Thomas J. Fleming was born in Emmet, Wisconsin around 1869. For a number of years he ran a dairy farm, and from 1895 to 1917 he was secretary of the Wisconsin Agricultural Society. By 1917 he was no longer farming but was owner of the Northern Chemical Company, a West Allis concern which manufactured D-O-D, a patent medicine. About 1918, Fleming transferred the manufacture of the powder to the C. Nelson Smith Company, also of West Allis, of which first he (1918-1930), and later his son Harold (1930-?), were president. Thomas Fleming was a delegate to every national Democratic Party convention from 1896 to 1928, state Democratic Party treasurer, and an unsuccessful candidate for state senator in 1928. Fleming and his wife Adelaide had four children: Harold, Edward, Helen, and Catherine. He died on August 28, 1930.
Harold J. Fleming, son of Thomas J. and Adelaide Fleming, was born March 8, 1900 in West Allis and was educated in the public schools there, at St. Thomas College, St. Paul, Minnesota, and at Marquette University, Milwaukee. After Thomas Fleming's death, Harold continued the manufacture, promotion, and sale of D-O-D. He also ran an A & W Root Beer stand on Greenfield Avenue in West Allis, which at this writing (1975) was still in operation at the same location. Harold Fleming was also active in local organizations such as the American Legion; the Fairview Country Club, of which he was secretary/treasurer and his father a director; the Red Cross; and several bowling teams. Married twice, Harold had four children: Thomas J., Mary Jeanne, David J., and Paul A.
