Family History by Robert Monroe Fleming (Sr.)
Fleming Family Lineage
from Iva Florence Causey Fleming Notes
(Part 1)
Transcribed by Robert M. Fleming Jr.
Information as to the Fleming side of our family seems very limited. It has been told in the family that there has been a Linage Book published, supposedly by a John Fleming many years ago. But the efforts of myself, Robt M Fleming, to trace down a copy of the same brought no results. So, gathered herein is what little could be found in the notes of Iva Florence Causey Fleming.
Treat Monroe Fleming, bornFeb. 8, 1869 at Gtranville Snt, Penn. Which is near Canton, Penn. Around this area have lived Flemings for many, many years. Most of them seem to have been farmers and dairy people. He died in Eureka, Cal. Mar. 2, 1944. Where he is buried. He was married Mar. 1, 1894 to Iva Florence Causey, born Feb. 10, 1874 near Roanoke, Woodford County, Ill. She was a daughter of Calvin Emery Causey and Armedia Jane Jennings Causey. Both of whom are found in the McCormick Linage Book and the Nance Linage Book. She died Jan. 24, 1961 in Spokane, Wa.
Alden Fleming, Father of Treat Monroe Fleming was born about 1843, died about 1918, age 75 years. He was a Civil War Federal Army veteran. Received a Congresional Medal of Honor for his service. He spent most of his life on the farm at Granville Smt, Penn.
Some of the Fleming relatives in the Penn. area are: 1886 - Fregift Fleming, Cowley, Pa.; Jared Fleming, Grover, Pa.; Levi Fleming, Granville, Pa.; Chas. Shoemaker, Granville Summit, Pa.; 1886 - Samuel Pierce; Orren, Myre and May Paxton; Eli W and George Croffit, Granville Summit, Pa.; Grant Fleming, brother of Treat Fleming who has been dead for years; Lydia and Minnie Croffit; Mrs Alfred Henson, aunt of Treat Fleming; Jared Ellis and Charlotte Ellis, aunt and uncle of Treat Fleming; Burton Fleming, brother of Treat Fleming, died Jan. 28, 1945; Ollie Croffit married Chas. Cogansparyer; Uncle Hofletts, Granville, Summit, Pa.; Mrs Croffit, Grover, Pa., sister of Alden Fleming, aunt of Treat Fleming; Mattie Mores, Canton, Pa., cousin of Trest Fleming.
Wether still in effect am not sure. But every Aug. 10th, each year all the Flemings, relatives, so interest, and there was always a big crowd, gathered at Canton, Pa. for a family reunion. They came from various places in the East, a few from the West. Flemington, N J; Almira, N Y; Williamsport, Pa.; many small towns around Canton, Pa.
Briefly what little is remembered of the early beginning of Flemings in America; Before the Revolutionary War Three Fleming brothers left Scotland Ireland,( A strong supporter of Queen Mary of Scotland all through her unhappy life was the Scottish Lord Fleming in 1800s. A Lady Mary Fleming, about Queen Mary's age from childhood, became her close companion, one of the Four Marys who were Queen Mary's closestattendants and advisors through most of the Queen's life. Even during her nineteen years imprisonment in England by Queen Elizabeth),there seems no certainty which country they emigrated from to America. After arriving around New York and Philadelphia of those early days ( when they were first being settled) the brothers seemed to have separated. One settling in New Jersey after whom Flemington, N J was named. From there his descendents scattered in different directions. The branch from which Alden Fleming, Treat Monroe Fleming's Father, was descended having settled near Canton and Granville Smt, Pa. many years before Alden was born. The second brother emigrated to Canada where he created a dynasty of descendents. Mostly in the East of Canada. But being Masonic myself and after attending Aviation Masonic Lodge #175 in Richland, B C a number of times was surprised to find that a Canadian Robert Monroe Fleming was a prior member there. For I later affiliated at the Lodge as a friendly gesture. A lengthy conversation in the exchanging of Family data showed no close connection between we two Flemings. The 100 odd miles from Renton, Wa. Where I live and belong to St Andrews Masonic Lodge #35 to visitation in Canada is no problem. For both Lodges exchange visitations several times a year. The third brother went South to Virginia or Kentucky, which is not certain. But it is known that many Flemings are found through out the South, Georgia, Tenn., Carolinas, Kentucky, Virginia. In fact, having traveling needs through out most of thosestates have run across Flemings at different times. But never to exchange family data with them.
After Grandfather Calvin Emery Causey and grandmother Armedia Jane Jennings were married in Ill. they a few years later went to Texas, Graham I believe where he had a cattle ranch for a number of years. Some time later they found their way to Spokane, Wa. in the pioneer days. Where he set up one of the first dairys there. I believe it was called the Ledgerwood. About the time the oldest son, Franklin, was in his early twenties Grandfather and a hired hand and Uncle Frank went hunting up on Mt Spokane. I believe it was called Old Baldy in those days. The three separated in their search for game, agreeing to meet at their camp at a certain time in the afternoon. The hired man and Uncle Frank waited later at the meeting place quite a while and became concerned about Grandfather who had not showed up. They begain tracking in the direction they knew he had taken. Some time later they found him unconscious. Getting him back to camp, tied to his horse, camp gear packed on the packhorse they with difficulty got Grandfather back home and to bed. When undressing him they found several big chunks of quarts in his pockets which were put on a dresser without much thought. The doctor came, said Gradfather had typhoid fever. In the doctoring the doctor saw and inspected the quartz. It was then that the highly valuable gold contents was realized. not only by the hired man and Uncle Frank but also the doctor. Grandfather never regained consciousness, but died a few days later in 1889. About the time that the big fire gutted Spokane and another fire cleaned out Seattle.
