Cantley 1889 Articles
The following article first appeared in The Echo of Cantley Volume 32 no 7, February 2020. This article is made available for the enjoyment of others with the express permission of the Echo of Cantley.
The Flemings of Fleming Road
Mary Holmes
The Fleming family, headed by John, arrived in Cantley around 1837 and lived near the intersection of Hogan Road and Highway 307. It is one of his sons, Patrick, that Fleming Road is named after.
Patrick purchased the farm and married Margaret Holmes sometime before 1874. They had six sons and three daughters. Sons Richard and Stephen both died as young men. Tom being the oldest remained on the farm all his life. He remained single (as did his brother William). His farm was a welcoming hub for family gatherings and summer visits by his siblings, their children and grandchildren and the large extended family.
The other sons were Peter Martin and Patrick Michael (“P.M.”) who was a very astute businessman. He did extremely well for himself in gas and mining. He was a kind man, generous with business advice to his family. He believed quite firmly in higher education.
Daughter Katherine Winnifred (Katie)’s story will appear in the upcoming March “Echo”. Her sister Margaret Hannah was a single woman who ran the Fairbanks Hotel in Quyon. She employed many of the extended family. One young cousin once reminisced about Margaret’s white glove test, performed once the assigned dusting was done. Many times a do-over was necessary!
Daughter Mary Alice married John Larkin and lived in Ottawa. She was fairly strait-laced. She had a stash of war-time liquor coupons which were much sought after by her nephews, Norman and Billy, who had returned from the war (their story in the November 2019 “Echo”). Their cousin Peg’s upcoming wedding was the first big family event after the war. They coaxed Mary Alice to give up her coupons for the cause with the stipulation that they would take her to a liquor store outside her Sandy Hill neighbourhood. Upon entering the chosen liquor store, Mary Alice was quite embarrassed when greeted by a neighbour’s son, “Well, hello Mrs. Larkin, what can I do for you?”
The Flemings had enough resources to welcome immigrants. Harold O’Rourke was a “Home Child” who lived with the Flemings and became a lifelong friend. He often returned to the farm with his own growing family to visit. Jan Turko, a young Polish World War II veteran, lived with the Flemings from 1947 and became a much-loved member of the family and the extended family. Once Katie Fleming Burke passed away, Jan purchased the Fleming farm from Richard Fleming (P.M.’s son) and continued to live there for many more years.
The parties at the Fleming farm were not to be missed, with lots of good food, refreshments and entertainment. Party guests enjoyed the love and the laughter most of all. My own mother remembers getting a party invitation to one that they tried to decline because my father was working the evening shift until midnight. “Not a problem”, was the reply. “Come along after he is finished working.”
The Fleming family of Fleming Road lives on in the hearts of their descendants and friends.
