John Fleak was born in 1813 in Hampshire County, Viriginia, to John Fleak and Elizabeth Brookhart. He was a young child when the family moved to Athens County, Ohio, where he grew up. In 1834, he married Mary Sheets, and in 1836 they moved across the river, purchasing 110 acres on the south fork of Lee Creek near Belleville in Harris Township, Wood County, Virginia (now West Virginia). They bought the land from Peter Anderson for $200. They later added another 43 acres.

John built two homes on the land and helped to build the road along the south fork of Lee Creek. He built and operated one of the first sawmills in the area. He had an orchard, and he built a large wooden cider press that was operated by a horse. The press was large enough to press a barrel of cider in one pressing. To obtain cash, he cut stove bolts and hoop poles for barrels. He would put these on a raft and float them down the Ohio River to Cincinnati to be sold. He would then purchase food staples and return home by boat.

John was a man of large stature and great fortitude. On one occasion, while operating the sawmill, he broke his arm. He proceeded to cut a splint and set the arm himself. He was an old time Whig, casting his first vote for Harrison. He then became a staunch Republican, and was not afraid to speak his opinion.

John and Mary had 9 children. Two died in childhood and were buried in the Fleak Cemetery on their property. Mary died at the age of 46 and is buried next to her children. John and Mary were members of the Disciples Church.

John married Sarah Ann McClure in 1866 and they adopted a son, James Cruse, born 23 Sep 1868. John and Sarah then had a son John Fleak born 15 Jun 1871. James later married.

John died in 1893 at the age of 79 of dropsy, and is buried in the Fleak Cemetery. After his death the farm was purchased by a grandson, Charles Townsend. The farm is still owned by the Townsend family.

Children (with Mary Sheets):
1- Martha C. Fleak (1834-1887) married 1854 Hiram Wigal (1829-1923).
2- Parker Fleak (1838-1923) married 1860 Gincia Jane Hall (1841-1910).
3- John W. Fleak (1841-1917) married 1865 Sarah Silcott (1840-1911).
4- William Fleak (1844-1862).
5- David Fleak (1847-1863).
6- Mary Louisa Fleak (1849-1936) married 1871 John Lambert Townsend (1850-1910).
7- Elizabeth Fleak (1853-1936) married 1875 John Place Newell (1853-1919).
8- Emily Fleak (1855-1936) married 1872 Joseph Weston Windland (1851-1930).
9- Cynthia Fleak (1859-1861).

Children (with Sarah Ann McClure):
1- James Cruse Fleak (1868- ; adopted).
2- John Fleak (1871- ).

References:
• 27 Apr 1834 Wood County, Virginia marriage certificate.
• 7 Aug 1893 Wood County, West Virginia register of deaths, book 3, page 380, line 23.
• 1970s Ruby Smith Gilliand: The Brookhart Family, page 13, based on information from John's great-great-granddaughter Mildred Lorene Fleak Bailey (1918-2002): https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/282186 .
• Biography by Bill Fleak of Indianapolis with some info from a booklet published in 1985 for the Belleville Bicentennial, some info from an obituary, and some info from Bill's aunt who lived in the area all of her life. There is a Fleak reunion in Parkersburg every year.
• 2023 FamilySearch: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/M7SW-CDH .
• 2023 Fleak/Brookhart descendants: https://willbraffitt.org/roots/FleakBrookhartDescendants.txt .
• 2023 Newell/Place descendants: https://willbraffitt.org/roots/NewellPlaceDescendants.txt .

John Fleak was born in 1813 in Hampshire County, Viriginia, to John Fleak and Elizabeth Brookhart. He was a young child when the family moved to Athens County, Ohio, where he grew up. In 1834, he married Mary Sheets, and in 1836 they moved across the river, purchasing 110 acres on the south fork of Lee Creek near Belleville in Harris Township, Wood County, Virginia (now West Virginia). They bought the land from Peter Anderson for $200. They later added another 43 acres.

John built two homes on the land and helped to build the road along the south fork of Lee Creek. He built and operated one of the first sawmills in the area. He had an orchard, and he built a large wooden cider press that was operated by a horse. The press was large enough to press a barrel of cider in one pressing. To obtain cash, he cut stove bolts and hoop poles for barrels. He would put these on a raft and float them down the Ohio River to Cincinnati to be sold. He would then purchase food staples and return home by boat.

John was a man of large stature and great fortitude. On one occasion, while operating the sawmill, he broke his arm. He proceeded to cut a splint and set the arm himself. He was an old time Whig, casting his first vote for Harrison. He then became a staunch Republican, and was not afraid to speak his opinion.

John and Mary had 9 children. Two died in childhood and were buried in the Fleak Cemetery on their property. Mary died at the age of 46 and is buried next to her children. John and Mary were members of the Disciples Church.

John married Sarah Ann McClure in 1866 and they adopted a son, James Cruse, born 23 Sep 1868. John and Sarah then had a son John Fleak born 15 Jun 1871. James later married.

John died in 1893 at the age of 79 of dropsy, and is buried in the Fleak Cemetery. After his death the farm was purchased by a grandson, Charles Townsend. The farm is still owned by the Townsend family.

Children (with Mary Sheets):
1- Martha C. Fleak (1834-1887) married 1854 Hiram Wigal (1829-1923).
2- Parker Fleak (1838-1923) married 1860 Gincia Jane Hall (1841-1910).
3- John W. Fleak (1841-1917) married 1865 Sarah Silcott (1840-1911).
4- William Fleak (1844-1862).
5- David Fleak (1847-1863).
6- Mary Louisa Fleak (1849-1936) married 1871 John Lambert Townsend (1850-1910).
7- Elizabeth Fleak (1853-1936) married 1875 John Place Newell (1853-1919).
8- Emily Fleak (1855-1936) married 1872 Joseph Weston Windland (1851-1930).
9- Cynthia Fleak (1859-1861).

Children (with Sarah Ann McClure):
1- James Cruse Fleak (1868- ; adopted).
2- John Fleak (1871- ).

References:
• 27 Apr 1834 Wood County, Virginia marriage certificate.
• 7 Aug 1893 Wood County, West Virginia register of deaths, book 3, page 380, line 23.
• 1970s Ruby Smith Gilliand: The Brookhart Family, page 13, based on information from John's great-great-granddaughter Mildred Lorene Fleak Bailey (1918-2002): https://www.familysearch.org/search/catalog/282186 .
• Biography by Bill Fleak of Indianapolis with some info from a booklet published in 1985 for the Belleville Bicentennial, some info from an obituary, and some info from Bill's aunt who lived in the area all of her life. There is a Fleak reunion in Parkersburg every year.
• 2023 FamilySearch: https://www.familysearch.org/tree/person/details/M7SW-CDH .
• 2023 Fleak/Brookhart descendants: https://willbraffitt.org/roots/FleakBrookhartDescendants.txt .
• 2023 Newell/Place descendants: https://willbraffitt.org/roots/NewellPlaceDescendants.txt .