Bio: William W. Dormon, Claiborne Parish, LA 
Source: Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Northwest Louisiana 
The Southern Publishing Company, Chicago & Nashville, 1890 
Submitted for the LAGenWeb Archives by: Gwen Moran-Hernandez, Jan. 2000 


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William W. Dormon, manufacturer of wagons, and general dealer in buggies, carts, harness 
and shelf hardware, Homer, La. The industries of Homes are principally of an important 
character, ably and successfully carried on, the products being such as to have secured 
for this southern town a reputation of which any might well be proud. Prominent among the 
industries here is the manufacture of wagons, the name most prominently identified with 
that industry being that of William W. Dormon. This gentleman is a native of Claiborne 
Parish, and was born on February 10, 1857, and is a son of J. M. and Martha J. (Sherard) 
Dormon, the father and mother were natives of Alabama. J. M. Dormon was reared to mature 
years in Alabama, and after his marriage (1846) moved to Louisiana, where he settled in 
Claiborne Parish. He was a farmer and manufacturer, and resided in this parish until his 
death in September, 1880, at the age of fifty-five years. During the war he served one 
year in the army and then came home, where he worked under government contract, 
manufacturing cotton and wool for clothes. After the war he began farming, and carried on 
a large plantation in Ward No. 6. Previous to the war he was the owner of a goodly number 
of slaves. He served in several local offices, and later moved to Arcadia, where he resided 
several years engaging in manufacturing and repairing wagons, etc. He was the owner of a 
number of patents of his own invention, the most valuable being three patent plows. For years 
the plowman of North Louisiana, he did more than any other one man to introduce improved 
farming implements into North Louisiana. His widow survives him. He was very liberal with his 
means, assisting in every way the soldiers' widows during the war, and would, no doubt, have 
been very wealthy had he been less liberal. He raised a family of nine children-six sons and 
three daughters-seven of whom are now living. Of these William W. Dormon is the fourth in 
order of birth. He attained his growth in Claiborne Parish, received a fair business and 
English education at Arcadia, and after completing his studies learned the blacksmith's trade. 
He then opened a blacksmith and repair shop, and added to this until he now carries a large 
stock of buggies, carriages, wagons, hardware, harness, etc., and now has a good business. 
He has an engine and machinery for manufacturing purposes, and also does a large repair 
business, and employs ten men. He is an excellent manager, and one of the enterprising men of 
the town. His nuptials with Miss D. P. Barrow, a native of Claiborne Parish, were celebrated on 
January 4, 1883, and they have two children: Anna and Willie. Mrs. Dormon was educated here, and 
is a graduate of Homer College. She is the daughter of Rev. Josephus and Elizabeth Barrow, the 
father a minister of the Primitive Baptist Church previous to his death. He was a prominent man, 
was a large slave owner, and was a member of the Louisiana Legislature. Mr. and Mrs. Dormon are 
members of the Baptist Church.

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