Santa Clara County Biographies


This file is part of the California Genealogy & History Archives
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~cagha/index.htm



George A. Fleming Company
 fruit-driers and dealers in dried fruit.  At the Willows, in 1877, George A. 
Fleming commenced, in an  experimental way, the drying of fruit.  The 
discouragements of the first years were many; much had to be learned, the people 
being slow to believe that the American prune or apricot could equal imported 
fruit.  In fact, the often unsatisfactory condition of the first fruits sent 
from this Sate to the eastern marked did much to confirm the prevalent prejudice 
against all American dried fruit.  There were those who believed that patience 
and care could remedy all existing deficiencies, and in time created a demand 
for California fruits that would make their production a source of great profit, 
and build up an industry that would employ thousands, and bring wealth to Santa 
Clara Valley.  Among these was George A. Fleming.  Holding steadily to that 
faith he gained each year in experimental knowledge. With the increased 
production, his business steadily increased, until it has grown to its present 
magnificent proportions.

Associated with him is his brother , Charles F. Fleming.  Their interest 
becoming too large for personal supervision, the George A. Fleming Company was 
organized, under the state laws of Illinois, in December, 1887, with a capital 
stock of $250,000.  Of this stock the Flemings  own three-fourths.  The 
incorporators are as follows:  George A. Fleming, President; Charles F. Fleming, 
Treasurer and vice-President;  Thomas Caldwallader, of Chicago, Secretary; and 
R. D. Shaw and George T. McLaughlin, of San Jose.  The last-named gentlemen have 
 been in the employ of the Flemings several years, and are now the 
superintendents of the two drying establishments, one a the Willows, and the 
other  at Campbell Station. The latter establishment was erected in 1887,  The 
company own, at Rock Island, Illinois, their own distributing depot, handling 
all of their own goods.  There sixty hands are employed, under the 
superintendence of  Charles F. Fleming.  The business office of the company is 
in Chicago, under the charge of Mr. Cadwaller, the secretary of the corporation. 
 The management of the driers, and the purchase of stock, are under the 
superintendence of George A Fleming, who resides at the Willows.  During the 
active drying season of 1887, about 700 employees composed the force, and 1.800 
tons of apricots (green fruit), and over 2,500 tons of other fruit were handled. 
 the company deal largely in fruits cured by others.  They shipped, of the crop 
of 1887, about 120 car loads of dried fruit, about two-thirds of which was cured 
by themselves. Their black Diamond brand, and Fleming's raisin-cured prunes, are 
favorites in the market.
Pen Pictures from the Garden of the World or Santa Clara County, California, 
Illustrated. Edited by H.S. Foote, Published, 
Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company 1888- pages 538-539