MATTHEW FLEMING,
(deceased) - Ireland sends many of its best sons to America,
where they develop into our best citizens under more favourable conditions than they are given in their native
land. Sangamon County has always welcomed this class
realizing how much the country owes to the brilliant minds
and keen wits of the sons of the Emerald Isle. One of the
men who ably represented all that is best in his fellow
country-men, was the late Matthew Fleming, who for years was
a farmer of Riverton, Ill. He was born in County Karlo,
(Carlow) Ireland, in March, 1830, a son of Patrick and Bridget (Felming)
Fleming, both of Ireland. The father was a weaver, who never
came to this country, and he, his wife and their five sons
and two daughters have now all passed away.
Growing up in
his native land, Matthew Fleming attended the local school
and worked for his father until 1857, when he came to
America, landing in New York, from there going to Vermont,
where he spent six years farming. He then came to
Springfield, Ill., where he lived for a few months when he
removed to Chatham and there spent a year farming. Then
returning to Springfield, he spent a year in the city, when
he again engaged in farming in Clear Lake Township. In 1869,
he located at Riverton and there worked in the Howlett
distillery for a number of years. His death occurred July
16, 1894, his family losing a beloved member and the
community a reliable citizen. He was a consistent member of
the St. James Catholic Church, and in politics a Democrat.
On January 29,
1854, Mr. Fleming was married to Johanna O'Shaughnessy, born
in County Carlow, Ireland, in December, 1828, a daughter
of Patrick O'Shaughnessy, a native of Ireland who came to
America, joining his sons at Springfield, who had come
before him but died soon after his arrival. His wife died
before the family came to America. There were three sons and
two daughters in the family, two of the sons remaining in
Ireland.
Those surviving are, John; Mrs. Margaret Daley and
Mrs. Fleming. Mr. and Mrs. Fleming became the parents of ten
children, eight now living: Bridget, wife of William Smith,
Superintendent of mines at Springfield; Patrick, janitor of
the Franklin Life building, Springfield; Margaret, wife of
Leon Bosquet, a carriage maker of St. Louis; William, a
blacksmith, died November 6, 1905; James, living in
Springfield, is a mine manager; Elizabeth married Millard
Mitchell, a master mechanic of a large brewery in Brooklyn,
and her twin, Marie, wife of William Gragg, a manufacturer
of ladies' garments at Decatur; Johanna, wife of Michael
Layden, a farmer of Riverton; Lawrence, with the Illinois
Hotel Company, Springfield.
There are thirty-eight
grandchildren and four great-grandchildren in the family.
Mrs. Fleming owns her comfortable home in Riverton, in
addition to other property. She is a pleasant lady, devout
in her religious views, and devoted to her large family. She
was a worthy helpmate for her husband, always encouraging
him and supporting him in his endeavours to lay aside
something that would provide for them in their old age.
Source:
PAEDIA OF ILLINOIS AND HISTORY
OF SANGAMON COUNTY
- Volume II -
Biographical, Chicago: Munsell Publishing Company,
- Publishers 1912 from
Sangamon Co IL Genweb site
- Source: Sue Clement
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