The first and only Flanders to emigrate to America in the early period was Stephen, who came with his wife Jane to Salisbury, Massachusetts, between 1640 and 1646, and were among the first settlers of that town. He was admitted a townsman in February, 1650. His will was dated April 4, 1684, and he died June 27 following. His wife Jane died November 19, 1683. Children: Stephen (2), see forward; Mary, Philip, Sarah, Naomi and John. Deacon John, the youngest son, settled in South Hampton, New Hampshire. He was in the fight at Turner's Falls, and died in his eighty-seventh year.
(II) Stephen (2), son of Stephen (1) and Jane Flanders, was born March 8, 1646. He married, December 28, 1670, Abigail Carter, daughter of Thomas and Mary Carter. He was a resident of Salisbury, Massachusetts, where he died in the latter half of his ninety-ninth year, October 6, 1744. Children: Thomas, Stephen (3), Thomas (2), Daniel, see forward; Joseph, Philip, Sarah, Philip (2), Jane Jeremiah and Abigail.
(III) Daniel, son of Stephen and Abigail (Carter) Flanders, was born March 16, 1675. He lived in Amesbury, Massachusetts. He married and had issue: Daniel (2) and Jedediah.
(IV) Jedediah, son of Daniel Flanders, was born April 13, 1705. He married, January 3, 1728, Eleanor Barnard. Children: Sarah, Timothy, Hannah, Daniel, Barnard, Eleanor and Jedediah, see forward.
(V) Jedediah (2), son of Jedediah (1) and Eleanor (Barnard) Flanders, was born August 29, 1748. In 1795 he removed to Cornville, Maine, where he purchased a large tract of land, built a mill and lived to be seventy-five years of age. He died December 6, 1823, aged seventy-five years.
He married, February 8, 1770, Judith Tewksbury. Children:
- Molly, born June 8, 1770.
- Jonathan, October 8, 1771.
- Thomas, October 20, 1773.
- Sarah, February 25, 1776.
- William, November 19, 1778.
- Jedediah (3), March 18, 1781.
- Jacob, April 17, 1783.
- Judith, June 1, 1785.
- Eleanor, May 4, 1787.
- Daniel, see forward.
- Moses, June 23, 1791.
(VI) Daniel, son of Jedediah (2) and Judith (Tewksbury) Flanders, was born April 28, 1789. He removed either from Cornville, Maine, or Salisbury, Massachusetts, and settled in New Hampshire along the Connecticut river. Prior to 1830 he removed to Bombay, Franklin county, New York, thence to Parishville, St. Lawrence county, where he died. He married Fannie Flanders, a kinswoman (second cousin). Children: Parker, Martha, Arthur, (see forward); Albert E., Caroline.
(VII) Arthur, son of Daniel and Fannie (Flanders) Flanders, was born in Bombay, Franklin county, New York, March 17, 1831. He married, in 1853, Mary Lovell. Children:
- Arthur W., born February 12, 1855; married Julia Dewey, and had Grace B. and George Emerson Flanders.
- Imogene, born July 6, 1857, married Lewis Putnam, and had Charles, Edith and Florence.
- George Lovell, see forward.
(VIII) George Lovell, son of Arthur and Mary (Lovell) Flanders, was born at Parishville, St. Lawrence county, New York, February 29, 1856. He was educated in the public schools and at Potsdam, and took a short course at Union College. He followed the profession of teaching for several years, and was principal of the Madrid Union School, Madrid, New York. In 1884 he was appointed assistant state dairy commissioner, serving until 1893. During this period he took up the study of law at Albany Law School, where he was graduated in 1888. In 1893 he was appointed assistant state commissioner of agriculture, a position he has since held continuously. He is considered an authority on agricultural law, and has lectured and written much upon questions of vital importance to agriculturists. Through the press and on the platform he has created a deep interest, and made his department one of practical value. In 1901 he was president of the Farmers' National Congress, and for three years was first vice-president of the National Association of Dairy and Food Commissioners, and is now (1910) president, having been elected in 1909. In 1909 he was elected a director of the National Dairy Union, and subsequently president. He is a member of Ancient City Lodge, Free and Accepted Masons, of Albany, and of the State Grange, Patrons of Husbandry.
He married, April 25, 1885, Catherine Southwick Keeler, daughter of William H. and Annie Keeler, of Albany. Children: Lillian Lovell, and Marion Southwick.