This a photo passed on to me from my grandfather, Richard Melvin, positioned in the center.
I'm guessing him to be around the age of 2 or 3 which by my math.... Melvin having been born on the 22nd of Jan. 1909 that puts this photo having been taken circa 1911.
I'm guessing him to be around the age of 2 or 3 which by my math.... Melvin having been born on the 22nd of Jan. 1909 that puts this photo having been taken circa 1911.
I found this article posted on the web published in 1906 by: Past and Present of Mahaska County, Iowa by Manoah Hedge The S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
(Italics are corrections by me from the original article)
Cornelius FLEMING, b. 1857
Cornelius Fleming, whose fellow townsmen speak of him in terms of respect and good will, is now devoting his time and energies to farming on section 10, Richland township. He was born November 2, 1857, in the house which is yet his place of residence and here he has always lived. He is the son of R. L. Fleming and a twin brother of Amy Cornelia Fleming. In his youth he attended the district schools and was trained to farm work, remaining in the employ of his father until his marriage, which was celebrated on the 4th of December, 1887, Miss Annettie Willock becoming his wife. Her birth occurred in Logan county. Illinois, July 22, 1867. After the marriage of the son the father lived with him for seven years, or until his death, which occurred upon the old family homestead. At that time Cornelius Fleming inherited ninety acres of the land. This is a good farm, well situated. It is rolling prairie and very productive. There are fair buildings upon the place, which were erected by the father and the residence is a story and a half structure, being built of rock and cement. Mr. Fleming gives his attention to general agricultural pursuits and has his fields under a high state of cultivation. He is a good worker, honest and industrious. In his home he has an old bureau which his father brought from Virginia. It is filled with old books and papers which were kept by R. L. Fleming, many of which are valuable, while all are very interesting. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Fleming have been born eight children: Robert Glenn, born October 11, 1888; Lemuel Guy, February 23, 1891; Hulda Maud, September 19, 1893; Perry Weldon, February 8, 1896; Chanley Lee, August 15, 1898; Carl Sanford, December 11, 1900; John Lloyd, May 31, 1903; and Paul Ernest, January 15, 1906. Mr. Fleming exercises his right of franchise in support of the men and measures of the democracy. He has never sought office, however, and has served only as constable. His time and attention are devoted to his farming interests, which he has followed throughout his entire life.
This is the Old Fleming Homestead mentioned in the above article. According to my grandfather the farm on which this stone house sat was purchased by Robert L. Fleming (Cornelius's Father) in 1852 for $500 and a team of sorrel horses. Then in 1912 They built the two-story home just north of the old stone home. This house was where Melvin grew up. This farm and house stayed in the family until abt. 1952. Seven years after the death of Cornelius in 1945.
There were reportedly several items built from the walnut cabinets that were salvaged from the old stone house, including a cribbage board, (where abouts unknown) and a shadow box built by Wayne Fleming, son of Robert Glen pictured above. The old stone home was eventually torn down and the rocks crushed and spread over the farm to add lime to the soil.
Robert Glen - Known as Glen , 4 children
Lemuel Guy - Known as Guy, never married
Hulda Maude - Known as Hulda Ryan, 3 children
Perry Weldon - Known as Weldon, never married. Weldon was a test driver for Ford Motor Co. and got very sick from driving the non heated cars out on frozen lake Michigan and later contracted tuberculosis and moved to Albuquerque N.M. where he died at age 22.
Chanley Lee - Known as Chan, married, 7 children
Carl Sanford - Known as Carl, married, no children.
Lloyd John - Known as John, married, 4 children.
Paul Ernest - no known information.
Richard Melvin - known as Melvin, married, 2 children.
I am still seeking family members to find any information and stories that I can pass on. I really enjoy doing research on my families history. I feel like I have made a connection with them that otherwise would not existed.