On Friday evening, May 22, 1908, between the hours of 10 and 11 o'clock, William F. Flenniken passed on to the other side, apparently without a moment's warning, at the home of his brother, James D. Flenniken, on Main street of Carmichaels, Pa., in the 70th year of his age, as he was born July 8, 1838. He had retired, apparently in his usual health, when in a short time his wife noticed his heavy breathing, which in a few moments terminated in his death, by what was supported by his physician, Dr. Laidley, to have been apoplexy. On Monday, May 25, at 10 am, memorial services were held in the Presbyterian church, where he had long been a member, in the presence of a large number of sympathizing relatives, friends and neighbors..... He was a son of John W. and Hetty Ann Flenniken, the former a son of Elias Flenniken, whose father was among the early settlers in this community, emigrating from the eastern part of the state in about the year 1765, when the Crawfords, Swans, Hughes, Armstrongs and others came to make for themselves homes when the intrepid Indian lurked on every side. His mother was a daughter of John and Margaret Wright, who also were among the early settlers in this locality, coming from near Philadelphia, who were related to the Jamisons, Stevensons, Barclays and Darrahs. The last named family remembered by the strategy of Lydia Darrah, a Quakeress, who lived in Piladelphia during the War of the Revolution, when an officer of the British Army, whose quarters were across the street, selected one of her rooms as a place for private conferences, when she, like many of her sisters down to the present day, being curious to know the cause of the privacy, listened at the keyhole, by which she learned of the plan to attack Gen. Washington, who was lying, with his army at White Marsh, a few miles from Philadelphia, to whom she secretly conveyed the information, which saved his army from defeat. On December 20, 1863, the deceased was united in marriage with Eliza, oldest daughter of William and Achsah Hartman, of Carmichaels, PA. The ceremony was performed by rev. I. N. Cary, at that time pastor of the Cumberland Presbyterian church. With her he lived in happy wedlock for nearly a quarter of a century, when she was called to join the white-robed throng above in 1889. After remaining single for a number of years, he married Mrs. Ella Conn of Cleveland, Ohio, who survives him. Although a great lover of children, no little ones ever came to bless his home by either marriage. But his devotion to the children connected with his family especially little Robert and James Flenniken, grandchildren of his wife, was noticeable at all times. He had for many years been a faithful and consistent member of the New Providence Presbyterian church and manifested much interest in the organization of the men's Brotherhood, which recently was organized in Carmichaels, of which he was a member. Of the seven children who grew up in the Flenniken homestead, two miles from this place, only two remain this side the gave: James D., of this place and A.S. of Uniontown. Elias, the oldest, Mary Jane the wife of Thomas Curl, Margaret, the wife of Clement Krepps; Sarah, the wife of G. H. Laidley have all been gathered home, nearly all sleep in the Laurel Point cemetery, where the deceased was laid beside the wife of his youth.
Democrat Messenger - 6/12/1908