleming. Pen Run, PA - Data obtained from family Bible.Madge Alberta H0LMES Fleming, Born August 24, 1888, Clymer, PA. Died Indiana Hospital, Indiana, PA, Burial at Sample Run Cemetery, Clymer, PA (Father: Dorcie D. HOLMES, Mother: Mary Catherine MENTCH. Images can be seen at http://www.tribalpages.com/tribes/rbchopper There are so many missed opportunities and non so sad as having had a moment in time, when one could have communicated to another, . . . but it was missed. That special day when my grandfather, Harry Blair Fleming, sat with me on our front porch in Dixonville, PA, and he, kind of off-hand, said to me, "I floated logs down that stream." I recall it as if it were yesterday. Yet, in my youth, I did not see or even think of the history in that one statement. Dixon Creek is now but a ditch one can jump without getting your feet wet. Why? What was going through my mind those many years ago that I couldn't and didn't ask a simple question - "That Creek!" "How?" Today, as far as I can tell, I am the only one of the Flemings left that even care. My mind is a rush of questions and unsolved mysteries about the FLEMING Clan. I ask questions of the young and receive no answers. Am I being repaid in like kind in that back then I didn't care enough to ask a simple question. Where did you cut these logs. Where did you float them too. Who was your father, granddad? What did he do? Where did you live back then? We are left today to THINK that Harry Blair's father was David Fleming. His tomb stone lies directly behind Harry Blair's so we must assume that David was my great, great grandfather. It would be so nice to have something solid - a simple question, or an entry in a family Bible - anything . . . There are decedents of slaves that know more about where they came from than we Flemings do. So sad, but it is true. I could have ask my mother. So many times we sat together and as a youth I had no foresight to ask some really interesting questions. Gone is the opportunity. . . gone forever. Our Family Web Page is the opportunity we can cease here at "MyFamily.Com." Young people . . . just ASK! Mothers and fathers . . . engage your children. I just know that there are exciting things that can add to OUR STORY. They are out there. Not as many stories as there could have been. But, I just know we can do more. Please take an active role in preserving our heritage. It is worth it, if not to you, to all those who are to follow. Nothing is insignificant. Everything is important. Add to our history buy putting it down. You are important, and your family stories are important. We may never again meet in this life, but we can be sure that someday someone will be setting as I do now and wondering how it all came to be. God bless. Bob C

http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/UaB.2ACE/2532.1.2 Message Board Post: Jennifer, Were you still interested in exchanging Kunkle history?? I would love to trade, and see if we have anything to share. Christine DAMMITDJ264@@CS.Com Endnotes: 1. Gontner, Evelyn K., (290 Center St., Ormond Beach FL 32174 -- Elkgontner@@aol.com 2. Kunkle, James Erwin, PO Box 140460, Edgewater, CO 80214-0460 -- jekunkle@@uswest.net 3. Vernon C. Cook, 4311 Oglethorpe St., Hyattsville, MD 20781-1544 -- Vernon9323@@aol.com; Descendents of Carl Elkin Kunkle

