Biography - W. D. Deans
W. D. DEANS, a member of the firm of Hight & Deans, editors and proprietors of The Reformer, is one of the youngest members of the editorial profession in Southern Illinois, but, as he brings to his work a fine equipment of hand and brain, he has a fair prospect of attaining honors in the journalistic school. Johnson County claims him as a native, and he springs from its pioneer stock. He was born in Cache Township, January 8, 1871, and is a son of W. D. Deans, Sr., who was at that time a prominent citizen of this county, but is now a resident of Kansas. The father of our subject is also a native of Johnson County, and is a son of John Deans, who was a pioneer farmer of this section, and spent his last years here. Mr. Deans was well educated and in early manhood taught school. He abandoned that profession to engage in the mercantile and milling business at Belknap, and continued his residence in Cache Precinct until 1880. In that year he went to Wabaunsee County, Kan., where he bought a farm and devoted himself to agricultural pursuits until 1883, when he again established himself in the mercantile business, locating in the town of Alma. He is still a resident of that place, but has retired from active business. While living in Johnson County he held the office of County Surveyor, and was also a member of the Board of County Commissioners. Since his removal to Kansas he was Surveyor of Wabaunsee County for a period of six years. He is a man of sound judgment and a wise manager, and whether in official or in private life always has shown himself well versed in business matters. In politics he is and ever has been a firm Republican. His wife, whose maiden name was Louisa J. Peeler, was a native of North Carolina, and was first married to James Axley.
The subject of this brief biographical review received his early education in the district schools of his native county, and after the removal of the family to Kansas, he went to a good school at Alma. At the age of sixteen he entered the office of the Alma Enterprise to learn the art of printing, which he thoroughly mastered, and has since been engaged in that line. In the fall of 1892 he formed a partnership with Mr. Hight in the proprietorship and publication of The Reformer, and is meeting with encouraging success as an editor. His experience as a printer has not been without value to him in entering upon this new field of labor, while the business acumen that he seems to have inherited in full degree from his father is a certain factor of success in whatever he undertakes. He is a young man of good habits, of a genial nature, and is popular among his associates.
October 2, 1892, Mr. Deans took upon himself the cares and responsibilities of married life by wedding on that date Miss Maud A., daughter of J. B. and Josie (Gillespie) Hess, and a native of Vienna, who will take upon herself a full share of the said cares and responsibilities, as a true wife should. Mrs. Deans is a member of the Christian Church, and cheerfully co-operates with her pastor and fellow-members in making it a useful religious organization for the uplifting of the community.
Extracted 17 Apr 2016 from 1893 Biographical Review of Johnson, Massac, Pope, and Hardin Counties, Illinois, page 154.
