Page:History of Southeast Missouri 1912 Volume 1.djvu/626

 564 HISTORY OF SOUTHEAST MISSOURI years of age Dr. Dearmont gained, in a dis- trict school, his first practical experience m the pedagogic profession, and by his con- tinued and effective labors as a teacher in the public schools he provided for the ex- penses of his collegiate courses. In 1880 he was matriculated in the University of Mis- souri, at Columbia, in which he was grad- uated as a member of the class of 1885 and from which he received the degree of Bache- lor of Arts. He continued to teach in the public schools after his graduation and fin- ally completed an effective post-graduate course in his alma mater, the state univer- sity, which confen-ed upon him in 1889 the degree of Master of Arts. For eight years he taught in the schools of Mound City, in his home county, and during the last five years of this period he held the position of prin- cipal. Prom 1893 until 1899 he was super- intendent of the public schools of Kirkwood, St. Louis county, and no better evidence of his success in his chosen profession could be given than that afforded in his selection, in 1899, for his present important office, that of president of the Missouri State Normal School at Cape Girardeau, where his labors have been admirably directed and where he has gained unquestioned distinction and prestige as one of the leading factore in connection with educational activities in the state which has been his home from his boy- hood days and in which he has secure van- tage ground in popular confidence and es- teem. He has made of his profession not a nu'ans to an end but a distinctive vocation which he has deemed worthy of his unequi- vocal devotion, with the result that his suc- cess has been marked and his rewards unstinted in the sense of good accomplished. In recognition of these services, the degree of Doctor of Literature was conferred on him by Westminster College. Subordinating all other interests to the demands of his chosen vocation. Dr. Dear- mont naturally has had no desire to enter the turbulent stream of practical politics, though he takes a broad-minded interest in public affairs and gives his allegiance to the cause of the Democratic part}'. He is a valued member of the Missouri State Teach- ers' Association and many other educational organizations and both he and his wife are zealous and devoted members of the Presby- terian church. He is affiliated with the Knights of Pythias. Dr. and Mrs. Dearmont are valued factors in connection with the l)est social activities of their home city and their influence in this connection is refined and benignant, as is it also in the various other relations of life. Their circle of friends is coincident A^dth that of their acquaintances and their home is a center of gracious hos- pitality. On the 31st of May, 1890, was solemnized the marriage of Professor Dearmont to ]Iiss Julia Lee McKee, of Mound City, Holt county. Mrs. Dearmont was born at Mary- ville, ilissouri, and is a daughter of Plorace N. and Sarah (Scott) McKee. He now main- tains his home with a daughter at Bigelow, Missouri, and is living retired. The mother died in 1899. Dr. and Mrs. Dearmont have three children, — Russell Lee, Julian Scott and Nelson Strother. Arthur C. Bowman. Prominently identi- fied with a line of business enterprise that ever has important bearing on the civic and material progress and prosperity of any com- munity, Mr. Bowman is one of the leading I'epreseutatives of the real-estate business in the fine section of country to which this his- tory is devoted. He is manager of the South- east Realty Company, of Cape Girardeau, and he has shown marked discriuiination and initiative and administrative ability in di- recting the affairs of this company, whose op- erations have reached a broad scof)e, involving the handling of farm, city and village prop- erties throughout the various sections of southeastern Missouri. Mr. Bowman is a man of ambition and resourceful energy, as has been amply demonstrated in his independent career. He depended upon his own resources in the securing of higher academic education, and became a successful and popular factor in the work of the pedagogic profession, to which he devoted his attention for several years. He is a scion of one of the sterling pioneer families of southeastern Missouri and he has well upheld the prestige of the hon- ored name which he bears. Tims there are many points that render most consonant his recognition in this publication — especially on the score of his being at the present time one of the representative business men of the yoiinger generation in Cape Girardeau, where his circle of friends is coincident with tiiat of his acquaintances. Arthur Caswell Bowman was born on a