My Genealogy Hound

JAMES A. FLEMING, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Jaysville. Another of the old settlers of Darke Co.; born in Greenville, Jan. 17, 1832. He is the oldest son of Aaron Fleming, who was born in Butler Co., Ohio, in 1803, and came to Darke Co., with his parents in the year 1816, and was consequently one of the earliest pioneers of Darke Co. He married Rachel Arnold, ____ 31, 1831; she was born in Warren Co., Ohio, 1810, and came to Darke Co., with her parents in 1819. They were the parents of three children, who lived to grow up—James A., Henry D. and William. Upon the date of the above marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Fleming located upon Sec. 7, Greenville Township, where he had previously purchased 80 acres of land, which was then a howling wilderness, there being no clearing. He then commenced clearing and by his own hard labor succeeded in placing it under a good state of cultivation; there was a log cabin on the land, and they lived in it some twenty years; and at the time of his death he had secured 160 acres in Greenville and Van Buren Townships. He was a Democrat in politics, but never aspired for office. He died Feb. 2, 1877. Mrs. Fleming now lives upon the old homestead, where she has continued to live for a period of nearly one-half a century, and is one of the oldest continued residents in this part of Darke Co., having lived here for a period of sixty years. She has a vivid recollection of the Indians, the wolf, the deer, and the wild game, which at that time was to be had in abundance. Our subject obtained his education in an old log schoolhouse, which, at that time had the improvements of a stove. The seats were split logs with no backs; the writing seats extending around the room, made with planks placed upon wooden pegs inserted in the logs. He now has a residence of forty-eight years upon the place where he lives, having assisted his father in the management of the farm, until the decease of the latter, since which time he has farmed for himself. He now owns 120 acres, 80 acres of which is a part of the original farm purchased by his father about the year 1829, for which he gave two horses valued at $50 each, and which is now valued at $60 to $70 per acre. Mr. Fleming, with his wife, is accorded a place in the front ranks of the early pioneers of Darke Co.