Carleton County

M.P.

M.L.A.

FLEMMING, James Kidd (HON) (1868 – 1927)

Born, April 27^th, 1868, at Richmond, Carelton County, N.B.  Of Irish ancestry.  Son of Thomas Flemming and his wife, Sarah Kerr.

Educated at the public school, and at the Provincial Normal School, Fredericton, N.B.

Taught school for a number of years.  Entered the grocery business as a travelling salesman for the firm of White & Titus, Wholesale Grocers, St. John.

In 1892, in partnership with his brother, Thomas Flemming, he established a grocery and farm produce business in Woodstock, N.B.  In 1895, this partnership was dissolved, and James Kidd Flemming moved to Peel, Carleton County, where he established a General Store, and also entered the lumber business.  Being successful in this latter venture, he moved to Hartland, N.B. and built a lumber mill.  His lumbering operations increased and, in 1912, he moved to Woodstock, N.B. where he resided until his decease.  Meanwhile, he organized the firm of Flemming and Gibson, and acquired large lumber interests at Juniper, N.B. on the N.T.R.  He erected and equipped modern mills, and engaged in the manufacture and shipping of lumber on an extensive scale.

Married, _______________, 1890, to Miss Sarah Helena Flemming, daughter of James and Sarah Flemming, Debec, Carleton County, N.B.  By this marriage there was a family of three sons and two daughters.  (Farmer)

Unsuccessfully, contested Carleton County for the House of Assembly of N.B. at the G.E. of October 16^th, 1895, and at the G.E. of February 18^th, 1899.

First elected to the House of Assembly, as one of the members for Carleton County, at a bye-election held January 12^th, 1900, to fill the vacancy created by the resignation of the sitting member, Charles Lewis Smith (q.v.), and sat the remainder of that legislature.  Re-elected at the G.E.s of 1903, 1908, and 1912, as well as at a bye-election held April, 1908, made necessary by his acceptance of a Portfolio.  Sat as member until 1914, when he resigned his seat.

On March 24^th, 1908, he was sworn in a member of the Executive Council of N.B. and received the appointment of Provincial Secretary Treasurer in the Administration of the Hon. John D. Hazen, (q.v.).  Upon the retirement of the Hon. Mr. Hazen as Premier, October 16^th, 1911, Mr. Flemming was called upon to assume the Premiership, assuming the office of Surveyor General as well.  He held these positions until December 6^th, 1914, when he resigned his seat in the Legislature and retired from local politics.

During his administration, the Valley Railroad was constructed.

First elected to the House of Commons, as member for the constituency of Carleton/Victoria, at the G.E. of October 29^th, 1925.  Re-elected at the G.E. of September 14^th, 1926, and sat as member until his decease.

In 1912, the Univ. of N.B. conferred upon him the Honorary Degree of D.C.L.

He died, February 10^th, 1927, in the Fisher Memorial Hospital, Woodstock, N.B., aged fifty-eight years.

Buried in the Methodist Cemetery, Woodstock, N.B.  survived by his widow, three sons and two daughters.

In Politics:  a Conservative                                           In Religion: a Presbyterian

Mrs. Flemming died 1949, eighty-four years.

FAMILY:

1. Son: James Sprague – Juniper, N.B.  Lumber Operator
2. Son: Weldon Medford – Juniper, N.B., Lumber Operator
3. Son: Hugh John (q.v.) – M.L.A. Carleton (194401960), Premier N.B. (1952-1960), M.P. Royal (1960-1962); M.P. Carleton/Victoria (1962-   ) Privy Council Canada (1960 –   )
4. Dau: Mildred – Mar. J.R. Matheson, Juniper, N.B.
5. Dau: Ruth – Mar. F. Gerard Thompson, Sussex, N.B.