Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1898-08-24
HUSTLING TOM FLEMING.

Under the above caption The Mil
waukee Telegraph Of August 20 gives
the following interesting sketch of a
gentleman closely associated with
Watertown and well known here:
tom Fleming has a genius for hard work
He is a 170-pound package of energy and enter
prise. That mainly explains why nearly every
man. woman and child in Wisconsin, who
reads, knows something about him-why thou
sands have met him and formed his acquaint-
ance."
Foundation for story, Ell?
Thomas j. Fleming was born in 1860 in the
town OF. Emmett Dodge county, Wis. His father
was farmer, locating there in the '40s. The
boy worked on the farm spring, summer and
fall, and went to the district school winters
until he was 10. He then became pupil at
Sacred Heart college, Watertown, five miles
from his home: He walked the distance twice
every day, besides doing innumerable chores
nights and mornings. When II he wearied of
credentials, and went to Norway, Mich, reach
ing there with $40. The principal of the school
had taken his departure. new one was
wanted. Fleming applied. Being little more
than beardless boy the superintendent asked
him if he could govern a large school with
several subordinate teachers. He thought he
could A long list of difficult questions
prepared. He answered all of them readily
The school board was called together. The
examination was satisfactory. The following
day he took charge. S1ch progress was made
that the board sought to hire him for a second
year, but mining company tempted him with
high wages as timekeeper. This place he held
for some time. When his good mother discov-
cred that her boy was spending his days 1000
or 1900 feet underground, she insisted upon
his coming home. He reluctantly complied.
When he reached home his second question
was: well, now that you have induced me to
come home, what are you going to do with me?'
They talked to him about dividing the farm
not suit. His share of the 100 acres would not
make farm large enough, He had saved
some money from teaching and timekeeping,
and made a proposition to buy the shares of
his mother, brothers and sister. It was accept
ed, and this young fellow of "a years found
himself with $4,000 debt on his hands, to
One of the improvements the finest barn
in the county, whose stone basement 34x1U0,
and IL feet high, he built alone. At the end of
five years he had paid the $4,000 debt and had
money in the bank, besides farm which he
sold few years ago for $4,000.
The farm was kept in high state of Guilt
walton and made to produce the largest and
best possible crops. La addition to that he en-
gagged in cheese and butter making. He was
the first farmer in his county TO build silo,
That enabled him to carry on an extensive
dairy business through the winter which add
ed largely to his income For three years he
bought the entire product of several cheese
factories. Every twenty-four hours he visited
the factories, six or seven in number, complet-
ing the work about l o'clock In the morning.
During the cheese making months of these
three years the only sleep he had was in his
carriage from the last factory visited and in
spected to his home. His horse was so familiar
with the road that the moment he left the last
factory he fastened the lines, threw a blanket
over himself, leaned back, and in a moment
asleep, the horse going ten miles at slow
pace, and when reaching home always stopping
at the same place, and remaining there until a
hired man, at o'clock, awakened him, when
he began the days work by assisting in milk
ing large herd of cows.
No wonder he lifted the $4,000 debt.
There a farmers institute at Watertown.
Fleming drove in with a load Of feed, sold it,
and dropped into the meeting. 4 theoretical
farmer was giving a discourse on feeding
calves Whey custom that became necessary
when farmers sold their milk product to cheese
factories When he concluded, Fleming, who
had gone through that experience of veal cul-
ture, asked him number of questions which
he did not answer satisfactorily The institute
director saw at once that the young fellow
knew what he was talking about, and asked
him to give his ideas on the subject, which he
did in a few words. Before the meeting adj
journed he was asked to say something about
silos The director, ". D. Hoard later gov
Institutes. You have ideas and can express
them. I shall ask Mr.. Morrison, who is at
the head of the institute work, to secure your
services A week later Mr.. Morrison notified
Fleming that he was booked for an address at
the farmers institute at Brodhead He re-
spOnded, spoke fifteen twenty minutes
question in which all the farmers and dairy
people were interested, and among others who
congratulated him was John l.. Mitchell, presi-
dent of the State Agricultural society, now
Later he was employed by the State Dairy
association to inspect factories and instruct
/ those operating them. He visited over 100
factories. He was placed in charge of the first
dairy school Established in the state in connec
ton with the state university. 1t hard
work to crowd him into these duties. Only
two other men have done more to develop the
dairy interests and make the farmer Institutes
of great value. They are Governor Hoard and
the late Colonel D. W. Curtis.
In 1890 Fleming was superintendent of the
q hi a he St fgI q a
fair closed one of his Milwaukee friends in
speculation upon which he paid down 81 Goo
| The next day he found a purchaser, closed a
! bargain and cleared $3.50. In 1891 he rented
| the farm and came to Milwaukee and still lives
! here. -Four years ago he elected secretary
of the State Agricultural society The three
| state fairs he organized were among the most
successful ever held in the state.
At 80 Tom Fleming is one of the best known
men in the state, favorite with thousands, as
| full of energy as ever. When he resigned the
! secretaryship of the State Agricultural society
| he had offers from half a dozen men of rare
| business opportunities. Mr.. Fleming turned
! to the life Insurance field and in comp any with
| Ellis Briggs has the state agency of the New
| York Life Insurance company with handsome
| offices in the Loan and Trust building. The
energy Mr.. Fleming threw into the new work
| is best evidenced by the fact that during the
month of May. his first with the company, he
| wrote the greatest amount of insurance OF any
| of the agents of the company in the country.
| He was advised of his good record by con-
| gratulatory telegram from the head office at
| New York.
Such is the story of Tom Fleming to date.