My Genealogy Hound

B. R. McDearmon, one of the prominent citizens and manufacturers of Weldon, Ark., is a native of Tennessee, having been born in Wilson County, September 19, 1858. His parents were William W. and Martha (Wright) McDearmon, of Tennessee. His father came to Batesville, Ark., and engaged in business of contractor and builder, till his death in 1879 or 1880. The mother died April 19, 1887. They were members of the Missionary Baptist Church, and the father was a Democrat, and served four years in the Southern army, being once captured, but never wounded. The subject of this sketch spent his school days in Batesville, and attended the State University at Fayetteville one year, receiving a good English and scientific education. At the age of eighteen he went to Tennessee for his health, and spent two years as apprentice with S. L. Garrett, a noted architect of Louisburg, Tenn. In 1879 he returned to Arkansas, and, on account of his father’s ill health, ran his saw-mill on what is now the Pickett farm, at the same time carrying on the same business ten miles south of Newport. In 1880 he sold his father’s mill (after his death), and in 1888 his own, in the meantime having built the grist-mill and machine shops at Weldon. He also in 1888 built the largest cotton-gin and press in the county. November 15, 1881, he married Miss Susan L. Shoffner, daughter of A. E. and Martha (Patterson) Shoffner, Mr. Shoffner being a prominent farmer of Jackson County. They have two daughters: Pearl, three years old, and Node, eight months, respectively. Mr. McDearmon, who has been active in the development of Weldon, now owns several town lots, and two blocks in the town. In connection with the milling and ginning business, he does general repairing and manufacturing, and takes no part in politics.