His WW I draft registration card, filed 12 Sep 1918, records Fleming Skaggs, age 45, residence 1327 Mabert Road, Portsmouth, Scioto Co., Ohio, born 21 Nov 1873, occupation laborer, employer Whittaker Glesner Co., Portsmouth, Ohio, nearest relative wife Nancy E. Skaggs, same address, physical description tall, slender, blue eyes, gray hair, no disabilities or distinguishing marks.

The Illinois deaths index lists Flening Skaggs, age 62, born 21 Nov 1874 in Minor, Kentucky, died 9 Jan 1937 in Cincinnati township, Tazewell Co., Illinois, burial in Pekin, Tazewell Co., Illinois, married, wife’s maiden name Nancy Amburgey, father Daniel D. Skaggs, mother’s maiden name Philone Ison, both born in Minor., Kentucky (although that is wrong.)

His gravestone also has his birth date as 21 Nov 1874, but censuses are more consistent with the 1873 birth date that was reported on his draft card.

The Illinois deaths index lists Nancy Elizabeth Skaggs, age 62, born 11 Sep 1877 in Morehead, Kentucky, died 30 June 1940 in Cincinnati township, Tazewell Co., Illinois, burial in Lakeview Cemetery, Pekin, Tazewell Co., Illinois, widow of Fleming Skaggs, father John Amburgey, born in Letcher Co., Kentucky, mother’s maiden name Nancy Christian, born in Round Co., Kentucky.

Rowan Co., Kentucky marriage book 2, b. 285, lists the marriage on 17 Mar 1897 of Flemon Skaggs, age 22, born in Ky, and Nancy E. Amburgey, age 19, born in Rowan Co., bond surety by J. W. Amburgey. The marriage is also recorded in register A., p. 107, with the date given there as 15 Mar 1897.

The 1928 city directory for Pekin, Illinois lists Fleming Skaggs and wife Nancy E. living at 273 Derby St. At the same street address are their sons Rufus E. with wife Nellie G., and Laban H. with wife Marie.

in the 1930 directory Fleming and are recorded at 215 Maple St, as are Laban and Marie, but Rufus and Nellie are at Normandale RD 2.

The 1937 directory of Pekin lists Nancy E Skaggs, widow of Fleming Skaggs, at Thornton Addn. Rufus and Nellie are also recorded at Thornton Addn.

Their joint gravestone is inscribed “Father / Fleming / 1874 - 1937 / Mother / Nancy E. / 1877 - 1940 / SKAGGS”. (The slashes represent lines separations.)

(I have no known relationship to this family or any of their descendants. They are included in my database because I researched them on behalf of Randy Skaggs Jr., a grandson of Rufus Everett Skaggs.)

I cannot find this family in the 1900 census. Judging by the reported birth places of their children, they should have been in Rowan Co., Ky.

1910 census of Scioto Co., Ohio, Wayne township, Portsmouth ward 1, ED 9-145, enumerated 21 April, lists on p. 11A as family #210/244, at 253 West Front St:
Skaggs, Flemins, 35, house carpenter; Nancie E., wife, 32, dressmaker, first marriage for both, married 13 years, mother of 4 children, 3 living; Ustle, son, 11; Leban, son, 9; Rufus, son, 4. Ambergey, Atha C., sister-in-law, 36, single. All born Ky Ky Ky.

1920 census of Scioto Co., Ohio, Clay township, New Boston village, ED 9-160, enumerated 20 Jan, lists on p. 19B as family #366/379, at 4217 Oak St.:
Scaggs, Fleming, 45, carpenter at steel mill; Nancy, wife, 41; Dewey, son, 20, single, welder at steel mill; Labon, son, 18, switchman at NW terminal. All born Ky Ky Ky.

1930 census of Tazewell Co., Illinois, Pekin ward 1, ED 90-29, enumerated 19 April, lists on p. 17A as family #408/451, at 1215 Maple St:
Skaggs, Fleming, 54, age at first marriage 22, carpenter construction; Nancy, wife, 52, age at first marriage 19. Both born Ky Ky Ky.

They are sharing a house with their son Laban and his wife Marie.