Michael Devine 1829-1915

DEVINE, WELCH, ROACH, HALLINAN, SCANLAN

Posted By: Sharon Elijah (email)
Date: 5/23/2021 at 17:43:30

4 May 1915 - The Clinton Advertiser page 3

MICHAEL DEVINE OLD CLINTONIAN PASSES BEYOND
Long-Time Resident and Pioneer Railroad Worker Answers the Summons.
WAS ABOUT 86 YEARS OF AGE
Deceased Helped to Construct Chicago & Northwestern--Was Life Long Democrat.
Michael Devine, one of Clinton's oldest and best known citizens, is dead at his home, 519 Sixth avenue. Mr. Devine passed away at 10 o'clock Monday night, following a few days' illness of cerebral hemorrhage.

The funeral will be held from St. Mary's church at 9 o'clock Thursday morning. Solemn requiem high mass will be celebrated.

Mr. Devine, who had lived nearly half a century in Clinton, was a pioneer railroad builder, having assisted in construction of the Grand Trunk, the Rome, Watertown & Ogdenburg, and the Chicago & Northwestern.

He was born in Cahirciveen, County Kerry, Ireland, in 1829 and in 1851 came to the United States, landing in Canada. After working for several years on eastern railroads, and in construction of the New York & Erie canal, he came west. In 1855 he helped construct the present Chicago & Northwestern railroad between Dixon and Fulton. Since 1867 he had made his home in this city, coming here as a car repairer in May, 1867, and working for several years on the Northwestern, and in the Clinton sawmills. He retired from active work about 25 years ago, and has since been living quietly at his home here, enjoying the fruits of his long life of industry.

Had Mr. Devine lived another year he and his wife would have celebrated their sixtieth wedding anniversary. Mr. Devine and Miss Mary Roach were united in marriage in Sterling, Ill., on June 26, 1859. They were the parents of eight children, four of whom survive the deceased. These are William of Clinton, Michael of Sterling and Mrs. Richard Welch and Mrs. Richard Hallinan of this city. The deceased also is survived by two brothers, James of Dixon and John of DeKalb, and a sister, Mrs. Patrick Scanlan of Sterling.

Mr. Devine was a staunch Democrat all his life, having been ever loyal to the political party with which he affiliated early in life. He was a close student of public affairs, and kept in close touch with these. He also was an advocate of temperance, and for 44 years had been a member of St. Mary's Total Abstinence society.

Intelligence of his death was received with sorrow today by his hundreds of friends in Clinton and vicinity.