Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 437-438; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Thornton H. Fleming, M. D. How often is it the case that
men of superior mental ability are the victims of physical suffering.
Almost it would seem that each life must have some cross to bear
through the earthly pilgrimage, and the subject of our sketch is no
exception to the general rule, being a great sufferer from rheumatism.
Through the whole of his active career, Dr. Fleming was forced to
endure the pangs of this disease, and at different times has been
compelled to use crutches.
Our subject belongs to an old and aristocratic family of
Virginia, the Flemings, through several generations having come from
that State, and being at all times prominent in public and social
affairs. The Doctor's birth occurred near Richmond, Virginia, on the
ninth day of September, 1810, his parents being Thornton and Sarah
(Cohagen) Fleming, natives of the same State.
Dr. Fleming's grandfather - Samuel Fleming - was a Colonel in
the English army, but resigning that position came with his family to
the United States, settling in that grand old State that has
contributed so many noble sons to the country, and the home of so many
cultured families. Three of his sons, Samuel Jr., Robert, and Thomas,
enlisted in the American army during the Revolutionary War, and lost
their lives while doing service; the youngest son (our subject's
father) being a young collegiate student at that time. Samuel Fleming
was killed by one of his slaves.
Our subject's father received an excellent education, and
entered the Methodist Episcopal ministry. He was twice married, and by
his first marriage had only one daughter. The second marriage was with
our subject's mother, and to them were born four children; viz., Grace
Ann; Thornton H.; LeRoy C. and Sarah J., of whom Dr. Fleming is the
only one living at the present writing. During the later years of his
life the father moved to Pennsylvania, and in that State both he and
his wife died. Thus our subject spent part of his youth in the old
southern home, and part in the northern one, and in this way gained a
knowledge of the manners and customs of each. He attended school in
Pennsylvania until sixteen years old, and then entered Madison College,
Uniontown, the same State, and graduated from this college in the year
1824. It was here that our subject, when a boy, knew James G. Blaine
quite well.
After completing his education, Dr. Fleming took up the study of
medicine under the instructions of James C. Fowler, M. D., and in 1838
was graduated from the Medical College at Cincinnati, Ohio. He entered
into a partnership with his old preceptor, Dr. John B. Pithian, at
Uniontown, Pennsylvania, practicing there until 1846, at which time he
came West, locating at Waterloo, Illinois. In 1848 our subject moved to
Liverpool but finally, in 1853, made a permanent location in Canton. At
present he does no active work, only attending old friends, and a
number of poor people, who except for his kindness would suffer.
Dr. Fleming has been twice married, both times in Pennsylvania.
First to Miss Hannah Bentley, in June 1834. She was a daughter of
Schesch Bozzor Bentley and died one year after her marriage. In 1846
our subject married Miss Mary A. Nutt, daughter of Samuel and Ruhamah
(Sisley) Nutt. She died in Canton in 1878, leaving one son - LeRoy C.
This son married Miss Phene Piernie in 1873, of which union has been
born one child; Harry Purdy. LeRoy C. Fleming is a prosperous farmer in
this county.
The subject of our sketch does not belong to any secret
societies, or church, having rather original ideas upon these subjects.
He is a man who has done an immense amount of good for poor people who
needed medical treatment and were unable to pay for same; and while
this generosity has prevented him from accumulating a large fortune,
though he has a competence for old age--the Doctor is happy in the
consciousness of having performed his duty in the strictest way. He was
especially kind to the soldier's families during the war.
Dr. Fleming, in 1861, was appointed Army Surgeon for the One
Hundred and Third Illinois Regiment, but after reaching Mississippi,
was forced by a severe attack of rheumatism to return home. He is still
a great sufferer from this disease, but surrounded by a host of loving
friends and admiring neighbors, he passes the years comfortably and
happily. In politics the Doctor is a stanch Republican.
