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William Harrison Fleming
Biographical Sketch On The Life Of W.H. Fleming
Among the list of preachers who
have suffered and sacrificed for the church of our Lord in the mountains
of Tennessee may be found the name of William Harrison Fleming. He was
born in Overton County, Tennessee, June 11, 1835, and spent most of his
life in his native county. He had the example of the Sewells
to inspire and encourage him, as they were natives of his county. Young
Fleming grew to manhood surrounded by the simple life of a simple
community. His community, being in the rural section in his county,
furnished but few opportunities for the culture and polish that a
classical education gives. While he was deprived of such advantages, yet
he grew up amidst a people whose rugged traits of character were very
pronounced. They were honest, truthful, frugal, and industrious. They
were just such people as may be found in the rural sections where real
men and women are developed. At the age of twenty-four young
Fleming married Miss Martha Catherine Thomas. She was his equal in native
ability and in education, and she proved to be a great help to him as a
life companion. She was just such a woman as is described in the book of
God as being "a worthy woman." To their union nine children
were born-five boys and four girls. Brother Fleming, with the help of
his good wife, carried the burden of rearing his family and providing
well for each member of the family. His children were taught to revere
God and to honor his truth. It is no small task to rear and train such a
family. Brother Fleming was successful in this great work. In 1861, W. H. Fleming enlisted
in the Confederate Army in Company B, under Captain Joe Bilbrey, in
Colonel Stanton's regiment. He was later transferred to Company D, and
was made captain of that company. He continued as a soldier, holding his
rank as captain to the close of the Civil War. He was reputed to be a
gallant soldier who commanded the respect of his fellow soldiers and
superior officers. The scenes of a soldier's life were registered
vividly upon his mind, and he never forgot the hardships which he and
his comrades had to endure Brother Fleming was baptized into Christ by
Andrew P. Davis in 1860. He had it in heart to preach the gospel soon
after he became a Christian, but the stirring times which preceded the
Civil War kept him from entering at once into that great work. He began
preaching in 1868, at the age of thirty-three. His good wife gave him
much encouragement in this work, as she had in all other duties of life.
He preached in Kentucky, Texas, and Tennessee. However, most of his work
was done in Tennessee, in the counties of Jackson, Overton, Clay,
Putnam, Pickett, Fentress, and White. The writer, when but a lad, had
the pleasure of hearing him preach in White County. His membership was
held in the congregation at Flat Creek until 1905. He then moved to
Hilham, Tenn., and became a leader of the congregation there. Brother
Fleming was associated with some good and tender-hearted men who had
consecrated their lives to the preaching of the gospel-such men as Isaac
T. Reneau, J. F. Owensby, James and William Kuykendall, H.
J. Boles, and Henry Lovelady. Brother Fleming was a farmer by
occupation. He cultivated his farm and made his support for himself and
family on his farm. He received very little for his preaching and
expected nothing. He preached because he loved the church of our Lord,
the truth of the gospel, and the salvation of souls. He studied the
Bible and drew his inspiration and encouragement from the Book of books,
and he preached nothing but the truth as revealed arguments were clear
and forceful; his exhortations were taken from the Bible and from his
own experience. His arguments were clear and forceful; his exhortations
were fervent and persuasive; his zeal was ardent and effective. He did
much in edifying the churches and strengthening his brethren. He knew
the simple plan of salvation, and knew how to tell it to others with
power and conviction. He hated hypocrisy and sham and lived the simple
life of a humble child of God. Brother Fleming worked through
the week during "crop time" and preached on Saturday and
Sunday. Sometimes he would ride horseback more than twenty miles on
Sunday morning and preach twice on Sunday, and return home the same
night and be ready for his farm work early Monday morning. After his
"crop was laid by," he would hold meetings. It was the joy of
his life to see his neighbors and fellow countrymen respond to the
gospel invitation and give their lives to God. He knew how to appeal to
them with the gospel invitation. He was earnest and fervent in his
appeals to them to become Christians. Brother Fleming baptized hundreds
of people, and is said to have married more couples than any other
preacher in that part of the country. He lived a useful life and gave
his services freely and gladly to his people and to the church. W. H. Fleming started life as a
poor man; he made a living for himself and family and gave a liberal
portion to others in helping them preach the gospel; he trained his
family, and all his children became Christians; he paid his debts and
preached the gospel to the poor; he lived a godly life, and died on July
11, 1910. Services were conducted by Marion Harris and J. P. Watson. His
body was laid to rest in the family cemetery on Flat Creek, Overton
County, Tennessee, to await the great and notable day of the Lord.
—From
Biographical Sketches Of Gospel Preachers, H. Leo
Boles, Gospel Advocate Company, Nashville, Tennessee, 1932, pages 271-274 Webmaster's Note: Flat Creek was also the home of B.C. Goodpasture. Many of his relatives, including his parents are buried here. The church where Fleming preached, and the cemetery adjacent to it where he is buried, was the church in which Goodpasture grew up. Not only did Goodpasture grow up attending there, but the school he attended was also in the church building. The old building is now dilapidated and abandoned, but is a simple reminder of where much work was done in that part of Tennessee many years ago. See pictures of this old building as it looked when I visited it September 5, 2003, here!
Directions To The Grave Of W.H. Fleming William Harrison Fleming is buried in the Flat Creek Cemetery #2, a few miles west of Livingston, in Overton County, Tennessee. From I-40 between Nashville and Knoxville take Exit 288 Livingston/Sparta Hwy. 111. Go north on Hwy. 111 for 19.1 miles. As you enter into Livingston turn left on Hwy. 85. Travel 3.9 miles past the Flat Creek Church of Christ. and turn right on right on Flat Creek Rd. (just before Flat Creek Bridge.) (When you turn, Flat creek goes to a hard left and then around the creek bed. Go out the road .7 miles and turn right on Meadows Road (gravel). From this turn go .3 miles and the cemetery and old Flat Creek Church of Christ building will be on your right. GPS Coordinates
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