John Jefferson Fleming

Married 24 Apr 1919 in McRoberts, Letcher Co., KY

Bessie Ellen Stewart

John Jefferson Fleming and Bessie Ellen Stewart. He was b. 01 Aug 1900, d. 07 Dec 1925. She was b. 08 Oct 1905, d. 11 Jun 1987. Both are buried in the Hemphill Cemetery, Jackhorn, Letcher Co., KY. John was the s/o Sol Fleming and Easter Branham. Bessie was the d/o Robert "Bob" Stewart and Mary Mullins.

John Jefferson Fleming lived during a time when work was hard and money was scarce. Growing up as a young boy in Pike and Letcher Counties he had very little that children today have. He spent most of his childhood working in gardens and helping cut timber.

"Bloomer" John went to work in the coal mine as soon as he was old enough. He worked at the McRoberts and Hemphill mines. He loaded coal, layed track and pumped water for wages to support he and his wife Bessie. Soon they were blessed with a son. Eventually they would have twelve children. Nine boys and three girls.

John and Bessie married on 24 Apr 1919 in McRoberts, KY. They lived in Bucklick, McRoberts Hemphill and Grassy Fork. As the children married off they would gather in on the weekends and all stay and play together from Friday evening until time to go back to work on Monday morning. Bessie would cook along with the women, and John and the boys would hunt and sometimes get into a little meanness.

Having so many children at home at one time only added to the struggle to keep the family going and food on the table. None of the children ever remember not having anything to eat. Gardens were planted and the crops were stored and kept for the winter and into the spring. This must to have been a monumental task for John and Bessie.

A work statement for John that dates June 15, 1944 shows he took home less than a hundred dollars for a half months work. He was being paid 96 cents an hour. Overtime paid $1.04 an hour. He had worked 117 hours in two weeks. After his deductions, which included drawing out script during the half to buy food with, John took home less than $18.

In September of 1965 John was diagnosed as having liver cancer. Surgery proved to be futile. Only 3 months later he died. Bessie died in the Wise ARH. She had asthma all her life. Her death certificate showed cause of death as emphesema and asthma. Both are buried in the Hemphill Cemetery, at Jackhorn, Letcher County, KY.

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