J. W. DeVORE, a well known general farmer and stock raiser of Franklin township, Clermont county, belongs to an old Ohio family, and is a good example of a successful self-made man.  He was born in Pleasant township, Brown Co., Ohio, Feb. 14, 1850, a son of Abner and Louisa Maria (Gardner) DeVore, both of whose fathers were preachers of the Christian church.  Abner DeVore was born in the same township in June, 1825, and resides in Lewis township, Brown county.  Mrs. Louisa Maria DeVore was born in Union township, Brown county, about 1827, and died in 1862.  She was a daughter of Rev. Mathew Gardner, who founded most of the Christian churches in Southern Ohio, besides a great many in Indiana and Kentucky.  He preached for over sixty years and labored faithfully in the vineyard.  He was an able and convincing speaker and debated with all the leaders of the Campbellite church, when those two denominations were greatly at variance.  He was an earnest speaker, droll and witty, with a dry humor that greatly appealed to most people.  He was a good business man and a good manager, and came to Ohio when the country was new, so that he had good opportunities to make profitable investments.  He prospered in his undertakings and left an estate of some $80,000.  He was especially well known for the promptness with which he began all services at the appointed hour, even if there were no congregation to hear.  On one occasion, when he began services before the arrival of any of the congregation, they came in and saw he was alone and said, “We have got here at last.”  Rev. Gardner replied dryly, “I think it is at last.”  This was considered a great rebuke as coming from him, for he was of a gentle nature.  He wrote a most interesting autobiography, which was published, and which was very instructive along the line of the teachings and doctrines of the New Light religion.  There has never been a stronger or abler preacher of this faith in Ohio than Rev. Gardner, and he was very well known for the forceful manner in which he met the arguments of the preachers of the Campbellite church, for he invariably won in his debates with them.  His face, and especially his forehead, showed him to have a strong intellect, and he was a very deep thinker.  Although he had strong convictions, he had a tender, loving heart, and in his preaching and labors touched the heart strings of thousands.  He was born in New York, and died in Union township, and his wife, whose maiden name was Beasly, was born in Ohio, in Union township, and died at her home.
     The children born to Abner DeVore and wife were as follows:  B. F., who died in August, 1910; Julia B., widow of Rev. Godfry Godfrey, of Indiana; J. W.¸ of this sketch; L. G., of Georgetown, Brown county; G. W., who died in Kansas; C. M., of Kentucky; Charles Peter, deceased.  All were born in Brown county.  A brother of Abner DeVore, Peter DeVore, served in the Civil war from Ohio, and lives in Illinois.
     J. W. DeVore was educated in the country schools of his native county and remained with his parents until he was twenty years of age, then went west with a prospecting motive.  He returned to Ohio and carried on his Grandfather DeVore’s farm, and the following year his father’s farm.  On Mar. 28, 1872, he married Miss Lucity Dean, a native of Brown county, Ohio, born in 1849, daughter of William and Sarah (Wiles) Dean.  Mr. Dean was born in Clermont county, Ohio, in 1827, and died in 1904, and Mrs. Dean was born in 1840 and died in 1902, both being buried near Bethel.  There were ten children in the family, namely:  Slathiel lives in Clermont county; Mary E. died about thirty-five years ago, at the age of nineteen years; Marcellus married Jane Kellum, and they live in Brown county; Thomas married Miss Ollie Gravit and resides in Clermont county; Sullivan, also a resident of Clermont county, married Belle Bear; Andy married Miss Hun Shinkle; Dora lives near Bethel with her sister, Jennie Brooks; Jennie, wife of William Brooks, lives near Bethel; Albert married Myrta Ellis and lives in Bethel.
     After marriage Mr. and Mrs. DeVore located near Georgetown, Brown county, and remained on this farm thirty-four years.  They were successful in their operations and in 1906 were able to better their prospects, purchasing a pretty place of one hundred and sixty-three acres of good farm land in Franklin township, Clermont county.  Mr. DeVore has a large number of hogs, sheep, cattle and horses, and ships his stock to the Cincinnati market.  He is an energetic and ambitious farmer and conducts his affairs in an able and intelligent manner.  He is very proud of the part taken by his grandfathers in the early history of the region, as he was reason to be, and also respects the worthy parents who reared him to an honorable manhood, fitting him for the duties and responsibilities of life.  His father has favored the Republican party since its inception, but our subject is a strong Democrat in politics, believing and principles of this party especially favor the needs of the common people, and the interest of the majority of our country’s citizens.  He has served as school director and has always taken great interest in local affairs.  He and his wife belong to the Methodist church.  They had six children, all born in Brown county: Eva Lou, born Sept. 6, 1873, married James Neal, of Brown county, and they have one son, Roland, born Oct. 1, 1904; William Edgar, born Dec. 28, 1874, married Miss Mattie Cahall, lives in Brown county, and has one daughter, Louise, born Dec. 25, 1897; Cora Belle, born Sept. 16, 1876, wife of Harry Hatfield, of Georgetown, has two children, Glen, born in October, 1899, and a daughter, Roberta, born June 15, 1912; Samuel J., born July 5, 1878, married Miss Anna Smith and resides in Clermont county; Addie Lizzie, born Feb. 7, 1880, wife of Jessie Utter, of Brown county, has two daughters, Mildred and Ruth, aged eight and seven years, and one son, William Earl, born Oct. 11, 1912; Lewis Abner, born Apr. 28, 1884, married Stella Shaw, lives in Clermont county, and has one child., Herbert, born Mar. 17, 1906.  Mr. and Mrs. DeVore have worked together for the promotion of their interests, and are much respected for their many good qualities.  They have a large number of friends and are active in various circles in the community.  They are genial and hospitable, refined and intelligent, and those who enter their home are well entertained.
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