Clark, Robert Carlton, Ph.D. "History of the Willamette Valley Oregon."  Vol. 2.
Chicago: Chapman Publishing Company, 1927. p. 16.
 
WILLIAM T. McDERMOTT
 
     William T. McDermott, whose death, on August 17, 1924, was regarded by the
citizens of Eugene as a distinct loss to the community, was a man of sterling
character, great industry and sound business ability, his efforts in the
practical affairs of life having been so directed as to gain for him a very fair
measure of material success, while his interest in the welfare of the community
and those about him gained for him a high measure of public esteem. Mr.
McDermott was born in Cass county, Iowa, on the 17th of March, 1869, and was the
son of Henry and Elizabeth (Miller) McDermott, farming folk of that locality. He
was given the advantage of a good education, having completed the public school
course and then entered Simpson College, at Indianola, Iowa, where he studied
for the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal church. However he changed his
plans, turning his attention to carpentering and contracting, which line of
business he followed there until 1903, when he went to Rupert, Idaho, and
conducted a storage business, in which he was successful. In 1919 Mr. McDermott
came to Eugene and began contracting, in which he built up a good business,
having erected a number of the better class of buildings in this locality. He
followed that business to the time of his death, was an honest and conscientious
workman, faithfully executing every contract into which he entered, and he won a
high place in the confidence and respect of all who had dealings with him.
 
     On September 2. 1892, Mr. McDermott was united in marriage to Miss Fannie
Sisler, who also is a native of Cass county, Iowa, a daughter of Benjamin and
Susan (Keisler) Sisler, who were pioneers of that state, where the father
followed farming. He is deceased, but the mother still lives in Iowa, at the age
of eighty-five years. To Mr. and Mrs. McDermott were born six children: Dana,
who died in infancy; Ola, who is a teacher; Averil, who is the wife of Norval
Powell, of Pineville, Oregon; Grace, a student in the University of Oregon;
Mildred, who is taking the art course in the Oregon Agricultural College, at
Corvallis; and Frances. Mr. McDermott was an earnest and active member of the
Methodist Episcopal church, to which Mrs. McDermott also belongs, and he gave
generous support to every worthy benevolent cause. He stood consistently for all
that is best in the life of the community and his influence was always exerted
in behalf of such measures as were calculated to advance the public welfare. A
man of pleasing personality and kindly in all his relations, he won many warm
and loyal friends in this locality, by whom his death was greatly regretted.

     
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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in June 2016 by Diana Smith.  Submitter
has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned above.