WILLIAM DEERING

WILLIAM DEERING

William DEERING, living two and a half miles north of the city of Snohomish, is one of the first settlers of this county, having come here in 1874, when there were only a few white families in the territory now embraced within the county. Mr. DEERING was born in Aroostook County, Maine, in February, 1847, the third of the twelve children of William and Sarah (Sawyer) Deering, who passed their entire lives in the farming and lumbering industries of the Pine Tree State. The elder Deering passed away in 1895, and his wife two years later, each after having attained the age of four score years. Of their children, five are now residents of Snohomish County: George B., William, Edwin L., Mrs Fred V. Foss and Mrs. Edith Sprague.
William Deering received a common school education in his native state. At the outbreak of the Civil War, he enlisted in the Fifteenth Maine Infantry and served two years in the operations around Richmond and in the early campaigns in the South. Upon being mustered out, Mr. Deering returned to his native state and engaged in work in the woods until 1868, when he removed to Pennsylvania and later to Wisconsin, in both states logging in the lumber sections. In 1871, he came to Washington, and he carried on lumbering operations here until fifteen years ago, when he met with an accident which has crippled him for life. He then purchased a tract of 120 acres of land where he now lives, to which he has added 30 acres more. The improvements were most meager when Mr. Deering took possession of the place, the chief feature being a "shake" cabin. Mr. Deering now has 15 acres under plow and 25 in pasture. He devotes his attention to dairying and hog raising. His 20 head of cattle are mostly Jerseys, and his 33 head of hogs are of the Berkshire and Poland China breeds.
In 1881, Mr. Deering married Miss Delia Elwell, daughter of Tamlin and Sarah (Watson) Elwell. He was married a second time eleven years ago, his present wife having been Miss Georgianna Cram, a native of Maine, whose parents passed away when she was a child. By his first marriage, Mr. Deering has two children, Tam and Ulma, the former of whom is attending the Snohomish High School, the latter of whom is at home. In fraternal circles, Mr. Deering is a Mason, a charter member of Snohomish Lodge, and a member of the Grand Army of the Republic. In politics, he is a Republican, taking an active part in party affairs. He has served one term as Coroner. In religious persuasion, he is a Baptist. Mr. Deering is a man of sterling manhood, highly respected in his community.
(source: An Illustrated History of Skagit and Snohomish Counties; pub 1906; page 874)

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