Pioneer and entryman of East Bend Township, Champaign County, Illinois.

John Devore, son of Mary "Polly" (née Hartsock) and Nicholas Devore, was born in Owen County, Indiana. In 1841, he moved with his parents and siblings to Champaign County, Illinois, where they are counted among the earliest settlers of East Bend Township (and for several years the only settlers there). Like his father and brother Isaac, he was a township entryman, obtaining a patent for Federal land in 1850.

John Devore was married four times—

• First: to Nancy Hammer on 28 November 1845 in Champaign County. Daniel Hammer—probably Nancy's father—consented to the marriage. The couple appear to have had Mary E. and another child who both died in infancy. Nancy died on 7 February 1848.

• Second: to Louisa Jane Cornwell on 16 November 1848 in McLean County, Illinois. Census and cemetery records indicate the couple had five children: George W., Nicholas N., John W., Mary Catherine, and Isaac Henry. Louisa Jane died on 16 August 1861.

• Third: to Miss Charlotte Knell—known as "Lotty"—on 15 January 1862 in Champaign County. The couple were the parents of Horatio W. and Elmer. Charlotte died on 28 January 1865.

• Fourth: to Miss Nancy A. Crull on 15 October 1865 in Champaign County. Six children were born the couple in that county: Clara Amanda, Rolla Oliver, James A., "Ollie" S., Minnie Lurena, and Grace Mabel. The Devore family moved to Kansas in 1886, and settled in Farmington Township, Stafford County, where a seventh child, Glyde W., was born. John Devore died on 7 October 1902 in Macksville, Stafford County. He was survived by Nancy, who passed away in 1924.

Notes

"First Settlers [in East Bend Township]: Franklin Dobson and Lot King in 1837; Nicholas Devore in 1841, his sons, A. J. Devore and John Devore, still live in same [...]" (Milton W. Mathews and Lewis A. McLean, Early History and Pioneers of Champaign County (Urbana, Illinois: Champaign County Herald, 1886), p. 117.)

"[1845 Nov] 28 John Devore to Nancy Hammer | Matthew Johnson J.P. | [returned] December 1, 1845" ("Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2LG-59D : 5 November 2017), John Devore and Nancy Hammer, 1845; citing Champaign, Illinois, United States, county offices, Illinois; FHL microfilm 338,047.) • John Devore's brother, Andrew Jackson Devore married Indiana-born Susanna Veatch, a daughter of Barbara (née Hammer) and James Veatch.

Marriage license: DEVORE, JOHN & CORNWELL, LOUISA JANE, 16 Nov 1848, McLean Co.; vol. B, p. 194. (Illinois State Archives, Illinois Statewide Marriage Index, 1763-1900)

"John Devore of Champaign County Illinois" on 1 Jan 1850 purchased 40 acres of government land in Champaign County, Township 22 North, Range 8 East (now East Bend Township), Section 19. John Devore's father, Nicholas, purchased a total of 160 acres in the same section, beginning in 1848. Brother Isaac Devore in 1849 purchased 40 acres in East Bend Township.

U.S. Bureau of Land Management, "Patent Search," database, General Land Office
Records (http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/search: accessed 18 Nov 2019), entry for John Devore, 1 Jan 1850, Champaign Co., Illinois, 022N - 008E, Section 19, SW¼NE¼, doc. no. 10542.

1850 U.S. Agricultural Schedule, District 21, Champaign Co., Illinois; line 11, p. 417 (written), 25 Sep 1850.
11. John Devore, 40 acres improved, 20 acres unimproved; farm worth $600.

1850 U.S. Census and 1855 Illinois state census: not found.

1860 U.S. Census, Town. 22 North, Range 8 East [East Bend Township], Champaign Co., Illinois; dwelling 911, family 881, lines 21-27, p. 124 (written), 19 Jul 1860.
21. John Devore [head], 36, farmer ($3,500; $1,207), Indiana.
22. Louisa, 32, Kentucky.
23. George, 10, Illinois.
24. Nicholas, 9, Illinois.
25. John, 8, Illinois.
26. Mary, 5, Illinois.
27. Isaac, 8/12, Illinois.
• Note: Brothers Andrew Jackson and Isaac and on same page.

"Illinois Marriages, 1815-1935," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:V2PP-TGL : 10 February 2018), John Devore and Charlotte Knell, 15 Jan 1862; citing Urbana, Champaign, Illinois; FHL microfilm 338,048.
• License and marriage on 15 Jan 1862.