Subject: Re: INDIANA Co., PA, Cherry Tree history of lumbering

See also:Early Lumbering

For those interested in the Cherry Tree history of lumbering, you may want to read the article in the March 23rd issue of the Indiana Gazette. There is a resurgence of interest in the town's history which may result in a lot more information becoming available in the future. At 04:37 PM 3/14/02 +0100, you wrote: Is the book by Tonkin available to buy or can it be found in the library? I would be interested in reading that book as Bartlebaughs were also river pilots and of that time. Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2002 3:49 PM Subject: [INDIANA] Early Lumbering This is for those interested in the early lumber trade around Cherry Tree. I'm in search of any information on early lumbering, logging and saw-mill operations. I'm hoping someone might know of any ledgers or account books out there listing transactions of local lumber trade in the 1830-1870 time period. I've read "My Partner the river by R. D. Tonkin and looked through the micro film of letters belonging to Vincent Todkin. Allot of the lumber that was milled at local sawmills was delivered to towns like Ebensburg and Indiana. I have ancestors who were in the lumbering business in the Susquehanna and Barr Township area in Cambria Co. and in Green and Montgomery Townships in Indiana Co.. Tonkin's book lists lots of names of Raft Pilots that worked on the head waters of the river. Another interesting find at the State Archives was a diary by William Langdon, himself a river pilot. He kept a dairy from around 1850-1870 and lived in Cherry Tree. Indiana Gazette Madge Alberta Fleming Of Indiana R.D. 4, passed away Friday, June 15th, 1945 in the Indiana Hospital. She was born September 21st 1890 in Green Township, Indiana County, a daughter of Dorsey and Mary Mentch Holmes. Her early life was lived in Green Township, later moving to Clymer. Her church affiliations were with the Clymer Christian Church. She is survived by her widower, Harry. Blair Fleming; her mother, Mrs. Dorsey Holmes of Phoenix, Ariz; four sons, Frank M., Lovejoy; Harold B., Erie, Pfc. Charles W., U.S. Army in Europe; S. Sergeant, Hayes W. U. S. Marines, Cherry Point, N.C.; two daughters: Mrs Leroy (Hannah Jemimah) Craig, Kent and Mrs Carl (Bertha) Kunkle, Indiana R.D. 3. Sixteen grandchildren and two sisters, Mrs. John H. (Hannah) Learn, Phoenix, Ariz., and Mrs. Ward (Vira) Uncapher, Heilwood, also survive. Friends will be received in the family home from noon Sunday until Monday morning when friends will be received at the Robinson (Lyle) Funeral Home after the noon hour. Funeral services will be conducted in the Funeral home Monday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock. Reverend Clayton Straw will officiate. Interment in Sample Run Cemetery. 1945 The source for these two obituaries is: Genealogical Collection of Indiana County, Pennsylvania, FHL Film #517258. * Italic: My additions and corrections, Robert Blair Craig Madge Alberta Holmes & Harry Blair Fleming 1885 ~ 1976 * This image shows the location of the graves and to the far left, the location of the Holmes farm Satellite Aerial Photo of Bennit`s Farm where Harry Blair Fleming worked as caretaker after loosing property near Clymer, PA during the great depression. November 30, 2001 - More information show in Obit. Source: Genealogical Collection of Indiana County, PA, FJL Film # 517258 - Provided to me by Linda Fleming. Pen Run, PA - Data obtained from family Bible.Madge Alberta H0LMES Fleming, Born August 24, 1888, Clymer, PA. Died Indiana Hospital, Indiana, PA, Burial at Sample Run Cemetery, Clymer, PA (Father: Dorcie D. HOLMES, Mother: Mary Catherine MENTCH. Images can be seen at http://www.tribalpages.com/tribes/rbchopper There are so many missed opportunities and non so sad as having had a moment in time, when one could have communicated to another, . . . but it was missed. That special day when my grandfather, Harry Blair Fleming, sat with me on our front porch in Dixonville, PA, and he, kind of off-hand, said to me, "I floated logs down that stream." I recall it as if it were yesterday. Yet, in my youth, I did not see or even think of the history in that one statement. Dixon Creek is now but a ditch one can jump without getting your feet wet. Why? What was going through my mind those many years ago that I couldn't and didn't ask a simple question - "That Creek!" "How?" Today, as far as I can tell, I am the only one of the Flemings left that even care. My mind is a rush of questions and unsolved mysteries about the FLEMING Clan. I ask questions of the young and receive no answers. Am I being repaid in like kind in that back then I didn't care enough to ask a simple question. Where did you cut these logs. Where did you float them too. Who was your father, granddad? What did he do? Where did you live back then? We are left today to THINK that Harry Blair's father was David Fleming. His tomb stone lies directly behind Harry Blair's so we must assume that David was my great, great grandfather. It would be so nice to have something solid - a simple question, or an entry in a family Bible - anything . . . There are decedents of slaves that know more about where they came from than we Flemings do. So sad, but it is true. I could have ask my mother. So many times we sat together and as a youth I had no foresight to ask some really interesting questions. Gone is the opportunity. . . gone forever. Our Family Web Page is the opportunity we can cease here at "MyFamily.Com." Young people . . . just ASK! Mothers and fathers . . . engage your children. I just know that there are exciting things that can add to OUR STORY. They are out there. Not as many stories as there could have been. But, I just know we can do more. Please take an active role in preserving our heritage. It is worth it, if not to you, to all those who are to follow. Nothing is insignificant. Everything is important. Add to our history buy putting it down. You are important, and your family stories are important. We may never again meet in this life, but we can be sure that someday someone will be setting as I do now and wondering how it all came to be. God bless. Bob C

She is reference number 2821.^{<a href="sources.html#3" class="lnk">3</a>} Charles divorced Jean King not long after he was in the service. I recall two occasions of seeing her when I was a child. Once when Charles and Jean were visiting us when we lived in Kent (Jacksonville), PA. I especially recall because he was in uniform and was sitting in the Old Chair my dad had as long as I can remember. We were listening to the old Zenith Floor Radio when the announcement came over the radio (KDKA Piattsburgh, PA) that the war was over! And another while visiting her at her parents home somewhere not far from Cookport, PA. As I recall we were invited to a prayer meeting at the home. It turned into a rather roccus rant ( holly-roller) and after what seemed to me have been hours mom took me by the hand and we left. It wasn't long after than the she divorced Uncle Charles Fleming.