The Devault Families of Madison County, Iowa

HENRY FELKNER DEVAULT.

fine farm on section 29, Jackson township, is the property of Henry Felkner Devault and yields him good crops annually in return for his care and labor. Mr Devault was born in Kosciusko county, Indiana, on the 22d of December, 1837, a son of Charles and Rachel (Felkner) Devault, both of whom were natives of Ohio, the former born near Chillicothe, in Ross county, and the latter in Columbus. They are buried in the Solon cemetery near the town of Solon in Johnson county, Iowa. More detailed mention of them is made on another page of this volume.

Henry F. Devault acquired his early education in the district schools of Johnson county, Iowa. For some time he pursued his studies in a primitive log

Lie LISK'ARY a. LENOX AND '-N FOUNDATION.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CHARLES H. DEVAULT, Sr.

There are many highly successful and progressive agriculturists in Madison county and among them is Charles H. Devault, who has owned and operated four hundred and forty acres in Penn township for twenty-three years. He was born in Johnson county, this state, on the loth of September, 1850, a son of Charles and Rachel (Felkner) Devault, natives of Ohio. In i8_ii the father removed to Johnson county and entered land at a dollar and a quarter per acre, upon which the family home was established. He operated his farm during the remainder of his life, dying on the 25th of May, 1883. He was survived for almost two decades by his wife, whose death occurred on the 28th of February, 1902.

Charles H. Devault was reared in Johnson county and after attending the public schools of that county and of Iowa City he became a student at Cornell College, Mount Wernon, Iowa. He remained with his parents until he was of age and was then given one hundred acres of his father's land, which he operated for about five years. He then sold the place and bought land in Linn county, which he farmer for eleven years. On selling that place he came to Madison county and purchased one hundred and sixty acres on section 33, Pemi township, which he began improving immediately. Subsequently he added more land, making his aggregate holdings four hundred and forty acres, which he has developed and cultivated for twenty-three years. The land is in a high state of cultivation, the fences are durable and the buildings are all well designed and commodious. In the cultivation of the land and the care of his crops he uses practical methods of agriculture and the latest improved machinery. He raises partly thoroughbred stock, specializing in Chester White hogs, and is a prominent stockman of his township.

On the 5th of April, i88[, occurred the marriage of Mr. Devault and Miss Minerva Jane Fuhrmeister, a daughter of Charles and Emeline (Stream) Fuhrmeister, the former born in Germany and the latter in Licking county, Ohio. When but nine years of age the father was brought by his parents to.America and in 1843 they located in Johnson county, Iowa, where he grew to manhood and devoted his entire life to the operation of a farm. He passed away on the 24th of March, 1885, and his widow was called to her last rest on the loth of January, 1909. Mr. and Mrs. Devault have become the parents of five children: Orange J., who is farming land belonging to his father in Penn township and is serving as assessor of that township; Albert, who was married Easter Sunday, April 4, 191 5, to Miss Hazel Patterson, a daughter of Charles and Martha Patterson, of Prairie City, Jasper county, Iowa, and is now living on one of his father's farms; Martha M., who died on the 28th of February, 1913; Charles Clarence, a farmer of Penn township; and Olive Ruth, at home.

Mr. Devault is a democrat and for several years was trustee and assessor of his township. He belongs to the Odd Fellows lodge and to the Methodist church, associations which indicate the moral principles which govern his life. In addition to his valuable farm he has other interests, as he is a stockholder in the Citizens State Bank of Earlham. He is one of the well-to-do and representative citizens of his township and his influence has been felt not only in agricultural circles but in political, social and civic affairs.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JASPER S. DEVAULT.

