History of South Paris, (Oxford County) Maine United States of America

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William Deering, manufacturer, was born in South Paris, Maine, April 24, 1826; son of James and Eliza (Moore) Deering, and grandson of Joseph and Hannah (Jameson) Deering of Saco, and of Elisha and Elizabeth (Morse) Moore. The family settled in Massachusetts in 1634. He was graduated at the high school, Readfield, Maine, in 1844; was employed by the South Paris woolen manufacturing company, 1844-1847 and was its manager, 1847-61. He engaged in business on his own account at South Paris, 1861-65, and in Portland as wholesale dealer in dry goods, 1865-73. He was a member of the councils of Governors Chamberlain and Perham, 1870-73. In 1873 he removed to Evanston, Ill., having acquired an interest in the business of manufacturing harvesting machines in 1865. In 1879 he became owner of the entire enterprise and in 1880 removed the works to Chicago. He was a director of the Metropolitan national bank of Chicago and president of the board of trustees of the Northwestern university, Evanston, Ill. He was married Oct. 31, 1849, to Abby, daughter of Charles and Joanna (Cobb) Barbour, and their son, Charles, born in 1852, became secretary of the Deering Harvester company. He was married Dec. 15, 1856, to Clara Hamilton of Maine, and their son, James, born in 1859, became treasurer and general manager of the company.

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor

History of South Paris, (Oxford County) Maine

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