The Howard Courant, Oct. 23, 1903, Pg. 4

Died: Oct. 16, 1903

John N. Fleek passed away at his home one mile east of town, at nine o’clock, Friday evening, October 16th, after an illness extending over a year, when he was first seized with partial paralysis of the lower limbs, which has been gradually crawling up and sapping his vitality until death came as a release. John Fleek was born in Buchanon county, Missouri, near St. Joseph in 1844, and was a trifle over 59 years of age, 33 years of which time has been spent in this county, coming here in 1870 as one of the pioneers of old Howard county. Here he has builded a good home and raised a family. Three children who survive him, Adelbert Fleek, Mrs. Hayne Wicker and Mrs. Harl Bennett, were at his bedside. In August 1863, he enlisted and donned the blue at Troy, Kansas, and together with John Neeland, the only surviving comrade here, spent three years in the service, being honorably discharged July 25th, 1865. John Fleek was one of the most just and upright men that this community ever knew. His exactness amounted almost to an eccentricity. If you owed him anything he wanted it, and if he owed you a penny, he never rested until the debt was cancelled. He didn’t want to wrong anyone. With his family he was a loving husband and a good father. The funeral was conducted from the M. E, church, at 10 o’clock Sunday morning by Rev. Newton Hill assisted by the M. E. choir, and the impressive ritual service of Odd Fellowship was read at the grave, he having been a member of Elk Falls Lodge No. 77, I. O. O. F. for 16 years. Ravlins Post No. 26, G. A. R. of which he was a member, also attended at the church and grave. The funeral was very largely attended---Elk Falls Correspondent in Citizen.