William B. Flora has done much for the upbuilding and development of Ford County, and his name is inseparably connected with its history. This work, therefore, would be incomplete without a record of his life. He was born near Carthage, Campbell County, Ky., in the famous Blue Grass region, August 5, 1844. His parents, John W. and I. J. (Herndon) Flora, are also natives of that State, the former born in June, 1821, and the latter in March, 1825. Mr. Flora was an old-line Whig in politics, but since the organization of the Republican party has been one of it stanch supporters, and has served for twenty-five years as Justice of the Peace. Himself and wife are members of the Methodist church, and are classed among the highly respected and representative people in that portion of Kentucky in which they make their home. Of their seven sons and five daughters, eight are yet living, of whom William is the eldest; Emily is the wife of H. F. Tarvin, an agriculturist of Charleson, Ill.; Samuel, who married Sarah Hardy, is a farmer of Carthage, Ky.; Augustus wedded Miss Hester White, and is a mechanic and farmer; Mollie is the wife of Arthur Kinzel, a farmer of Lovington, Ill.; James is represented elsewhere is this work; John married Mattie Dawson, and resides near California, Ky.; and Luella is the wife of John Newkirk, who is employed on the electric street railroad of Covington, Ky.
Our subject spent his boyhood days in his native State, and acquired his education in the common schools. At the age of nineteen, he enlisted for the late war as a member of the Company H, Thirty-seventh Kentucky Infantry, and was mustered in at Covington, in July, 1863. The troops were ordered to Louisville, and then to Glasgow to guard Cumberland River. They did guard duty for some time, and at Mt. Sterling were organized for a raid, mounted and equipped with carbines and revolvers. Every step of the way was vigorously contested, but they at length arrived at Saltville, Va., with a force of four thousand. An engagement was commenced at four o'clock in the morning and continued uintil ten at night, when our men retreated to Big Sandy River and returned to Lexington, Ky. Mr. Flora rode one horse during this raid fifteen hundred miles. He left the animal at four o'clock in the moring, and in the evening, seeing a mounted negro approach, his lieutenant told him to secure that horse. It was then dark. Mr. Flora, on approaching the fellow, commanded him to halt and give up his horse, which was done, and behold, it proved to be Mr. Flora's own property. He was honorably discharged to his Kentucky home.
--Photo courtesy of Daniel Flora.
In 1865, our subject went to Marysville, Kan., and engaged in teaming between Atchison, St. Jo and Marysville. He afterwards clerked in Marysville until the succeeding November, when he returned to Kentucky, and for three years engaged in the manufacture of brick, shipping his products to Cincinnati. In the spring of 1868, he removed to Buckley, Ill., and engaged in the manufacture of brick for Ed Gill, of Paxton. He afterward engaged in carpentering, and also followed farming. In the winter season, he engaged in teaching in Charleston, and, in 1871, bought the second business lot ever sold in the village of Roberts. He commenced building upon it in December of that year, and then embarked in business as a member of the well-known firm of Flora & Newman, who continued operations for sixteen years. They first carried only a grocery stock, but afterward engaged in general merchandising, and worked up an excellent trade. In 1883, their volume of business amounted to $40,000.
(From an article by Bela Foster published in the Roberts Herald:
In 1871, George H. Thompson and George Lyman put up a hardware store where George Ensign's garage now stands. William Thompson put up a drug store beside it. Flora & Newman put up a general store on the Anderson Bank corner, facing west. Anderson & Montelius put up the store that William Thompson's poultry business now occupies. Haling & Scott put up an implement building where Dietterle's store now stands. In 1873 fire destroyed the Thompson and Lyman hardware and the William Thompson drug store. I came to town and picked up nails at one cent a pound.Flora & Newman turned their store around so that it faced the north where Whorrall's restaurant now stands. Thompson & Lyman built a new store where Tarvin's store now stands. William Thompson built his drug store where Foster Brothers store now stands.
--Roberts Herald. 1 May 1935. Bela Foster. Early Days in the Town of Lyman.)
Mr. Flora was married, February 2, 1873, to Miss Mary J., daughter of W. I. and Ruth C. (Parish) Newman, who are mentioned in the sketch of Joseph V. King, on another page of this work. Unto them have been born four sons and two daughters: Bessie, Vincent, Harry, Claude, Grover and Mabel. The mother and eldest daughter are members of the Methodist church, and Miss Bessie belongs to the Epworth League, the Ladies' Foreigh Missionary Society, and the Temperance Society.
Mr. Flora cast his first Presidential vote for Gen. Grant, and has since been an inflexible adherent of the Republican party. He takes quite an active interest in political affairs, has served as Town Clerk, and has filled the office of Supervisor for many terms. He has several times been tendered the chairmanship of the Board, and has served on the most important committees. Since 1876, he has been officially connected with the educational interests of the community, and for many years has served as School Treasurer of Lyman Township. Socially he is a charter member of Buckley Lodge No. 634, A. F. & A. M.; Lyman Lodge No. 293, K. P.; and of Melvin Post No. 500, G. A. R. Mr. Flora is widely and favorably known throughout this community as a public-spirited and progressive citizen, well deserving of a representation in this volume. He is spoken of in the highest terms by his fellow-townsmen, and is deserving of their warm regard.
--Portrait and Biographical Record of Ford County, Illinois. 1892.
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