Extract from the 1880 Census:
Name: John Fleming
Age: 19
Estimated birth year: 1861
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Race: white
Sex: male
Relationship to head-of-household: son
Home in 1880: Caledonia, Columbia, Wisconsin
Marital status: single
Father's birthplace: Scotland
Mother's birthplace: Scotland
Occupation: working at home
Siblings living at home: Christina (age 28) and Agnes J (21)
Census place: Caledonia, Columbia, Wisconsin; Roll: T9_1420; Family History Film: 1255420; Page: 24.4000; Enumeration District: 17
Date: 24 Jun 1880

Extract from the 1900 Census:
Name: J R Fleming
Age at last birthday: 39
Date of birth: Nov 1860
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Race: white
Sex: male
Relationship to head-of-house: head
Home in 1900: Caledonia, Columbia, Wisconsin
Marital status: married
Number of years of marriage: 4
Able to read, write and speak English: yes
Father's birthplace: Scotland
Mother's birthplace: Scotland
Farm or home: farm
Home owned or rented: owned
Mortgage: no
Occupation: farmer
Months not employed: 0
Census place: Caledonia, Columbia, Wisconsin; Roll: T623 1781; Page: 1A; Enumeration District: 2
Date: 1 Jun 1900

Extract from the 1910 Census:
Name: John R Fleming
Age in 1910: 49
Estimated birth year: 1861
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Race: white
Sex: male
Relation to head of house: head
Home in 1910: Caledonia, Columbia, Wisconsin
Marital status: married
Number of years of present marriage: 13
Able to speak English: yes
Able to read and write: yes
Father's birthplace: Scotland
Mother's birthplace: Scotland
Farm or house: farm
Home owned or rented: owned; no mortgage
Occupation: farmer
Type of industry: general farm
Salary or wage worker: employer
Census place: Caledonia, Columbia, Wisconsin; Roll: T624_1705; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 11; Image: 27
Date: 25 Apr 1910

Extract from the 1920 Census:
Name: John Fleming
Age: 59
Estimated birth year: 1861
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Race: white
Sex: male
Home in 1920: Caledonia, Columbia, Wisconsin
Address: farm
Marital status: married
Able to speak English: yes
Able to read and write: yes
Father's birthplace: Scotland
Father's native tongue: Scots
Mother's birthplace: Scotland
Mother's native tongue: Scots
Home owned or rented: owned; no mortgage
Occupation: farm operator
Type of industry: general
Salary or wage worker: working on own account
Census place: Caledonia, Columbia, Wisconsin; Roll: T625_1980; Page: 7A; Enumeration District: 2; Image: 597
Date: 11 Jan 1920

Extract from the 1930 Census:
Name: John Fleming
Age: 69
Estimated birth year: 1861
Birthplace: Wisconsin
Race: white
Sex: male
Relation to head-of-house: head
Home in 1930: Caledonia, Columbia, Wisconsin
Marital status: widower
Age at first marriage: 21
Education: able to speak English
Education: able to read and write
Father's birthplace: Scotland
Mother's birthplace: Scotland
Military service: no
Rent/home value: owns home; no value listed; live on farm
Owned a radio: no
Occupation: farmer
Industry: general farm
Salary or wage worker: working on own account
Census place: Caledonia, Columbia, Wisconsin; Roll: 2565; Page: ; Enumeration District: 2; Image: 307.0
Date: 25 Apr 1930

