Few men of Allen County were as widely and favorably known as the late William Fleming. He was one of the strong and influential citizens whose lives have become an essential part of the history of this section of the state and for years his name was synonymous for all that constituted honorable and upright manhood.

William Fleming was a native of County Wicklow, Ireland, having been born not far south of the capital city of Dublin, on the 17th of June, 1828, and he was the son of Luke and Sarah (Holt) Fleming. Until the age of fourteen years he attended the national school in his native county, and was then sent to Dublin to continue his studies. In 1846 the family set sail for America, arriving safely at Quebec, Canada, but while lying in quarantine in that harbor, the father and four of the children died. The bereaved mother, with the three surviving children, all boys, then came to Fort Worth, Indiana, where she passed her remaining days.

The subject of this sketch, after his arrival in fort Wayne, first engaged in teaching school, being also employed at other lines of work, including stone-cutting. He possessed a warm, genial nature and soon made friends of all his acquaintances. His first official position was that of deputy sheriff under Sheriff McMullen, and, at the death of that officer, he succeeded to the office, and was later, as a Democrat, twice elected to fill this responsible position. For eight years following the expiration of his last term as sheriff he served as city clerk, and in 1878 was elected state treasurer. In 1880 he was again a candidate for this office, but, with the balance of the ticket, was defeated. He was a prominent factor in the councils of his party and during his active political life (missing) as invariably a delegate to the Democratic national conventions.

As a business man Mr. Fleming had few equals in Fort Wayne and no superiors, being industrious, enterprising, and successful in all he undertook. He was one of the originators of the New York, Chicago & St. Louis Railroad and was a director of the road until it was sold to the Vanderbilt interests. He was for a long time editor and proprietor of the Fort Wayne Sentinel, was treasurer of the Indiana school Book Company, president of the Salimonie Mining and Gas Company, vice-president and acting president of the First National Bank of Fort Wayne, president of the Hartford City Paper Company, and a stockholder and director in many other business enterprises, being actively engaged in these matters until his death, on January 13, 1890, at which time he was one of the wealthy men of the state. Mr. Fleming was twice married. In January, 1850, he married Miss Ann McLaughlin, who passed away August 18, 1854, leaving two children, Luke M. and Mary E., the latter becoming the wife of Dr. L.J. Willien, of Terre Haute, Indiana. The second marriage of Mr. Fleming took place on July 7, 1859, when he wedded Miss Helen F. Mayer, a daughter of George and Catherine (Hiller) Mayer, of Germany. To the latter union were born the following children: Catherine S., wife of Dr. Dinnen; Helen G., wife of A.B. Trentman; Georgie F., wife of William McKinnie; M. Celeste; Stephen B; Sister Mary Helen, of St. Mary's of the Woods; William; Sadie Marie. Mr. Fleming was a true and faithful member of the Roman Catholic church and rendered that church not only faithful service, but substantial financial support. He possessed many estimable qualities of character and left his impress on the city and county of his adoption.

Taken from History of the Maumee River Basin, volume 3