Buried in my FOSTER files is an obituary clipping and transcript for Harriet Foster Fleming. I evidently received this from the Iroquois County Genealogical Society in 1982. While I likely would not have thought about requesting an obituary from a genealogical society today, I am thankful that they provide this service, especially since I haven’t found this particular paper in a digital format.

And this obituary is chock full of information!

Transcription obtained from Iroquois County Genealogical Society

Copied from the Watseka Republican Wednesday March 7, 1906

Lifelong Companion — The death of a Devoted Wife and Mother

Mrs. Harriet Foster Fleming passes away Sunday morning. Wedded to her childhood schoolmate, John J. Fleming. The youngest of six children and the first one to depart from this life.

Died Sunday morning at 6 o’clock, at her late residence in Watseka, Mrs. Harriet Foster Fleming, wife of John J. Fleming, aged 57 years, 4 months and 20 days.

Harriet Foster was the daughter of Zebulon and Carolyn Foster. She was born near West Lebanon, Ind., October 14, 1848. She was the youngest of six children and is the first of the family, with the exception of the parents to pass away.

Near West Lebanon Harriet Foster grew to womanhood. At the age of sixteen she united with the Methodist church and her life has been a beautiful example of the practice of Christian virtues. On September 17, 1868, she was married at the home of her parents on the same farm upon which she grew to maturity, to John J. Fleming, who was reared in the same neighborhood and attended the same school in the early days. The following spring after their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Fleming came to Iroquois County and settled upon a farm twelve miles southeast of Watseka where they lived until 1877, when they moved back to Warren County, Ind. In 1885 they came back to this County and made their home in Watseka, where they have since lived.

Mrs. Fleming was the mother of three children: Nellie, wife of Iven Hoys, Lola Bell, wife of John Braden, of Kentland and Lula Bell who died in 1897. The two latter were twins. Besides the two daughter, the five brothers and sisters who survive are: Edward Foster, of Urbanna, Ill.; Rachel Creider, wife of J.C. Briggs, Onarga, Eliza E., wife of George T. Bell, West Lebanon, Ind.; Mrs. Mary Crawford, Dodge City, Kan. and William Foster of Danville. Four cousins whose parents died when they were young and being left orphans were taken into the Foster family and grew up with the six children and their relations were as brothers and sisters. These cousins are O. P. Stufflebeam, of Rossville, Morgan Stufflebeam, of Judaville, Ind,; Miller Stufflebeam, of LaFayette, Ind. and Mrs. Margaret Burberick, who lives in the state of Washington. Besides these two children of Mrs. Hoyt and two children of Mrs. Braden also survive. The brothers and sisters, Mr. Stufflebeam of Rossville and Mrs. Briggs’ daughter, Mrs. T. W. Anderson, of Donovan, with her husband were present at the funeral.

As a lover of her home and family and as a woman possessing the qualities inseparable from a good wife and mother Mrs. Fleming had few equals. She led a quiet life, cheerfully discharging the duties which fell to her lot. The even tenor of her happy home life received a great shock in the death of her beloved daughter Lula eight years ago. Although the loss seemed irreconcilable her Christian faith and fortitude bore her up under the great burden of grief, as ti did during the many months of suffering previous to her death, Mrs. Fleming was an active worker in the Methodist church. At one time she was President of the Aid Society. She was also a member of the Woman’s Relief Corps.

Both during the time immediately preceding her death when her ailment took an acute form and after she had passed away neighbors and friends rendered the assistance customary under such circumstances for which the family is very grateful. She has gone — she hs left us — she has moved out of the old house. She has gone to a home not made by hands, eternal in the heavens.

The funeral services were held at the residence yesterday afternoon, conducted by Rev. J. Wellington Frizzelle and Rev. W. D. Smith. The burial took place at the G.A.R. cemetery.

NOTE: Stufflebeam cousins are the children of Harriet Ostrander and John Stufflebeam

“Watseka Republican”, (Watseka, Illinois), “Obituary of Mrs. Harriet Foster Fleming” 7 March 1906;