New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-02-03
OBITUARY.
COIONFJ. THOMAS F. DEvOE

The funeral Will take place tomorrow ~ the house,
at 5 D. M. The burial will be al lohhcfs on FRIDAY.
Colonel Devoe belonged TO tha' typical class OF
native New-Yorkers now passing away who, following
the policy of Dewitt Clinton, have maze New-fork
what il is today lie personal friend of Peter
coonsr and WAS much associated with him. Andrew II.
cra.r and Allan Campbell in public affairs II has
.ar ad that these four have done more to direct
tho interests OF the city in the right way during the
Last thirty years than all It's pubic boards and the
,.o.,aturcS Mr.. DevOe was essentially q Ninth
Vorder Of the old American type lie lived there for
more than fifty years. from the time OF its village days
u,n his DEATH His erect and stawart figure
n known in the streets of the ward forty years ago.
and during that interval has been associated with
~ the great public NOV ementS in the city.
lie was born in NOnkerS on March II, 1871. where
his father John Dcvoe had farm, short distance
from, what is now Woodlawn Cemetery. The Devoe
or De veaux family Of Iuguenot origin. In the
latter part Of the sixteenth century the family removed
from France to Holland. and it's progenitor emgrated
N America and settled in Harlem during the Dutch
occupation. In 1915 the father Of Thomas +. Devoe
moved down into the city from ionkers and engaged
in The grocery business. Thomas received an oIdi-
nary schooling ard was employed in the grocery bust
ness for several years at Church and White Sts with
an uncle Isaac Brown. Then he was apprenticed
a butcher To Joseph iill in Washington Market. In
1888 at the age Of twenty-five, he opened stand in
Jefferson Market and began business there for himself
He continued this business successfully until he finally
retired in 1876 At the time Mr.. Devoe began bust
ness, nearly sixty years Jefferson Market was an
uptown venture that regarded with some question
bv conservative persons. Tile city In the neighbor
hood consisted of scattered suburban cottages. In
sixthave few years later. back of what is now AT
mans dry-goods house. Mr.. Devoe built large
slaughter house out in the midst OF big field. Mr..
Toneys garden covered the block opposite what
is now Macy's, at Fourteenthst. and SiNtllave. The
avenue then only country lane with rail fences
on either side. and focks of sheep and lambs were
natured along the road in in the vicinity OF the
saughterhouse.
Colonel Devoes public life began when as a lad OF
eighteen he Joined the 149th Regiment in the city
His executive qualities led to his election as an ON
Ger. and in 1880 he assigned TO the 269th hegi-
ment colonel, and directed to reorganize IT, This
he did effectively that when the Mexican War broke
out Colonel Devoe and his regiment responded to the
Government call for volunteers and reported for ac-
tive service The early termination Of the war pre-
vented their participation. Under new law ius
regiment reorganzed, and he was elected 10 the
command OF the sh Regiment, Washington Grays
He continued his services until his resignation In
1854. General Winfield Scott lived for a number Of
years IN West Eleventhst, and he and Colonel Devoe
were warm friends. 1t familiar sight OF
morning to the Ninth Ward residents Of that day to
see the massive figure Of the veteran general enter
Jefferson Market with his martial tread like one Of
Dumass titanic muSketeers, seat himself on high
stool which afforded convenient rest and discuss for
an hour with the colonel the civic and military events
Of the day.
When the Rebellion broke out. Colonel Devoe, al
though beyond the age for bearing arms offered his
services to Governor Morgan in any capacity where
he could be Of use, and the Governor responded in
fitting Terms TO Mr. Devoe's sincere patriotism. About
the same time Mr.. Devoe proposed to the Board Of
Education plan for military instruction in the public
schools. This was fsvoraby considered. but was
carried out In 1864 Colonel Devoe was one Of
the active organizers Of the fair for the Metropolitan
Sanitary Commission which was held in the 22d Reg
rnent Armory at Fourteenthst. and SiXth-ave. Not
satisfied with these efforts ne erected opposict the
srmory large building where he received gifts u
horses cattle and all livestock, and directed their sale
for the benefit Of the fair. This great success
The great white OK, "The Pride OF Livingston" here
became famous. 1t weighed nearly 1000 pounds.
The ladies Of Livingston County purchased the for
q OO0 and Colonel Devoe sold it for the benefit OF
the Sentary Commission Colonel Devoe received
handsome acknowled gment from the ladies' for his
service.
The most valuable service which Mr.. Devoe rem
dered the city his aid after the breaking up
of the Tweed ring In recognizing the city markets 1t
was Herculean task-a vertabe cleansing Of the
Augean stables. His friend Andrew II. Green, who
had been appointed Controller, saw the need Of
practsal, incorruptibe officer in reoreanizing the
markets, and he knew Of who united these quail
ues with the requisite experience Of Colonel Devoe.
AS it would involve the sacrifice Of his business TO take
the place. Mr.. DevOe hcsitated for time lie finally
accepted the place Of Superintendent Of Markets on the
urgent solicitation Of the SHAREHOLDERS and of many
prominent citizens, and up his own business ell
trely The corruption that existed in this department
at that time was perhaps than in any portion Of
the city government The most open bribery pre-
vailed. The market structures in dDapdated
condition. and small army Of clerks and super
numerares fastened the SHAREHOLDERS like
leeches, and drew from them and the city every dollar
they could reach. The legal fee for transferring a
stand was 81 49, but 1t common for stand pro-
prietor to be forced TO pay 800, high as
$1,000 in order to retain Is stand system Of black
mail and highway robbery vogue that only those
familiar with its complications could understand. Mr.
Devoe found that he had undertaken great contract
when he attempted this reform, but his recognized
peTience determination and sterling prOby stood him
well.
Shortly after his appointment he began to be the
recipient daily OF little remembIances such a barrel
Of choice apples, select fruit, fine turkey some
rare game. circular which he promptly issued as
me superintendent OF Markets put stop 70 TINS lie
simply gave notice that he woud revoke the license OF
any stakeholder who sent him such gifts. His ad
When Mr. Green left the oficc of Controller In 1876
Mr.. Devoe resigned, but subsequently when Allan
Ssnp6ei became Controller he rcappointed him. and
For more than forty years Mr. Devoe lived in his
leisure OF years ne had devoted much attention
2 collecting historical matter relating 10 New-York
history. His library Is said 10 be one Of the
complete I'm the city in its data OF the local history
q this century, and it Will he a valuable mine for
The future historian. lie had read many important
papers before the NewY York Historical soc :iy and
other societies. and in 1852 he published the first
volume Of The Market Book" containing q full
record OF the New-YOrk markets. In 1867 he pub.
llshed "19e Market Assistant" which gave an account
~ every article OF human food sold 10 this country
lie also collected and compiled a history Of tile
"GeIalogy OF the De Veaux Family" which
history a
district in Normandy, France, in the year TAO. Since
then the family has been scattered throughout France
Germany and America, and II has been allied by
marriage TO several of the eigning families Of Europe
While not rich man, Mr. DevOe acquired com
petence that enabled him to live m0destiy and in
dependently. lie man Of domestic habits, and
Ids wife has been his constant companion. She and
iran t,ro m