It was some time after the funeral and getting the estate straigtened that Uncle Frank, now the head of the family, which he was all through his life, got around to going up on Old Baldy again to see if he could trace out Granfather's path to the motherlode from which he had obtained those rich chunks of float quartz. The hired hand had left the dairy.
Uncle Frank was never sure but always suspected that the Doctor had teamed up with the hired man in a search for the mother lode also. From what Uncle Frank has told me he never found any trace of the gold vein in the three times he went up on hte nountain. But he was aware some one else was also up there for the same purpose. For he was shot at two or three times. Evidently as a warning. For he was never hit. Although he heard the report of the gun fire and could hear the bullet zip past him. He heard years later that the Doctor became a wealthy man. And that the hired hand seemed to be well off. Although he could never prove that any one had made a rich gold strike up on that mountain.
It was some time in the early 1890s that Treat Fleming came to Spokane. There he set up a meat market with a pardner who he later bought out. Then set up, as I understand, the first meat slaughter and packing house. In 1894 he and Iva Florence Causey were married, Mar. 1st. They went ona honeymoon to San Francisco and different places around there for a month. While the upstairs over the market, it was called Pacific, was being prepared for them to live in. In about a year Father bought out his pardner James Hale, the building and meat market. Which as I understand was on Main St., as it was called then, the main one of this pioneer town. And across from where the railroad depot was then, or later was to be. The next Feb. 5, 1895 Florence, the daughter, was born. She died Dec. 21, 1973 at Walla Walla, Wa.; Richard Causey, son, was born June 21, 1896, he died Nov.1974. I was born Feb. 15, 1898. Supposedly about the time in the A M that the Maine was blown up in Havana Harbor, Cuba. Later on Father sold his packing plant and meat markets. I remember him as the manager of the Spokane Club, a gentlemens hang out for card playing, etc. He was also interested in mining, did a great deal of prospecting. Had bundles and bundles of mining stocks which I dont think ever amounted to anything. I know after Mother and Father were divorced she could not get anything for them. The last I heard the lawyer took them all. He might have found value in them.
As a boy we did not have much in the way of amusements except games the children played together, or roller skates or bicycle which I made of an old frame and iron small wagon wheels. I recall going down a long block hill on the concrete sidewalk on this improvised bike. The wheels had large, long spikes for axles with wire wrapped around the spike smooth end to keep it in place. Well, with out brakes that contraption could really pick up speed. So much that I would have trouble keeping it guided in a straight line. But I was cured the hard way. On what proved to be my last run, with that set up anyway, I was going so fast the wind brought tears to my eyes. Just as I reached the bottom of the long hill where the side walk straightened out into a level run the meeting of the incline and the straight away was abrupt. Just as the contraption was almost at the abruptness the wire holding the spike in the front wheel decided to wear out and fall off. Letting the spike slip out of the front forks of the frame. So naturally the front wheel took off with the disappearing spike. While the forks ploughed into the concrete at the abruptness. The speed kept me going over the handle bars in a beautiful swan projection while the bike stayed where it had ploughed in. Every thing happened so fast I hardly recalled what happened next. Except that I was gradually declining toward the concrete sidewalk in my projection and could not do much about it. The next I remember was awakening with water being poured in my face by my playmates, who told me what the end of my flight was. It seems I lit on the point of my chin that knockd me cold. I was out for quite a while. There was a cut where I hit which was bleeding, so I had to believe them. But fortunately that was all the damge done to me. I still have a scar on my chin as a reminder. The Indian squaws coming into town on their ponies with a wicker, woven basket hung on each side full of big ripe huckleberries were always welcome.For their berries were our early day confections. For which we gave them a nickel for about a pint of the berries measured out with a woven cup. Pennies and nickels went a long ways in those days for horehound, licorice candy. They had to for there not very many of them over those childhood years. Even though the Causeys scattered in all directions, not many staying in Spokane. Uncle Frank as the senior male of that clan was still the dominating member even though in Butte, Mont. Nextto the real inspiration of the Causeys and Flemings. Who was that strong mentalality, Grandma Armelia Causey. Especially to the Flemings after the divorce between Mother and Father. He then leaving Spokane for different places in the West. I was later told that Grandma could have married any number of times after the death of Grandfather Causey. That wealthy mining men, lawyers, several doctors were all trying to get her to marry again. But death in 1889 took away her real and only love. Which no other man could replace. She never remarried. But she was a real inspiration to all members of her scattered family. Especially the ones left in Spokane. I always thought she was a most wonderful person. If any woman lived a good, useful life Grandma Causey did. Her memory has always added warmth to my life, and will be so until I die.
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©2009 Robert M. Fleming Jr.
This page was last revised on 15 November 2009.