James Fleming, County Attorney for Peel, is a native of this Province, and was born in the Township of Vaughan, County of York, June 20, 1839. His parents, Robert and Marian (McMillan) Fleming were from Scotland. He was educated in common schools, the Normal School at Toronto, and in private; studied law with Henry B. Morphy, of Toronto; was called to the Bar in Easter term, 1866, and since that time has been in constant practice at Brampton. He does business in all the Courts, and from the start has had a liberal practice, his first experience at the Bar being gained in the defence of the Fenian prisoners at Toronto, in 1866-67. He is of the firm of Morphy and Fleming.
Our subject was appointed Deputy Judge of the County in 1876, acting in the absence of Judge Scott, and resigned that office to accept that of County Attorney, tendered him in December, 1879. Mr. Fleming has had a good deal of experience in his profession for a man of his age. He has been Crown Counsel on various circuits, taking part in several important trials, and acquiting himself with great credit. He is a very forcible and impressive speaker, and has great influence with a jury. His reputation as a lawyer is fast becoming provincial.
Mr. Fleming is a member of the High School Board, and has been for several years, and not only interests himself in educational matters, but in local enterprises generally, thoroughly identifying himself with the progress of the town.
Mr. Fleming is a Liberal in politics, and being a positive man, and half-hearted in nothing, he has labored at times with great zeal to advance the interests of his party, being a good debater and at home on the “stump.” He has been President of the Reform Association for
the Riding of Peel, and is a man of much influence, but in his present position as a county official, he takes no active part in politics.
Mr. Fleming is a Master Mason, and a member of the Presbyterian Church, and finds nothing in the practice of the “law” to conflict with the teachings of the “gospel.” Mr. Fleming is a man of rare integrity, his whole life exemplifying the saying, “An honest man is the noblest work of God.”
June 30, 1870, he married Isabella, daughter of James Montgomery, of Paris, Ontario, and they have two children.
