William W. Demaree

    William W. Demaree, farmer, was born in Jefferson County, November 3, 1839. He is a son of William Underwood and Marietta (Wagner) Demaree, natives of Kentucky and New Jersey.

    There were three generations of the Demaree family who settled, at early dates in this century, in Jefferson County, viz: Samuel, the father, who came in 1812, and entered a very large tract of land; Daniel, his son, and William U., a grandson. Daniel came from Shelby County, Kentucky, bringing his son, William U., a grandson. Daniel came from Shelby County, Kentucky, bringing his son, William U., with him, who was but a boy at the time. William U., the father of William W., lived until November, 1880, when he died. He built the Madison Canaan Turnpike principally himself, and was regarded as one of the most enterprising and progressive farmers in Jefferson County. The land upon which Mr. Demaree, the subject of this sketch, now lives was entered by his great-grandfather, Samuel Demaree.

    The Demaree family was well represented in the army in all the wars of this country. Mr. William W. Demaree being one of the representatives in the late war, enlisting in Company A, 55th Regular Indiana Volunteer Infantry, for three months in 1862, and was out over four months. Since the war Mr. Demaree has engaged in farming.

    He is the superintendent and treasurer of the Madison and Canaan Turnpike Company, and has been since his father's death.

    He was married to Miss Susan E. Lee, of Jefferson County, in 1876. They have five children: Hattie, Maud, Marietta, Anna E., Ida May and William Buford. Mr. Demaree owns 200 acres of valuable land.

Source: Biographical and Historical Souvenir for the counties of Clark, Crawford, Harrison, Floyd, Jefferson, Jennings, Scott and Washington, Indiana. By John M. Gresham & Co., 1889.