Centennial history of Rush
County, Indiana
Edited by A. L Gary and E. B. Thomas
Rushville, Ind.
In Two Volumes
Illustrated
VOLUME II
1921
HISTORICAL PUBLISHING COMPANY
INDIANAPOLIS

JOHN D. FLEENER, who died at his home in Jackson township on April 3, 1917, and whose widow still lives there, having a pleasant home on rural mail route No. 8 out of Rushville, was born in that township on November 25, 1843. His parents were Drury and Sarah M. (Dill) Fleener, the former a native of North Carolina and the latter born and reared in Rush county. John D. Fleener received his educational training in the local public schools in Jackson township. After completing his studies he continued to live on the home place with his father, assisting him in the operation of the farm up to the time of his marriage. He then began farming on his own account on the place where his widow now lives, and which comprises eighty-five acres of land, a part of which land he inherited and a part of which he bought. He successfully carried on farming operations for many years and won a high reputation as a wide-awake, up-to-date and enterprising farmer. On April 6, 1865, Mr. Fleener was united in marriage to Sarah M. (Downey), who was born in Jackson township, and attended the Downey school, the same which her husband at- tended. She is the daughter of James and Rebecca (Hinton) Downey, both of whom were natives of Kentucky. They came to Rush county soon after their marriage and entered the land where he spent the remainder of his days, the place comprising eighty acres. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, five of whom are living, namely : David E., Ezekiel, Martha, May and Sarah M. To Mr. and Mrs. Fleener was born one child, Nolen D., on March 21, 1888, but who died at the age of eleven years, seven months ond twenty-two days. Mr. Fleener was an earnest and consistent member of the Christian church, to which his widow now belongs. Politically. )v was a life-long Democrat, though never an aspirant for public office. He was one of Jackson township's most substantial and highly esteemed citizens and the many beautiful tributes to his high stand- ing as a man and citizen attested to the abiding place he had in the hearts of his friends throughout this loealitv.