The state chronicle., 1893-04-22
Mai. John DevereuX.
Communicated.

ments to the dead has been justly
held by enlightened men OF all
ages, and of all religions, to be good
and commendable; and although it
has been much abused and the
voiceless marble made to utter
manv falsehood, so as to give some
semblance of Justification to Lord
Byron's savage line,
"Lie like a woman or an epitaph,'
still on the whole the world has
been much the better for the Gus
tom, and many q way yfarer has
taken heart again from reading the |
few words carved in stone to the |
memory Of some good man who had
gone to his rest, leaving behind
him the priceless heritage of one
who lived rot to himself alone.
In like manner, when death re-
mo es from US one distinguished
among his fellows by the possession
of those qualities which go to make
up the measure Of man, it is not
improper that some friend who has
known and loved him, should write
with pen and ink few words to his
memory. For thus, he who has
walked uprightly in the light of a
stainless life, though he be dead,
shall yet speak, and shall strengthen
us and cur children to follow IN his
steps
Major John Devereux was born
December Is, 1919. He was the
| son of Thomas Pollock Devereux.
His mother, before her marriage,
was Miss Catharine Ann johnson,
of Connecticut, Through her he
was the descendant Of Jonathan
Edwards. He was fifth in decent
from Rev Samuel Johnston, the first
! priest who ever held service OF the
English Church in Connecticut. He
united in himself the blood of Cav
alier and Puritan, every strain OF
colonial blood meeting in his veins
except that Of the Huguenots. It
is we'll enough to say this much as
matter of history, though there are
men who have no need of ancestors
Maj. Devereux was one Of these
He was graduated at Yale College
in 1910, being held in high esteem
in class which included many mer
afterwards eminent in letters anc
politics. Soon after his graduation
he married the lady who survives
him, Miss Margaret Moraecai. O
the fifty years of domestic lift
which followed this happy union
it is not within the provinc,
of this sketch to speak; bu
it may not pass the bounds OF gooe
, taste to say that no man whose goot
fortune it was to be admitted upol
, the footing of familiar friend t,
> that home, will ever forget tn
, peaceful charm which pervaded il
or the good and ennobling infu
ences which it cast about all VIII
came within its serene and restfu
, precincts.
/ Up to the time O. the breakin
out of. the war between the State;
Maj Dsvereux employed himself i
d the management of his own and hl
2 fathers estates, bringing to thes
4 important interests ali the qnalitie
Necessary to their proper adIninis
trataon. He was planter, famiiia
with the details Of his business, q
: active mau Of aft .irs, d humane an
8 conscientious master. At the out
It break of the war, the State go,
Il ernment, recognizing his capat
r ity and character, called him t
h duty in the quartermaster's d.
partment at Raleigh. Here be di.
charged the important duties co,
fded to him with the same abili,
j. and faithfulness which marked hil
J. iu all the relations of his life.
Is the Incidental military rank ,
d Major which attended this position
D. he owed the title by which h
D. friends in later years called hir
N but so utterly averse wes he to an,
g. thing Of the nature of 'trappin
o pomp or circumstance" that if
IS had commanded troops in the fel
ts it would have been difficult to j,
" duce him to wear uniform.
9 The disastrous end Of the war il
ss volved him in the general rui
'e "but as prosperity could not elat
at so neither did adversely depress
t. calm and constant spirit" He s
ar himself to work atsuch employees
r. IS offered itself, to earn livelihoe
al for his large family.
" From that time to the day VIII.
le he entered into his rest, bis dai
Il walk and conversation are known
ID all men, and few will fail to reme1
as ber his familiar figure among t.
y business men On our streets. r
short stature, which neverthele
never gave the impression of sm.
man; the careless, but scrup ulous
neat dress; the fine, manly, eu
he burned, clean shaven face; the Gle,
10 truthful, kindly eye; the qui
n speech whose pure English W
I'd never marred by slang or vulgari
m But it is with the inner man Il
"a these lines are chiefly concerned.
an is not too much to say tbat s. 81
es Devereux was an extraordinary 10
he though SO averse was he 10 |
as ing conspicuous, SO indiffere
rs to applause, that few peo,
~ who did not know him W
- had any knowledge of his fine