My Genealogy Hound

JOHN W. FLEWELLING is engaged extensively in raising and shipping stock, as well as in general agricultural pursuits, and is the owner of a finely-improved farm located on section 5, Pokagon Township, Cass County. As a stock dealer he has been especially successful, and for fourteen years or more has conducted an extensive business in that line. His biography, which we will now briefly review, affords another illustration of the fact that industry and good judgment will almost invariably bring their possessor abundant material success, although at the commencement of his business career he may have neither capital nor friends.

Born in Marion County, Ohio, April 1, 1827, our subject is the son of John and Catherine (DePew) Flewelling. His paternal grandfather, Jesse Flewelling, was either a native of Wales or of Welsh parentage, and spent his life principally in Ontario County, N. Y. He and his wife Sarah reared six children, namely: John, father of our subject; Richard; Harrison; Morris; Sarah, Mrs. E. Dewey; and Mrs. Maria Shepherd. The father of our subject was born in Ontario County, N. Y., in 1794, and was reared to manhood in that place. Although quite young when the War of 1812 commenced, he enlisted in the defense of our country and served with valor until the close of the conflict. He was also a participant in the Black Hawk War under Gen. Harrison. He fortunately escaped uninjured in the latter war, but in the War of 1812 was wounded in the breast by a stray bullet.

After his marriage to Catherine DePew in Ontario County, N. Y., John Flewelling removed to Ohio and located in Marion County. He was a general mechanic, and followed that trade throughout his active life. In 1831 he went to La Grange Township, Cass County, making the trip overland with wagons, and after his arrival purchased eighty acres, which he proceeded to clear and improve. He sold and bought several farms in different townships of Cass County, but finally purchased sixty acres in Pokagon Township, where he remained until his death, which occurred January 22, 1869. A Democrat in his political belief, he held many important offices in his township and county. He was a member of the United Brethren Church, and a man whose upright life proved the sincerity of his religious belief.

The first wife of John Flewelling was Catherine, daughter of Jesse and Sarah DePew, all of whom were natives of New York. Four children were born of this marriage, one of whom died in infancy. The others were Amasa, who died in 1849; Lyda, who married Peter Brady; and John W., of this sketch. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Flewelling married Ellen Brady, who bore him eleven children. The subject of this sketch remained at home until he was twenty-one, when he commenced to work by the month and continued in the employ of others for four years. His first purchase of land consisted of eighty acres in Pokagon Township, which he subsequently sold, and bought his present farm of one hundred and thirty-six acres.

In 1852 occurred the marriage of Mr. Flewelling to Miss Margaret Williams. Eight children were born of this union, as follows: Mary, Mrs. William Jenkins; Hilda, who married Frank McCoy; William; Louisa and Austin, deceased; Isaac; Andrew, deceased; and Maggie, the wife of F. A. Ireland. After the death of his first wife, Mr. Flewelling married Miss Mary, daughter of William and Sarah (Kyle) Hogue, natives respectively of Pennsylvania and Ohio. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. Flewelling bore the name of John Hogue, and was born in Ireland, emigrating thence to the United States, where he afterward resided. One son has blessed the union of Mr. and Mrs. Flewelling, Lyle, a promising young man of ability and enterprise, who now cultivates the home farm. In his political preferences Mr. Flewelling is an active supporter of the platform of the Democratic party, to which he gives the weight of his influence and ballot.