My Genealogy Hound

William B. Deming, real estate dealer and speculator of Bentonville, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, September 21, 1849, son of Lot and Frances E. (Urkuhart) Deming, and grandson of George Deming who was a native of Weathersfield, Conn., and at an early date moved to Harrison County, Ohio. Lot Deming was born in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1823, and soon after his marriage moved to Tuscawaras County, Ohio, where he followed school-teaching for many years, and afterward devoted his time to farming. In the spring of 1870 he moved to Dickinson County. Kas., and in October, 1883, removed to Bentonville, where he now resides. His wife, Frances E. (Urkuhart) Deming, was born in Harrison County, Ohio, in 1828, and is of Scotch descent. Her grandmother lived to be one hundred years old. Mrs. Deming is now sixty years old and has not a gray hair in her head. She is the mother of the following named children: James W., William B., Newton A., Johnston G. (deceased), M. Edwin, George and Anna (twins) and Mollie. William B. was educated in the public schools of his native State and county. He remained at home until twenty years of age and worked on the farm. In 1869 he went to Dickinson County, Kan., and settled on a government tract of eighty acres, where he followed farming. In 1875 he married Miss Jennie Hart, who was a native of Stark County, Ill., born 1847, and who became the mother of two children: Earl and Daisy. Mr. Deming followed farming in Kansas until 1883, when he moved to Bentonville, Ark., and bought 152 acres of land adjoining the town. By December of the same year he had laid off 120 lots, known as Deming’s Addition. He made a second addition of lots in April, 1887, known as Deming’s Second Addition. In July, 1888, he donated two acres for the erection of a school building, which illustrates his benevolent spirit and enterprise. He has been dealing in real estate outside of his own land for a part of four years. September, 1887, the Arkansas Tobacco Company was organized in Bentonville, and Mr. Deming is a stockholder and president of the company. He is a thorough advocate of temperance and sobriety, and while a resident of Kansas took an active part in prohibition and local politics. He is rather independent in his political views, but inclines somewhat to Republican principles. Mr. Deming has a fine residence, and is one of the substantial citizens of the county. He is a member of the K. P., and a charter member in Bentonville. He is a regular attendant at the Christian Church, of which his wife is a member.