From History of Walworth County Wisconsin by Albert Clayton Beckwith, Vol. II, 
Publ. 1912 - Page 794-795
 
JOHN G. FLACK.  Another of the venerable pioneers and ex-agriculturists of 
Walworth county who have, through their industry and right living, succeeded 
in laying by a competency for their declining years and are now living in 
honorable retirement, enjoying the fruits of their earlier days of toil and 
endeavor, is John G. FLACK, of Elkhorn.
 
Mr. FLACK was born in 1828 in Lisbon, St. Lawrence county, New York.  He is 
the son of James Adams FLACK and Mary (LYTTLE) FLACK, both natives of the same 
vicinity in which the subject was born, and there they grew up and were 
married, the mother dying there in 1834, when John G. was six years old, and 
in 1843 the father brought his family to Walworth county, Wisconsin, coming by 
boat on the Great Lakes, on what was then known as a "propeller," landing at 
Racine, thence by wagon to Geneva, where James A. FLACK took up forty acres of 
government land.  However, he kept it but a short time when he sold out and 
bought another farm of eighty acres which he improved and continued to farm 
successfully until his health failed, compelling him to retire, and he spent 
the rest of his life with his son, dying in 1885.  He served two terms as 
supervisor.  He was a Republican, and in religious matters was a member of the 
Methodist Episcopal church.
 
John G. FLACK, being the oldest of a family of seven children, had plenty of 
work to do when a boy.  He grew to manhood on the home farm and received such 
education as he could in the old log school house near his home.  When twenty-
one years old he began life for himself as a farmer, buying forty acres, which 
he kept about two years, then sold and purchased one hundred and sixty-eight 
acres in Geneva township, which he still owns.  It had very few improvements 
when he moved there, but today it is one of the best improved and most 
valuable farms in the county.  Here Mr. FLACK carried on general farming and 
stock raising, making a specialty of full blood Merino sheep and Jersey 
cattle.  In 1881, having accumulated a competency through his persistent 
efforts and good management, he retired from the farm and moved to Elkhorn, 
where he erected a beautiful home on his lot and here has since resided.
 
Mr. FLACK was married in 1849 to Ellen M. BENTON, daughter of Daniel and Sarah 
BENTON, natives of Connecticut, where they spent their earlier years, finally 
emigrating to Walworth county, settling in Geneva township.  Mrs. John G. 
FLACK passed away on June 22, 1900.  The union of the subject and wife was 
without issue.
 
Mr. FLACK is a Republican, and he was at one time supervisor of Geneva 
township.  He is a member of the Congregational church.
 
Submitted by Carol