Article from the “Daily Register” of Portage, Wisconsin dated 12 May 1930:
Caledonia
Man Killed
By Lightning
- - - - - - - - -
Sought Shelter from Storm
While Mending Fences on
Farm Saturday
- - - - - - - - -
John Fleming, prominent Caledonia farmer, was instantly killed Saturday afternoon when he was struck by a bolt of lightning during the storm.
His son, Thomas Fleming, about 8 o'clock that evening, found the body lying under the fatal tree where he had taken shelter during the wind and rain. Thomas believes that his father must have been killed about 3 o’clock that afternoon as the electrical storm was fiercest at that time.
Mr. Fleming was spending the afternoon mending fences on his farm. When the storm came up suddenly, it is evident that he ran under a tree that seemed to afford rather secure shelter, leaving his tools by the fence.
The tree was crotched and curved in on one side so that a man's body would fit into it with a certain amount of protection from the rain. Apparently Mr. Fleming was leaning against the tree when the lightning struck it. The bolt followed down the gutter between the adjoining trunks of the tree, pierced the victim's hat brim, entered the body near the right ear which was lacerated slightly, continued down the right shoulder and chest, across the body and out at the left foot.
The body was not badly burned other than two large burns near the right shoulder and a smaller one on the left foot. The hair was singed away from the right ear. Clothing was torn over the right collar bone and the sock from the left foot.
Dr. E. P. Andrews, who was called, states that death was doubtless instantaneous.
Mr. Fleming was 69 years old and had lived all his life on highway 81, about ten miles from Portage. He was a prosperous and well-known farmer in his township.
Survivors are the five children, Mrs. T. B. Ramsay, Mrs. Earl Baird, Mrs. Walter S. Harvey and John and Thomas Fleming, all of Caledonia. Mrs. Fleming died nearly three years ago.
Funeral services will be held Tuesday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the farm home. The Rev. E. J. Roberts, pastor of the United Presbyterian church in Caledonia, will have charge of the services. Burial will follow in Shanks’ cemetery.

Obituary from the “Daily Register” of Portage, Wisconsin dated 14 May 1930:
Service Held
On Tuesday For
Caledonia Man
- - - - - - - - -
Death Caused by Lightning
Bolt During Storm on
Last Saturday
- - - - - - - - -
John R. Fleming, the youngest of six children of the late Thomas and Agnes Fleming, early Scotch settlers of Caledonia, was born in that town on November 11, 1860, on the farm where he resided at the time of his death - a period of nearly 70 years.
On November 11, 1895, he was united in marriage to Margaret Shanks, who preceded him in death on July 20, 1927. To the union there were born three daughters and two sons, who mourn the loss of a loving father. He also leaves one brother, James C. Fleming of Lincoln, Nebraska, six nephews and fourteen nieces and eleven grandchildren.
Mrs. T. B. Ramsay, Mrs. Earl Baird, and Mrs. Walter Harvey, daughters of the deceased and Thomas and John, Jr., sons are all residents of Caledonia.
Killed by Bolt
On Saturday afternoon, May 10th, 1930, Mr. Fleming went out to his field, some distance from the house, to repair some fences, and while so engaged, a storm came up, during which he took shelter under a large tree near where he was at work. This tree was struck by a bolt of lightning, which was evidently the cause of Mr. Fleming's death.
As he had not returned to the home by evening, search was made for him. Sometime later his body with life extinct was found under the tree by his son Thomas and the Rev. E. J. Roberts. Coroner W. J. Scott, and Dr. E. P. Andrews were called immediately, who after an examination, announced that he came to his death from the effects of the stroke of lightning. The body was taken to the Murrison Undertaking parlor, and from there taken to his home.
Funeral services were held for the deceased at his home on Tuesday May 13, At 2 p.m., conducted by the Rev. E. J. Roberts of the United Presbyterian church. Interment in the Shanks cemetery.
Mrs. Thelma Mountford, accompanied by Doris E. Shanks, sang "Does Jesus Care," and the 23rd Psalm.
Mr. Fleming was one of the most progressive dairy farmers of the county. and was the owner of one of the finest dairy herds to be found in the state. He was much interested in school affairs and he served many years as a school officer of his district. He was always active in community affairs, and could always be depended on for community betterment.
J. C. Fleming of Lincoln, Nebraska, a brother and Louis Fleming, a nephew of Ellendale, N. D., were in attendance at the funeral.
The presence of a very large number of people from the surrounding towns and the neighborhood, showed the respect in which Mr. Fleming was held. The town has lost a good citizen and the community a good neighbor.

He married Margaret Clark Shanks 11 Nov 1895 in the home of D W Shanks in Caledonia Township, Columbia County, Wisconsin.