Caroline Margaret Watson Fleming (1844–1931) was the wife of former

Governor of West Virginia A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...

Aretas B. Fleming Aretas Brooks Fleming (October 15, 1839October 13, 1923) was the List of governors of West Virginia, 8th governor of West Virginia. In 1865, he married Carrie Watson Fleming, Carrie Watson."West Virginia's First Ladies," West Virginia Division of ...

and served as that state's First Lady from 1890 to 1893.

Biography

Fleming was born on April 29, 1844, at Fairmont, West Virginia, a daughter of Matilda Lamb and James Otis Watson, early coal operators in that region. She attended Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy at

Wheeling, West Virginia Wheeling is a city in the U.S. state of West Virginia. Located almost entirely in Ohio County, of which it is the county seat, it lies along the Ohio River in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains and also contains a tiny portion extending ...

. In September 1865, she married the attorney for oil and gas magnate

Johnson N. Camden Johnson Newlon Camden (March 6, 1828 – April 25, 1908) was a prominent oilman, industrialist, banker, railroad tycoon, and politician who was estimated to have $25 million at the time of his unexpected death. Although both of his attempts to b ...

. They had one child, a daughter. Her husband, Aretas Fleming, served as

from 1890-1893. After a shortened three year term as first lady, due to the controversial 1888 election, the Flemings returned to Fairmont, where she played a prominent role in Fairmont's cultural, civic, and religious activities. In 1916, she signed a memorial from the West Virginia Association Opposed to Woman Suffrage that was sent to the legislature as they considered an amendment to the state constitution to expand the franchise to include women. Fleming died at Fairmont on July 19, 1931, at the age of 87."West Virginia's First Ladies," West Virginia Division of Culture and History, June 2007. She is buried next to her husband in the Woodlawn Cemetery.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Fleming, Carrie Watson 1844 births 1931 deaths First ladies and gentlemen of West Virginia Mount de Chantal Visitation Academy alumni People from Fairmont, West Virginia