Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 3.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 271.
 
MARK T. FLEMING

     The adventurous spirit which prompted the early settlers of the northwest
to brave the hardships and dangers incident to life in a new country has been
exemplified in the career of Mark T. Fleming, who for more than a quarter of a
century has been one of Lane county's substantial farmers and enterprising
citizens. During the early years he passed through many thrilling experiences in
various parts of the west and is familiar with the events and conditions of the
pioneer period. Mr. Fleming, a native of Illinois, was born on the 6th day of
June, 1864. Both of his parents died when he was very young-, therefore he knows
practically nothing of his family history. He was reared on a farm, where he
worked for his board and clothes, and he attended the public school of the
neighborhood. In 1876, when twelve years of age, he joined Joseph Craig and a
party bound for the west, with four covered wagons. In crossing the plains they
encountered vast herds of buffalo and antelopes. Reaching California in the fall
of 1876, he found work as a ranch hand, but later came to Oregon, making the
trip on the steamer, "Queen of the Pacific," which landed him at Astoria. He
went from there to Portland and began working for Ben Holliday, a noted railroad
builder of that period. Later he came up the river to the Willamette Valley,
where he was employed in various capacities for awhile and then, hearing of the
gold strike in the Black Hills, he joined the Parker and Tate party' for that
locality. On reaching Sidney, Nebraska, he hired out to drive a freight team to
Deadwood, and soon after arriving there he located a mining claim, which he sold
in three weeks for two hundred and fifty dollars. He then bought a horse and
outfit and traveled up the North Platte river, looking for a good location for a
stock ranch. He located at the mouth of Broom creek, but later sold out there
and went to Fort Laramie, where he entered the employ of the United States
government as a freight driver. He worked at Camp Carlin and Fort D. J. Russell
for awhile and then went to Missouri, where he bought a farm near Caruthers
However, he did not like that state and, selling out, went to Texas, where he
bought land and stock. From there he went to New Mexico and Arizona, and then
took part in the big rush for homesteads at the opening of the Cherokee strip,
which is now a part of Oklahoma. In 1897 Mr. Fleming joined the gold rush to
Alaska, landing at Cook inlet, where he bought a prospecting outfit and started
for the Copper river. Soon after he reached his destination, the mining district
was organized and Mr. Fleming was chosen judge and mining recorder. He had a
number of unusual experiences with the lawless element, but maintained the power
and dignity of the law. He then joined the rush to Dawson, where he located
mining claims, and also engaged in packing on the Skagway trail. Later he
organized and operated the White Eagle Mining Company, but in 1901 sold his
interests there and, returning to the Willamette Valley, Oregon, bought one
hundred and eighty acres of land. Here he applied himself indefatigably to the
development of a farm, in which he was eminently successful, and is still living
on that place, which is now numbered among the well improved and valuable
homesteads of this locality.
     In 1902 Mr. Fleming was united in marriage to Miss Margaret Pattison, of
Eugene, a daughter of Robert Pattison, who, in 1849, drove an ox team across the
plains to Washington, coming, two years later, to the Willamette Valley, where
he acquired a large farm near Eugene, on which he lived until his death. He was
a prominent and highly respected citizen of this community, being a leader in
donating labor and supplies for the erection of the first university buildings,
in 1877. He was a typical example of the rugged frontier type, was a stanch
Presbyterian in religious faith and a republican in his political views. To Mr.
and Mrs. Fleming have been born two children, Robert E., who is now a student in
the University of Oregon, and Edith, who is in the Eugene high school. The
republican party has always commanded Mr. Fleming's support and he has long been
an active and loyal member of the Presbyterian church. His record since locating
in Lane county has been such as has gained for him the unreserved respect and
good will of his fellow-men, who recognize and appreciate his worth as a man and
citizen.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in March 2012 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.