THE DEVEREAUX FAMILY
Among the early setters of Utica, N. Y., were John C. and Nicholas Devereux, sons of Thomas and Catherine (Corish) Devereux, of County Wexford, Ireland. The family, originally of Norman French extraction, was wealthy and well connected, and lived at ease on their handsome estates at Davidstown, near Enniscorthy They sympathized warmly with and took an aggressive part in the agitations preceding the rebellion of 1798, and on the defeat of the patriots or rebels the family was ruined. Thomas Devereux was arrested and imprisoned and pardoned just before his death. A price was set upon the heads of three of his sons and his estates were confiscated. His family consisted of six sons and- three daughters. The eldest son, Walter, was a man of powerful frame, distinguished for his strength and courage. The second son was John Corish Devereux, who during the agitation preceding the rebellion was obliged to fly from the country; he went first to France and afterwards to America. Thomas married Mary Redmond and they had one son, John C., jr., who was afterwards adopted by his brother, John C. Devereux, of Utica. The fourth son, James, was killed at the battle of Vinegar Hill. The fifth son, Luke, came to America and died of yellow fever at Natchez, Miss., in 1818. The sixth son was Nicholas, who came to America in 1806.
John Corish Devereux was born August 5, 17"r4, and came to America in 1796 or 1797. He settled in Utica in 1802. On the 8th of November, 1802, Mr. Devereux opened a dry goods and grocery store upon the site of a part of the present Bagg's Hotel; the business prospered and became one of the most extensive in Western New York. Mr. Devereux was appointed president of the Utica branch of the United States Bank and held the position as long as the bank existed. He was the first president of the Savings Bank of Utica and was the first mayor of Utica elected by the people, in 1840. Mr. Devereux was a courtly and polished gentleman,
most noted for his charity and hospitality. He was a devout Catholic, and was always ready to assist others who differed from him in faith. He gave to the First Presbyterian church $300, to St. John's Roman Catholic church $7,000, to the Sisters ,of Charity $5,000 at one time, and continued to assist them during his life. He con-tributed generously to other charities, and was admired, respected, and beloved by all who knew him. Mr. Devereux died in Utica December 11, 1848, and was buried in the grounds of the Sisters of Charity, near St. John's church. He was twice married. His first wife, who was Miss Ellen Barry, of Albany, died in 1813. His second wife was Mary, daughter of Peter Colt, of Rome, N. Y.; she survived him twenty-one years and died August 7, 1868. They had no children, but at different times adopted two: Ellen, who became the wife of Mr. Catlin, of Paterson, N. J., and his nephew, John C. Devereux, jr., son of his brother Thomas, who died in 1861.
Nicholas Devereux was born June 7, 1'791, at Enniscorthy, County Wexford, Ireland, emigrated to America in 1806, and came directly to Utica, where he was employed as a clerk by his brother John C. In 1808 he was employed by William James & Co., of Albany. In 1814 his brother, John C., admitted him into partnership, which was dissolved in 1816 and a new one formed under the name of N. Devereux & Co., with George L. Tisdale as a partner. Afterwards there were numerous changes in the firm, and at various times Messrs. Horace Butler, James McDonough, and Van Vechten Livingston appeared as partners. The house was one of the largest in Western New York and- ever maintained the highest position for honor and integrity. In 1821 Nicholas and his brother, John C., purchased togother the land above the canal between Genesee and Hotel streets (where the Devereux block is now located), where they erected a large store and warehouse. Mr. Devereux was very successful as a merchant. In the fall of 1827 the firm was called on to pay $90,000 within ninety days. At that time he was living in the handsome place which he purchased from Jeremiah Van Rensselaer for $7,000. He divided the beautiful grounds into lots, intersecting them by streets, and sold them at a handsome profit. In the interest of the New York Life and Trust Company he spent some time in Albany and while there took an active part in the organization of the Utica and Schenectady Railroad, of which he became a director. With a few gentlemen of New York he bought of the Holland Land Company the residue of their lands in Allegany and Cattaraugus counties, amounting to 400,000 acres. The general care and disposal of this land engaged much of his time during the remainder of his life, its immediate sale being committed to his son, John C. Devereux. He was mainly instrumental in procuring the establishment at Utica of the first branch of the United States Bank that was located west of Albany. He was the founder of the Savings Bank of Utica, for which he obtained a charter. His brother, John C., was elected president, but Nicholas Devereux gave his best attention to the affairs of the institution. Largely through his efforts the State Hospital was located in Utica and he was one of the first board of managers. He was a director in the Utica Steam Woolen Mills and of the New York Life and Trust Company. He owned at various times large quantities of real estate in Utica and Western New York and in the vicinity of Scranton, Pa. He held at one time title to over 50,000
acres of land in this State. He never accepted political distinction, though often requested to do so. Nicholas Devereaux contributed equally with his brother towards the establishing of the Sisters of Charity in Utica and was the founder of the school of Christian Brothers in that city. Many years ago, when a Douay Bible was scarcely to be had, he purchased in company with Lewis Wilcox and Robert Len-Meredith, Ellen M. (Mrs. Scott Lord), Catherine M. C., Anna M., Harriet M., Rose Mary (Mrs. James McMahon), and M. Helena.
Thomas Butler Devereux was born at Utica October 1'7, 1833, was educated in the public schools, and was graduated from Fordham College. He was very enterprising, and at one time was at the head of a very large and flourishing business. His business career was ruined through reverses in his own business and the failure of the Utica Steam Woolen Mills, of which he was a director and whose paper he had endorsed.
Mr. Devereux was one of the directors and contributed largely of time and money to the St. Vincent Orphan Asylum. He was most generous and seldom or never refused an appeal for charity. He had a most happy disposition and was always more considerate for others than for himself. He died May 5, 1880. Mr. Devereux married Miss Emily C. Cummings, October 2, 1803, and they had one child, Mary Josephine, born December 5, 1868, died February 4, 1870.
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