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Chauncey Deming

"The subject of this sketch, who is efficiently administering the responsible duties of the presidency of the First State Bank of Arlington, Iowa, one of the strong and influential financial institutions of this part of Iowa, needs no introduction to the citizens of Fayette county. His long residence here, his active participation in various business enterprises and his sterling qualities of character have gained for him a marked prestige among the people with whom he has been associated and today no man stands higher in popular esteem than he.

Mr. Deming is a native of Trumbull county, Ohio, where he was born October 24, 1843, and is the son of Buell and Sarah (Johnson) Deming, both of whom were natives of Connecticut. In the first years of their married life they came to Ohio, and subsequently they came to Fayette county, Iowa, where he bought a tract of wild land, for which they paid six dollars per acre. Through legal technicalities he lost his first home there, and then acquired the present homestead property, on which he spent his last years, having resided there continuously since 1855. The subject’s mother died in 1908, at the remarkable age of ninety-nine years lacking three months, having resided in the same home for nearly a half century. She was one of the grand old women of the county and was widely and favorably known throughout the community. They were the parents of eight children, three sons and five daughters, namely: George, of Arlington; Chauncey, the immediate subject of this sketch; Walter, of Cherokee county, Iowa; Laura, of Clermont, Iowa; Olive, deceased; George, of Arlington, Iowa; Maria, deceased; Liza, deceased; Mary, of Buffalo, New York.

Chauncey Deming was about twelve years of age when the family came to Iowa and here he received his education in the common schools. He was reared on the home farm and lent his assistance in its cultivation. On his father’s death, the responsibility of managing the property fell on his shoulders and faithfully did he discharge his trust, giving earnest attention to the comfort and welfare of his mother and sister. He has added by purchase to the original farm until he is now the owner of four hundred and eighty acres. Of this, eighty acres is in the old home farm, about a mile from Arlington, one hundred and sixty acres in Putnam township, this county, operated by his son-in-law, and one hundred and sixty acres in Fairfield township, all of which he operates himself. He is practical and methodical in his operations and has achieved a distinctive success as a farmer. He raises all the crops common to this section of the country and also gives considerable attention to the raising and feeding of livestock, in which also he is successful, his stock farm at Arlington being considered one of the best propositions of the kind in the county. His land was purchased at a cost not exceeding twenty dollars per acre and all is worth now close to one hundred dollars per acre. He has made many permanent and substantial improvements on the property, including a commodious and attractive residence and a large and substantial barn, the general appearance of the place indicating the owner to be a man of excellent taste and ripe judgment, all of his efforts being characterized by an enterprising and progressive spirit.

Chauncey Deming was one of the original organizers of the First State Bank of Arlington and a member of the first board of directors. At the organization of the board he was elected president of the institution, later becoming its vice-president, and on the death of the president, the late T. Duning, the subject again was chosen to the office, which he is now filling to the entire satisfaction of the bank officials and its patrons. Liberal in his attitude toward local business enterprises, and yet wisely conservative in the lending of the bank’s funds, Mr. Deming is peculiarly qualified for the position which he so ably fills.

In 1868 Chauncey Deming was united in marriage with Charlotte Doane, who was born in New York state, but who came with her parents to Iowa in 1855. They have become the parents of two children: Blanche, the wife of John McCrea, of Putnam township, and Raymond, of Appleton, Wisconsin. The latter was for a while a railroad conductor, then was a student for five years in the Iowa State Agricultural College, and one year in Upper Iowa University, and is now a professor of civil engineering in the Lawrence College, Appleton. In his political faith, Chauncey Deming is a stanch Republican and takes a keen and intelligent interest in public affairs, having served a number of times as delegate to his party conventions. He possesses a genial disposition and pleasing address that enables him to readily gain acquaintance and his personal qualities and courteous manner have won for him a host of warm and loyal friends who esteem him for his genuine worth."