David Green Fleming

avid Green Fleming –– fourth son and sixth child of Duncan Lemmon Fleming and Elda Lanier –– was born on May 22, 1843, in Pulaski County, Georgia.  He died in the town of Hawkinsville in that county on April 18, 1919.

He first married Sarah Elizabeth Fountain on January 25, 1871, in Pulaski County.  Lizzie was a daughter of Green W. Fountain and Sarah A. Campbell.  Their marriage produced two children: Willie Augustus Fleming, who died in infancy, and Mary Louise Fleming, wife of David Crockett Scarborough.  Five years after their marriage, in her 27th year, Lizzie Fleming died.

David Green Fleming married second, on December 10, 1876, Mildred Irene Jones – daughter of Stephen McCall Jones and Jane Wilson Orr.  Their three children were: James Thomas Fleming, husband of Josie Beall Jones; Anthony Pate Fleming, husband of Carolyn Johnson; and Janie Elda Fleming, wife of Alexander John Rice.

According to Roster of the Confederate Soldiers of Georgia, Lillian Henderson, v. 1, p. 966, David Green Fleming was a member of Company G, 8th Regiment, Georgia Volunteer Infantry of the Army of Northern Virginia (“The Pulaski Volunteers”).

“Private, May 16, 1861. Appointed 3d Corporal Oct. 1861; 3rd Sergeant June 10, 1862.  Severely wounded at Suffolk, Va., Apr. 17, 1863.  Appointed Ordinance Sergeant Aug. 20, 1863.  Surrendered, Appomattox, Va., Apr. 9, 1865.”

From The Hawkinsville Dispatch and News, April 23, 1919, p. 1:

ANOTHER VETERAN GOES TO REWARD

MR. D. G. FLEMING, PIONEER CITIZEN OF
PULASKI DIED LAST FRIDAY MORNING

Mr. D. G. Fleming, familiarly known as Mr. Green Fleming, died at his residence on West Broad street last Friday at the ripe old age of 76 years.  Mr. Fleming had been feeble for some weeks, being confined to his room the larger part of the time.

There are few better known men in the county, and this would include what is now Bleckley County, for Mr. Fleming has been actively identified with the political and civic welfare of the old county for many years.  In fact, born in the county, his record among his own people has been highly honorable and praiseworthy.

He has filled a number of important county positions, and was adjudged one of the county’s best accountants, being most careful and correct in his bookkeeping methods.  For many years he was associated with Capt. Ruel Anderson when the latter was in the cotton warehouse business.

Perhaps few men among us has made for himself a better war record during the Civil War than did Mr. Fleming.  He went out with the first company leaving Pulaski under Capt. T.D.L. Ryan, and remained in the army until the last battle was fought.  He was in all of the great campaigns personally led by our great chieftain, Gen. Robt. E. Lee, and was in practically all the great battles led by that beloved General.  He was promoted to Ordnance Sergeant of his regiment.  He was one of the remaining three who went out with this early company, and the only one living in Puluaski (sic).  When Mr. Fleming volunteered he was turned down because of his small statute, but he insisted on being accepted and as a result of his pleading to go, was allowed.

He was always loyal to the Old Vets, and was possibly largely instrumental in organizing and naming the S. M. Manning Camp and held the position of adjutant of same from its organization until his death, and the surviving veterans, now so few, feel their loss is beyond repair.

Mr. F. H. Bozeman and Mr. W. S. Lancaster acted as honorary escort, and veteran, Judge H.A. Haskins, was one of his pall-bearers.  Others were L. N. Anderson, J. F. Fleming, W. A. Smith, S. M. Caldwell and J. B. Lewis.

Mr. Fleming early in life connected himself with the Baptist church, and for many years was the clerk of the local organization.  He was of the old school type and enjoyed most the old time congregational singing, and the doctrinal style of preaching.

His wife, two sons, J(ames) Thomas Fleming, of Atlanta, A. P. Fleming of this city, and two daughters, Mrs. Dave Scarborough, of Macon and Mrs. Janie Rice of this city survive him.

His funeral occurred Saturday morning at his late home, his pastor, Dr. A. Chamlee, of the Baptist church, offiffciating (sic).

Thus passes one of the county’s land-marks.  His record in private and public life was highly honorable.  In all of his official acts not a whisper of scandal in any way reflecting on the highest of ideals.  He left a rich heritage to his posterity.  Pulaski county is the poorer for his going.

The floral offering was large attesting the love and esteem in which he was held.

Among the out-of-town relatives attending the funeral were: Mr. and Mrs. J. T. Fleming and Mrs. Margaret Kinchen, of Atlanta; Mrs. Ruel Hightower, of Macon, and Mrs. J. L. Mims, of Cordele.  His daughter, Mrs. Dave Scarborough, of Macon, could not be present on account of the illness of her husband.

On July 10, 17, 24, 31 and August 7, 1879, appears a series of articles by David Green Fleming on his Confederate States Army unit ... a history of the Pulaski Volunteers (Company G, 8th Georgia Regiment, C.S.A.).

David Green Fleming was elected Treasurer of Pulaski County on January 13, 1881, according to The History of Pulaski and Bleckley County, Georgia.  Apparently the office had been recently restored, as the office was “abolished by vote” on January 27, 1877.

||| Return to my home page |||