DeVinney, Wm. 1844-1914

DEVINNEY, MCDONALD

Posted By: Marilyn Holmes (email)
Date: 9/9/2010 at 13:50:35

The Grinnell Herald (Grinnell, Iowa) Aug. 14, 1914

WM. DEVINNEY

Word has come to Grinnell of the death of William DeVinney in California. Mr. DeVinney was so widely known here that the following obituary is published.

William DeVinney was born near Port Byron, Rock Island county, Illinois, July 13, 1844, and died in Los Angeles, of paralysis, July 14, 1914. When but eighteen years of age he enlisted in Company C of the 66th Illinois infantry. He served his country nearly three years, taking part in Sherman's celebrated march to the sea and received honorable discharge July 2, 1865. On December 24, 1869, he was married to Cornelia J. McDonald and came to Iowa in 1871. Grinnell was their home for many years and here Mrs. DeVinney died some seven years ago. His health had been failing for several years and the last year he spent with his son in California. The funeral service was held in the chapel of the Soldiers' Home at Los Angeles, and the body laid to rest with military honors in the beautiful cemetery connected with that institution.

Mr. DeVinney was a man known for his honesty and integrity of character. Modest and retiring in life, it was fitting that, in death, he should be given those impressive soldiers' honors which are due every old soldier but which in reality come to but few.