DEVOS, William H.,
State senator from the Sixth senatorial district, is a native of Milwaukee, though of Holland ancestry, his father coming to America from Holland in 1844, and to Milwaukee the following year, when but twenty-three years of age. Wm. H. Devos was educated in the public schools of Milwaukee and in the Spencerian Business College. After leaving school he became manager of his father's business, and continued in that capacity until 1895, when the business was closed out, and Mr. Devos formed a co-partnership with E. F. Whitnall, and embarked in the business of handling coal and building material, and this the firm is still carrying on. In the spring of 1894 Mr. Devos was nominated by the Republicans of the Ninth Ward for alderman, and elected by a handsome majority. In the spring of 1896 he was renominated, but failed of re-election. In the fall of 1896 he received the republican nomination for state senator in the Sixth senatorial district, comprising the Ninth, Tenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth wards, and was elected by a plurality of 1883 over Mr. Hotellet, his fusion opponent. Mr. Devos, though a young man and new to the business of legislation, has made a creditable record in the senate. Attentive, Page 306 [image: WILLIAM H. DEVOS] alert, having a proper regard for the duties and responsibilities of his position, realizing that the first duty of a law-maker is a careful study of the principles upon which all law should be based, and a familiarity with the subjects involved. He is in the way to become a useful and conservative legislator.
Men of Progress. Wisconsin. (pages 285-316) A selected list of biographical sketches and portraits of the leaders in business, professional and official life. Together with short notes on the history and character of Wisconsin.
William H. Devos, Collector of Customs at Milwaukee, was born in that city on Nov. 19, 1857, being the son of John J.W. and Sarah (Breen) Devos, natives of Holland, where the father was born in 1821 (died in Milwaukee in 1906) and the mother in 1829 (died in Milwaukee in 1905). The father was a carpenter by trade, coming to the United States in 1844 and to Milwaukee in 1845, and here he has followed his calling for several years. In 1855 he was elected a member of the Common Council for the Ninth ward, as a Democrat, and was re-elected in 1859, but he resigned in 1860 to go to Dodge county, Wis., where he owned and operated a large saw-mill and farm. In 1865 he returned to Milwaukee and purchased an interest in a wood and coal business, which he soon disposed of on account of his health. In 1868 he went into the milling business, and this he continued until 1895, when he disposed of his holdings and retired to private life. The name of the paternal grandfather was Voss, and he and his people were natives of Germany, but owing to his dislike of being compelled to render service in the German army he expatriated himself, and settling in Holland he took the name of Devos, which the family still retains. Our subject was educated in the public schools of Milwaukee and graduated in the Spencerian Business College of that city. Soon after his graduation he began assisting in the management of his father's enterprises, and this he continued to do until his father retired in 1895. In that year he engaged in the coal and building material business with Edward P. Whithall, and in 1905 the firm was consolidated with the Penn Coal and Supply Company. On Nov. 10, 1879, Mr. Devos married Miss Susan N., daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Bril) Van Peenen, who were natives of Holland, and who came to the United States in 1854. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Devos has been blessed with four children, as follows: Sarah S., wife of William Vandalu, born in 1880; John A., born in 1882; Arthur W., born in 1886, and Antoinette, born in 1890. In 1894 Mr. Devos was elected a member of the Common Council from the Ninth ward, as a Republican, it being the same position which his father had filled as a Democrat from the same war, nearly forty years before. He was renominated for the position in the spring of 1896, but was defeated. In the fall of 1896 he was elected state senator representing the Sixth district, and was re-elected in 1900. In December 1901, after serving during one session of his second term, he resigned the senatorship to accept the position of Collector of Customs at Milwaukee, to which he had been appointed by the President. Hon. William H. Devos is a gentleman of active, nervous temperament, and whatever he undertakes he does to the utmost of his abilities, which are of a high order. This is strikingly evidenced in his administration of the position which he now fills. When he assumed charge of the office in 1902 he found that many local merchants were entering their goods at seaboard cities and paying the duties there. At once he began a systematic training of importers to have their goods shipped to Milwaukee and to have the duties paid there. What was the result? The receipts of the local customs office increased from $420,000 in 1902 when Mr. Devos took office, to over $800,000 in 1907, nearly doubling the income of the office. So it is thus again strongly shown that it makes a difference who conducts an office, for man differs from man as star differs from star. One man administers his office energetically, treating it as a sacred trust given him by the people, while another treats it as a private snap and goes to sleep on the job. In religion Mr. Devos is a Presbyterian, and he is also a Mason and a member of the Knights Templar. He is held in high esteem by all who know him, and he is a gentleman who is deeply devoted to the upbuilding of the city of his birth.
Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 2, pp. 517-518
State senator from the Sixth senatorial district, is a native of Milwaukee, though of Holland ancestry, his father coming to America from Holland in 1844, and to Milwaukee the following year, when but twenty-three years of age. Wm. H. Devos was educated in the public schools of Milwaukee and in the Spencerian Business College. After leaving school he became manager of his father's business, and continued in that capacity until 1895, when the business was closed out, and Mr. Devos formed a co-partnership with E. F. Whitnall, and embarked in the business of handling coal and building material, and this the firm is still carrying on. In the spring of 1894 Mr. Devos was nominated by the Republicans of the Ninth Ward for alderman, and elected by a handsome majority. In the spring of 1896 he was renominated, but failed of re-election. In the fall of 1896 he received the republican nomination for state senator in the Sixth senatorial district, comprising the Ninth, Tenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth wards, and was elected by a plurality of 1883 over Mr. Hotellet, his fusion opponent. Mr. Devos, though a young man and new to the business of legislation, has made a creditable record in the senate. Attentive, Page 306 [image: WILLIAM H. DEVOS] alert, having a proper regard for the duties and responsibilities of his position, realizing that the first duty of a law-maker is a careful study of the principles upon which all law should be based, and a familiarity with the subjects involved. He is in the way to become a useful and conservative legislator.
Men of Progress. Wisconsin. (pages 285-316) A selected list of biographical sketches and portraits of the leaders in business, professional and official life. Together with short notes on the history and character of Wisconsin.
William H. Devos, Collector of Customs at Milwaukee, was born in that city on Nov. 19, 1857, being the son of John J.W. and Sarah (Breen) Devos, natives of Holland, where the father was born in 1821 (died in Milwaukee in 1906) and the mother in 1829 (died in Milwaukee in 1905). The father was a carpenter by trade, coming to the United States in 1844 and to Milwaukee in 1845, and here he has followed his calling for several years. In 1855 he was elected a member of the Common Council for the Ninth ward, as a Democrat, and was re-elected in 1859, but he resigned in 1860 to go to Dodge county, Wis., where he owned and operated a large saw-mill and farm. In 1865 he returned to Milwaukee and purchased an interest in a wood and coal business, which he soon disposed of on account of his health. In 1868 he went into the milling business, and this he continued until 1895, when he disposed of his holdings and retired to private life. The name of the paternal grandfather was Voss, and he and his people were natives of Germany, but owing to his dislike of being compelled to render service in the German army he expatriated himself, and settling in Holland he took the name of Devos, which the family still retains. Our subject was educated in the public schools of Milwaukee and graduated in the Spencerian Business College of that city. Soon after his graduation he began assisting in the management of his father's enterprises, and this he continued to do until his father retired in 1895. In that year he engaged in the coal and building material business with Edward P. Whithall, and in 1905 the firm was consolidated with the Penn Coal and Supply Company. On Nov. 10, 1879, Mr. Devos married Miss Susan N., daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Bril) Van Peenen, who were natives of Holland, and who came to the United States in 1854. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Devos has been blessed with four children, as follows: Sarah S., wife of William Vandalu, born in 1880; John A., born in 1882; Arthur W., born in 1886, and Antoinette, born in 1890. In 1894 Mr. Devos was elected a member of the Common Council from the Ninth ward, as a Republican, it being the same position which his father had filled as a Democrat from the same war, nearly forty years before. He was renominated for the position in the spring of 1896, but was defeated. In the fall of 1896 he was elected state senator representing the Sixth district, and was re-elected in 1900. In December 1901, after serving during one session of his second term, he resigned the senatorship to accept the position of Collector of Customs at Milwaukee, to which he had been appointed by the President. Hon. William H. Devos is a gentleman of active, nervous temperament, and whatever he undertakes he does to the utmost of his abilities, which are of a high order. This is strikingly evidenced in his administration of the position which he now fills. When he assumed charge of the office in 1902 he found that many local merchants were entering their goods at seaboard cities and paying the duties there. At once he began a systematic training of importers to have their goods shipped to Milwaukee and to have the duties paid there. What was the result? The receipts of the local customs office increased from $420,000 in 1902 when Mr. Devos took office, to over $800,000 in 1907, nearly doubling the income of the office. So it is thus again strongly shown that it makes a difference who conducts an office, for man differs from man as star differs from star. One man administers his office energetically, treating it as a sacred trust given him by the people, while another treats it as a private snap and goes to sleep on the job. In religion Mr. Devos is a Presbyterian, and he is also a Mason and a member of the Knights Templar. He is held in high esteem by all who know him, and he is a gentleman who is deeply devoted to the upbuilding of the city of his birth.
Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 2, pp. 517-518
DEVOS, William H.,
State senator from the Sixth senatorial district, is a native of Milwaukee, though of Holland ancestry, his father coming to America from Holland in 1844, and to Milwaukee the following year, when but twenty-three years of age. Wm. H. Devos was educated in the public schools of Milwaukee and in the Spencerian Business College. After leaving school he became manager of his father's business, and continued in that capacity until 1895, when the business was closed out, and Mr. Devos formed a co-partnership with E. F. Whitnall, and embarked in the business of handling coal and building material, and this the firm is still carrying on. In the spring of 1894 Mr. Devos was nominated by the Republicans of the Ninth Ward for alderman, and elected by a handsome majority. In the spring of 1896 he was renominated, but failed of re-election. In the fall of 1896 he received the republican nomination for state senator in the Sixth senatorial district, comprising the Ninth, Tenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth wards, and was elected by a plurality of 1883 over Mr. Hotellet, his fusion opponent. Mr. Devos, though a young man and new to the business of legislation, has made a creditable record in the senate. Attentive, Page 306 [image: WILLIAM H. DEVOS] alert, having a proper regard for the duties and responsibilities of his position, realizing that the first duty of a law-maker is a careful study of the principles upon which all law should be based, and a familiarity with the subjects involved. He is in the way to become a useful and conservative legislator.
Men of Progress. Wisconsin. (pages 285-316) A selected list of biographical sketches and portraits of the leaders in business, professional and official life. Together with short notes on the history and character of Wisconsin.
William H. Devos, Collector of Customs at Milwaukee, was born in that city on Nov. 19, 1857, being the son of John J.W. and Sarah (Breen) Devos, natives of Holland, where the father was born in 1821 (died in Milwaukee in 1906) and the mother in 1829 (died in Milwaukee in 1905). The father was a carpenter by trade, coming to the United States in 1844 and to Milwaukee in 1845, and here he has followed his calling for several years. In 1855 he was elected a member of the Common Council for the Ninth ward, as a Democrat, and was re-elected in 1859, but he resigned in 1860 to go to Dodge county, Wis., where he owned and operated a large saw-mill and farm. In 1865 he returned to Milwaukee and purchased an interest in a wood and coal business, which he soon disposed of on account of his health. In 1868 he went into the milling business, and this he continued until 1895, when he disposed of his holdings and retired to private life. The name of the paternal grandfather was Voss, and he and his people were natives of Germany, but owing to his dislike of being compelled to render service in the German army he expatriated himself, and settling in Holland he took the name of Devos, which the family still retains. Our subject was educated in the public schools of Milwaukee and graduated in the Spencerian Business College of that city. Soon after his graduation he began assisting in the management of his father's enterprises, and this he continued to do until his father retired in 1895. In that year he engaged in the coal and building material business with Edward P. Whithall, and in 1905 the firm was consolidated with the Penn Coal and Supply Company. On Nov. 10, 1879, Mr. Devos married Miss Susan N., daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Bril) Van Peenen, who were natives of Holland, and who came to the United States in 1854. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Devos has been blessed with four children, as follows: Sarah S., wife of William Vandalu, born in 1880; John A., born in 1882; Arthur W., born in 1886, and Antoinette, born in 1890. In 1894 Mr. Devos was elected a member of the Common Council from the Ninth ward, as a Republican, it being the same position which his father had filled as a Democrat from the same war, nearly forty years before. He was renominated for the position in the spring of 1896, but was defeated. In the fall of 1896 he was elected state senator representing the Sixth district, and was re-elected in 1900. In December 1901, after serving during one session of his second term, he resigned the senatorship to accept the position of Collector of Customs at Milwaukee, to which he had been appointed by the President. Hon. William H. Devos is a gentleman of active, nervous temperament, and whatever he undertakes he does to the utmost of his abilities, which are of a high order. This is strikingly evidenced in his administration of the position which he now fills. When he assumed charge of the office in 1902 he found that many local merchants were entering their goods at seaboard cities and paying the duties there. At once he began a systematic training of importers to have their goods shipped to Milwaukee and to have the duties paid there. What was the result? The receipts of the local customs office increased from $420,000 in 1902 when Mr. Devos took office, to over $800,000 in 1907, nearly doubling the income of the office. So it is thus again strongly shown that it makes a difference who conducts an office, for man differs from man as star differs from star. One man administers his office energetically, treating it as a sacred trust given him by the people, while another treats it as a private snap and goes to sleep on the job. In religion Mr. Devos is a Presbyterian, and he is also a Mason and a member of the Knights Templar. He is held in high esteem by all who know him, and he is a gentleman who is deeply devoted to the upbuilding of the city of his birth.
Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 2, pp. 517-518
State senator from the Sixth senatorial district, is a native of Milwaukee, though of Holland ancestry, his father coming to America from Holland in 1844, and to Milwaukee the following year, when but twenty-three years of age. Wm. H. Devos was educated in the public schools of Milwaukee and in the Spencerian Business College. After leaving school he became manager of his father's business, and continued in that capacity until 1895, when the business was closed out, and Mr. Devos formed a co-partnership with E. F. Whitnall, and embarked in the business of handling coal and building material, and this the firm is still carrying on. In the spring of 1894 Mr. Devos was nominated by the Republicans of the Ninth Ward for alderman, and elected by a handsome majority. In the spring of 1896 he was renominated, but failed of re-election. In the fall of 1896 he received the republican nomination for state senator in the Sixth senatorial district, comprising the Ninth, Tenth, Nineteenth and Twentieth wards, and was elected by a plurality of 1883 over Mr. Hotellet, his fusion opponent. Mr. Devos, though a young man and new to the business of legislation, has made a creditable record in the senate. Attentive, Page 306 [image: WILLIAM H. DEVOS] alert, having a proper regard for the duties and responsibilities of his position, realizing that the first duty of a law-maker is a careful study of the principles upon which all law should be based, and a familiarity with the subjects involved. He is in the way to become a useful and conservative legislator.
Men of Progress. Wisconsin. (pages 285-316) A selected list of biographical sketches and portraits of the leaders in business, professional and official life. Together with short notes on the history and character of Wisconsin.
William H. Devos, Collector of Customs at Milwaukee, was born in that city on Nov. 19, 1857, being the son of John J.W. and Sarah (Breen) Devos, natives of Holland, where the father was born in 1821 (died in Milwaukee in 1906) and the mother in 1829 (died in Milwaukee in 1905). The father was a carpenter by trade, coming to the United States in 1844 and to Milwaukee in 1845, and here he has followed his calling for several years. In 1855 he was elected a member of the Common Council for the Ninth ward, as a Democrat, and was re-elected in 1859, but he resigned in 1860 to go to Dodge county, Wis., where he owned and operated a large saw-mill and farm. In 1865 he returned to Milwaukee and purchased an interest in a wood and coal business, which he soon disposed of on account of his health. In 1868 he went into the milling business, and this he continued until 1895, when he disposed of his holdings and retired to private life. The name of the paternal grandfather was Voss, and he and his people were natives of Germany, but owing to his dislike of being compelled to render service in the German army he expatriated himself, and settling in Holland he took the name of Devos, which the family still retains. Our subject was educated in the public schools of Milwaukee and graduated in the Spencerian Business College of that city. Soon after his graduation he began assisting in the management of his father's enterprises, and this he continued to do until his father retired in 1895. In that year he engaged in the coal and building material business with Edward P. Whithall, and in 1905 the firm was consolidated with the Penn Coal and Supply Company. On Nov. 10, 1879, Mr. Devos married Miss Susan N., daughter of Abraham and Sarah (Bril) Van Peenen, who were natives of Holland, and who came to the United States in 1854. The union of Mr. and Mrs. Devos has been blessed with four children, as follows: Sarah S., wife of William Vandalu, born in 1880; John A., born in 1882; Arthur W., born in 1886, and Antoinette, born in 1890. In 1894 Mr. Devos was elected a member of the Common Council from the Ninth ward, as a Republican, it being the same position which his father had filled as a Democrat from the same war, nearly forty years before. He was renominated for the position in the spring of 1896, but was defeated. In the fall of 1896 he was elected state senator representing the Sixth district, and was re-elected in 1900. In December 1901, after serving during one session of his second term, he resigned the senatorship to accept the position of Collector of Customs at Milwaukee, to which he had been appointed by the President. Hon. William H. Devos is a gentleman of active, nervous temperament, and whatever he undertakes he does to the utmost of his abilities, which are of a high order. This is strikingly evidenced in his administration of the position which he now fills. When he assumed charge of the office in 1902 he found that many local merchants were entering their goods at seaboard cities and paying the duties there. At once he began a systematic training of importers to have their goods shipped to Milwaukee and to have the duties paid there. What was the result? The receipts of the local customs office increased from $420,000 in 1902 when Mr. Devos took office, to over $800,000 in 1907, nearly doubling the income of the office. So it is thus again strongly shown that it makes a difference who conducts an office, for man differs from man as star differs from star. One man administers his office energetically, treating it as a sacred trust given him by the people, while another treats it as a private snap and goes to sleep on the job. In religion Mr. Devos is a Presbyterian, and he is also a Mason and a member of the Knights Templar. He is held in high esteem by all who know him, and he is a gentleman who is deeply devoted to the upbuilding of the city of his birth.
Memoirs of Milwaukee County, Volume 2, pp. 517-518
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