Among those who have made a valuable contribution to the agricultural prosperity of this county is Jasper S. Devault, a farmer living on section 9, Jackson township. He is a native of Johnson county, this state, born in 1857, of the marriage of Jonathan and Malinda (Stevenson) Devault. The father was born in Kosciusko county, Indiana, in 1822, and the mother in the same county two years later. Mr. Devault farmer for a time in his native state after arriving at years of maturity, but in 1850 went to California by way of New York and the water route. He was there for four years, and in addition to working a place mine owned about thirty dairy cows, which he pastured in the valley, selling the milk to the miners and transporting it to the camps on burrows. In 1854 he returned to Indiana with considerable gold, but after remaining in the Hoosier state for a short time went to Johnson county, Iowa, removing his household effects in an old inch-pin wagon. The Mississippi was crossed on the ice. He homesteaded land in Johnson county and became one of its leading pioneer citizens. He was school director there for many years, and both he and his wife were active in the prohibition ranks, although in his early manhood he was a democrat. He owned about four hundred acres of land in Johnson county and followed general farming successfully. Subsequently he removed to this county, settling in Penn township, and acquired four hundred and eighty acres of land here. He passed away upon his farm in 1897 and was survived by his wife until 1910. To them were born eight children, four of whom are living in this county. Our subject is a twin to Sarah Jane, who is living upon the home farm with her brother John.

jasper S. Devault was given better educational advantages than fall to the lot of the average boy, as he was a student in Cornell College at iNIount Vernon. When twenty-one years of age his father gave him his "time" and he began shocking corn. The following spring he commenced farming for himself upon land belonging to his father in Penn township. After seven years, or on the 13th of March, 1886, he took uj) his residence on an eighty-acre tract in Jackson township, which he owned. He has since lived there and has added to his farm as his resources have increased, and now holds title to three hundred and twenty acres of land. He raises pjlack Angus cattle for commercial purposes, and also raises, feeds and ships hogs. He finds that his farm work leaves him little time for outside interests, but he feels that he is rewarded for his labors in the good financial return that he derives from his farm and also vahies the independence of farm life.

On the 9th of April, 1882, Mr. Devault married Miss ilattie Rowe, who was born in German township, Holmes county, Ohio, and is a daughter of Andrew and Susan (Sheneman) Rowe, the former born in Tuscarawas county, Ohio, in 1815, and the latter's birth occurring on the 21st of September, 1812. Both the Rowe and Sheneman families removed from Cumberland, Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, to Holmes county, Ohio, at a time when there were many Indians in that section. Henry Sheneman, the grandfather of Mrs. Devault, was a soldier in the War of 181 2. Mr. Rowe became the owner of one hundred and twenty acres of land which his father preempted from the government in Holmes county, and continued to operate his farm until his demise, which occurred in 1863. He was proud of his German descent and manifested those excellent traits of character that have made the German-Americans such a valuable factor in the life of this country. He took quite an active part in public affairs and was especially interested in the welfare of the public schools, serving for some time as school director. His wife died on the 24th of February, 1884. They were the parents of ten children, of whom Mrs. Devault is the youngest. She attended the district schools near her home and later was a student in Shanesville College at Shanesville, Ohio. She taught school first in the country and later in Baltic, Ohio, specializing in German and English. From the age of seventeen to the present time she has been a Sunday school and church worker. In her girlhood she was a member of the German Reformed church but now belongs to the United Presbyterian church. To Mr, and Mrs. Devault have been born two children. Arthur C, whose natal day was the 9th of February, 1883, is a farmer of Scotland, South Dakota. He was given fine educational advantages, as he attended both the Dexter Normal and the Iowa State Normal at Cedar Falls. He taught school for a time but decided that farming would be more congenial and profitable. He married Miss Isa M. Banker and they have a son, Franz B. Jonathan Clift'ord Rowe, who was born November 29, 1892, is operating a portion of his father's farm. He was married February 24, 1915, to Miss Bessie Fife, a native of Winterset, Iowa.

Mr. Devault is a democrat in his political belief, and fraternally is connected with the Masonic lodge of Earlham. He was a member of the Pitzer lodge until it surrendered its charter, and held the offices of junior warden and senior warden. His life has been guided by honorable principles and he has not only won a fair measure of material success but has also gained the unqualified respect of his fellow citizens.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.