From the book - History of Butler County, PA.
Written by Chester H. Sipe, publ. 1927
Extract kindly copied to me by Martin Shepherd.

Pen Picture - JOHN E. FLACK (Parents and siblings)

John E Flack is a progressive and enterprising business man of Butler, where he is proprietor of The Flack Electric Shop. He was born near Chicora, Butler County, August 24, 1878, the son of John L and Deborah A (Eckman) Flack.

John L Flack (deceased) was born at Princeton, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, August 14th 1849. When a young man he started in the oil business as a tank builder. He later was an oil operator and had interests in Venango, Butler, Bradford and Allegheny counties in Pennsylvania, and also in West Virginia. He was active in this business until his death, which occurred through an accident, on April 16, 1919. He was a Democrat, a member of the First Methodist Episcopal Church, K. O. T. Macabees, and Knights of Pythias, in which he was captain of the drill team. He was also a member of Company L, Fifteenth Regiment and served 6 years.
Mrs Flack was born at Appola, Armstrong County, March 25, 1851. She resides at Butler.

To Mr and Mrs Flack ten children were born:

1. Harry H, in charge of an Oil lease, Homer, Texas;
2. Ella Mina, married Charles A Kinch, lives in Butler where he is connected with the Sprang Company;
3. Dr A M Flack, an osteopathic physician, resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;
4. Mary, died in 1884 and is buried at Oil City, Pennsylvania;
5. John E, the subject of this sketch;
6. William P, salesman for the Flack Electric Company, lives at Butler;
7. Charles E, timekeeper for the Standard Plate Glass Company, Butler;
8. Laura, married Oscar C Beebe and they live at Colorado, Denver;
9. Richard L, born June 16 1898 graduated from the Butler High School. He was admitted to partnership with his brother John E on march 17, 1923, and with brother Dr A M Flack they established the Flack Brothers Shoe Store;
10. Hazel, married J A McClymonds, a general merchant, resides at Rose Point, Pennsylvania.

John E Flack was graduated from the Butler High Schol in 1899, after which he taught school in Butler County for one term. On July 1 1900 he accepted a position as office manager and book-keeper with the Butler Light, Heat and Motor Company, where he remained until April 1, 1912 when the West Penn Power Company purchased this business. He retained his position with the new company until Dec 15 1912 when he purchased the wiring and appliance department from the West Penn Power Company and established his business at 113 West Jefferson Street. In 1916 he built a three-story brick building and moved to his present location, 115 West Jefferson Street. On March 17 1923, with his brothers Dr A M and Richard L Flack, they organised the Flack Brothers Shows Store.

In 1898 Mr Flack was married to Edith Phillips, a daughter of J M and Josephine Phillips. Mr Phillips, deceased, was an oil operator at Vandergrift, Pennsylvania where his widow now resides. Mrs Flack died in 1899 and is buried in North Cemetery, Butler. They had one daughter, Edith Leah who married Lester P Williamson. He is in the real estate and insurance business at Grove City, Pennsylvania. They have one child, Edith Eleanor.
Mr Flack married in 1911 for his second wife, Grace B Barber, a daughter of William and Agnes (Reznor) Barber, a native of Mifflinsburg, Pennsylvania, and now both deceased. To this Union one son has been born, William B, born June 27 1912, a student.

Mr Flack is a Republican and served as a member of the school board in 1924-1925. ( .. text then follows a long list of boards etc he served on ...) Mr Flack is an active member of the first Methodist Episcopal Church and has been a member of the official board for the last 16 years.

In 1926 Mr Flack erected a modern home at 811 North McKean Street. This is one of the fine residences of Butler, Pennsylvania.

John E Flack - John E Flack's Personal Data Page