Kentucky Irish American. (Louisville, Ky.) 1898-1968, 1914-08-22
Nicholas Devcreux, Practical
Catholic and Progressive
Irish American.
Sterling Honesty and Remark
able Business Ability Won
Great Wealth.
HELPED The AMERICAN COLLEGE
BY James A. Rooney. LII. D.

BY James A. Rooney, LII. ID.
1t was a very unusual thing in the
early SOS for an Irish Catholic to
amass a fortune, but Nicholas
Devereux, of Utica, N. Y, was a very
unusual man in more respects than
his sterling honesty and re-
markable business ability which won
him vast wealth. He was, first of all,
a thorough practical Catholic, a cul-
tured, progressive Irish-American,
with pride in his faith and his father
land that was translated into prompt
action when occasion presented. His
other most conspicuous Characteristic
was his open-handed and spon-
taneous generosity in his support of
everything Catholic.
Among his most memorable bene-
factions was donation of $4,000
and 200 acres of land at Allegany, in
the diocese of Buffalo, for the
foundation of a Franciscan monas-
terry, seminary and college under the
patronage of st. Bonaventure, the
cornerstone of which was laid by
Bishop Timon, of Buffalo, August 30,
1856, though he did not live to wit
ness the ceremony, as he died
December 20, of the previous year.
AS a nucleus of the magnificent
institution, which is a monument to
his zeal and generosity, he brought
over from Ireland with him in 1854
six Franciscan Fathers, to whom he
presented the money and the land
and who began work on the founda-
ton with the accustomed vigor. of
that order. Mr.. Devereux died while
the operations were under way and
it was after his death that the cor
nerstone was laid of the first
building, Doric Corinthian struc-
ture. Bishop Timon officiated, as
sisted by Bishop Loughlin, of Brook
Ign, and 1000 spectators we're pres
ent. The occasion was given a civic
aspect by the attendance of a large
detachment of the Sixty-fourth Reg
iment of militia and Lieut.. S. B.
Seward.
This was the beginning of the
splendid group of buildings of today
and the great regret was that the
generous founder was not there to
participate in the rejoicings. Yet
the man who made all this possible
began life as a poor boy. Mr..
Devereux was born in Enniscorthy,
Ireland, juno Z, 1871, and came to
America so poor that when he put
gold coin on the plate in Old st.
Peters church, Barclay street, New
York, the Sunday after his arrival,
in 1906, he had but two others left.
His destination was Utica, where his
brother, John c., had already estab-
lished himself in business. In a few
years they jointly founded the Utica
Savings Bank, and all his other un-
dertakings prospered. He invested
in 100000 acres of fertile land in
Allegheny and Cattaraugus counties
and established there an Irish settle
ment.
In the founding of the North
American College in Rome Mr..
Devereux took the initiative, for he
give $1,000 each for the establish
ment of seminary in the Eternal
City for the education of American
priests. After his death his widow
followed out his wishes in this re-
spect and the result was the opening
of the American College by Plus TX.
in Rome In 1859.
Mr.. Devereux was not above teach
ing class in the Sunday-school of
st. Johns church. Utica, and the
prize he gave to his best scholars
was copy of the New Testament,
for he was such lover of the Sacred
Scriptures that he had an edition of
the New Testament printed at his
own expense.
Mr.. Devereux married Mary d.
Butler in 1917 and two children
blessed the union. His daughter
Hannah became the wife of the late
United States Senator Francis Ker-
nan, and his daughter Mary entered
the order of the Sisters of Mercy in
Houston street, New York, where
she was known in religion as Mother
Mary Joseph.