Deming, Phineas

Early Settler, Clockmaker, War of 1812 Veteran

Birth: January 26, 1750, Canaan, Litchfield County, Connecticut [1]
Death: unknown

Military Service: Phineas Deming served as a private from August 24 to November 11, 1812, in Captain Asa Hutchins' Company, 3rd (Hayes') Regiment, Ohio, Militia, during the War of 1812. Capt. Hutchins' company contained many men from Vienna Township, including fellow clockmaker Lambert W. Lewis. [2]

An early settler in Vienna, Deming purchased land in Vienna Township in 1816.  He used the land to manufacture clocks in the Vienna Township wooden works clock industry between 1828 and 1830. His clock business, likely an assembly shop, was financed through a $500 mortgage with his clock peddler, son-in-law Thomas Lewis.  The business employed six men during that time period. 

The factory was located on a lot through which Little Yankee Creek ran, on Sodom-Hutchins (now Sodom-Hutchings) Road, approximately a mile and a half north of Woodford's Corners.

It was believed that "patent" or shelf clocks and tall clocks were produced as Deming and Lewis, but only one clock with "P. Deming" signed on a face has been identified. 

Deming may have left the business by May of 1830 after declaring bankruptcy when Thomas Lewis was in court over debts.  At the time of the insolvency, Deming surrendered his land to Garry Lewis. Deming left Vienna Township by 1834. 

For more information on the local wooden works clock industry, click here.