Civil War Draft Registration; 7th Congressional District, East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., Illinois, 25 Jun 1863
2. Devore John | 38 | [white] | [Farmer] | Indiana
3. Devore Andrew J | 36 | [white] | [Farmer] | [Indiana]
• No page numbers; image 187 of 372.

1865 Illinois state census, East Bend Twp., Champaign Co.; p. 10.
[11.] John "Debore."
[12.] A. J. "Debore."
[36.] [Isaac] "Debore."

"Illinois, County Marriages, 1810-1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:X2L5-DPV : 5 November 2017), John Devore and Nancy A Crull, 1865; citing Champaign, Illinois, United States, county offices, Illinois; FHL microfilm 338,048. License dated 13 Oct 1865; marriage on 15 Oct 1865.

1870 U.S. Census, East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., Illinois; dwelling 12, family 12, lines 26-34, p. 115B (printed), p. 2 (written), 8 Jul 1870.
26. Devore, Jno. [head], 45, farmer ($6,000; $1,600), Ind.
27. ----- Nancy, 20, keeping house, Ind..
28. ----- Nicholas, 19, farm labor, Ind.
29. ----- Jno. W., 17, farm labor, Ill.
30. ----- Mary C., 15, at home, Ill.
31. ----- Isaac H., 10, at home, Ill.
32. ----- R. W. [Horatio W.], 7, male, at home, Ill.
33. ----- R. R., 3, male, Ill.
34. ----- Amanda, 1, Ill.
• Note: Brother Isaac on same page.

1880 U.S. Census, E.D. 6, East Bend Twp., Champaign Co., Illinois; dwelling 167, family 169, lines 21-30, p. 131 (printed), p. 19 (written), 18 Jun 1880.
21. "Devare," John, head, 56, farmer, born in Indiana; parents in Ind.
22. ----- Nancy, wife, 30, keeping house, born in Indiana; father in Ohio, mother in Tenn.
23. ----- Henry, 20, son, at home, Illinois.
24. ----- Rash [Horatio W.], 16, son, Illinois.
25. ----- Rolla, 13, son, Illinois.
26. ----- Clara, 10, daughter, Illinois.
27. ----- James, 6, son, Illinois.
28. ----- Alia, 2, daughter, Illinois.
29. ----- Minnie, 7/12, Oct, daughter, Illinois.
30. Crall, "Ratchell," 23, sister-in-law, born in Indiana; father in Ohio, mother in Tenn.
• An unnamed female was born on 25 Oct 1879, according to a county birth registration.

An item regarding the death of H. W. Devore, age 21, son of John Devore, noted that "Mr. Devore has lost by death twelve children, three of whom were young men, and three wives. Surely his cup of sorrow is almost full." ("Fisher," Champaign County Gazette, Champaign, Illinois, 10 Dec 1884, p. 1.)

"John Devore will see his personal property at public sale in about 3 weeks. He and family will start for Kansas about Jan. 1 [1886] where he calculates to settle permanently." ("Fisher," Champaign County Herald, Urbana, Illinois, 18 Nov 1885.)

1895 Kansas state census, Farmington Twp., Stafford Co.; lines 29-32, p. 1, 1 Mar 1895.
29. John Devore, 71, [born in] Indiana, [previously resident in] Illinois, farmer.
30. "M" A. Devore, 43, female, Indiana, Illinois.
31. Walter Wolf, 18, male, Kansas, Kan.
32. M R Devore, 16, female, Illinois, Ills.

1900 U.S. Census, E.D. 296, Farmington Twp., Stafford Co., Kansas; dwellings 111-112, families 112-113, lines 64-67 and 68-72, p. 279B (sheet no. 5), 22 Jun 1900.
64. Devore, John, head, Jun 1824, 75, married 33 years, born in Indiana; father in Kentucky, mother in Virginia; farmer.
65. ----- Nancy, wife, Apr 1851, 49, married 33 years, 2 children (living), born in Indiana; father in Indiana, mother in Tennessee.
66. ----- Grace M., daughter, Aug 1882, 17, Illinois.
67. ----- Glyde, daughter, Feb 1888, 12, Kansas.
68. Devore, James A., head, Nov 1873, 26, married 8 years, born in Illinois; parents in Indiana; farmer.

"John Devore," The Macksville Argus, Macksville, Kansas, 17 Oct 1902, p. 1.

Reportedly had a will.

Although Henry Devore's 1884 marriage record identifies his father as "John L. Devore," the latter is not known to have had a middle name or middle initial.

Reviewed 29 September 2023.