For
Muscatine County Iowa
1911
| Biographies For Muscatine County Iowa 1911 | |
Source: History of Muscatine County Iowa, Volume II, Biographical, 1911, page 110
JOHN F. DEVITT. John F. Devitt, is actively connected with the profession which has important bearing upon the stable prosperity of any community. Earnest effort, thorough and systematic study and strong powers of analysis have been important elements in his success, gaining him a creditable position as junior partner of the firm of Horan & Devitt. His birth occurred in De Witt, Clinton county, Iowa, May 24, 1867, his parents being John and Bridget ( Foley ) Devitt, both of whom were natives of County Tipperary, Ireland. The paternal grandparents spent their entire lives on the Emerald isle, where they reared two of their three children, one having died in infancy. Those who reached mature years were John and Minnie. The former spent his youthful days as a farm boy in Ireland and on coming to America made his way into the interior of the country, settling in Clinton county, where he followed railroad work for a number of years. There he died in 1874, when about fifty years of age. In early manhood he had wedded Bridget Foley, whose parents always remained residents of Ireland. Unto this marriage there were born five children, two sons and three daughters: John F., of this review; Anna, the wife of James Thornton, of De Witt, Iowa; Margaret, a trained nurse, also of De Witt; Nellie, the wife of Albert Johnson, of Chicago; and James A., a lawyer of Oskaloosa, Iowa. The mother of these children passed away when about forty years of age, dying a year prior to the death of her husband. Both were consistent members of the Roman Catholic church.In the county of his nativity John F. Devitt spent the period of his minority and resided upon a farm between the ages of twelve and twenty years. After attending the district schools he continued his education in the De Witt high school, from which he was graduated in 1888. He determined upon a professional career and hoping to find the practice of law both congenial and profitable, he became a law student in the State University of Iowa, from which he was graduated with the LL.B. degree in 1891. The same year he was admitted to the bar and formed a partnership with a former classmate, Lawrence J. Horan. They opened an office in Muscatine on the 1st of August, 1891, and for more than nineteen years have continuously practiced in this city. A liberal share of the business of the courts has been accorded them and they have connected with much important litigation. Mr. Devitt closely studies every phase of a question that is involved in the trial of a case and his retentive memory enables him to cite principle and precedent. He also marshals the points of his case with the precision of a military commander and gives to the most important point its due relative precedence.
On the 30th of September, 1896, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. Devitt and Elizabeth L. Mackey, a native of this city and a daughter of John and Ellen M. ( Murphy ) Mackey, both of whom were natives of Ireland and were early settlers of Muscatine, where they spent their remaining days. The father, aroused by a patriotic spirit at the outbreak of the Civil war, joined Company E, of the Thirty-fifth Iowa Volunteer Infantry and was on active duty until sent home on account of illness. His death at length was occasioned by disease contracted in the army. He was a son of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Murphy, both of whom died at Muscatine at an advanced age. John Mackey wedded Ellen M. Murphy, a daughter of Michael and Ellen ( Ryan ) Murphy. Her father died of cholera on the ocean while coming to America. Mrs. Mackey was one of a family of thirteen children and by her marriage she became the mother of five children : Philip J., Elizabeth L., and Mary F., of Muscatine; Fred C., of Davenport, Iowa; and Joseph, who died at the age of seventeen years.
Mr. and Mrs Devitt have but one child, Loretta. The parents are members of the Catholic church and Mr. Devitt belongs also to the Knights of Columbus, the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Catholic Order of Foresters, the Modern Woodman camp and the Muscatine Launch Club, associations which indicate much of the nature of his interests and the principles which govern his conduct. In politics he is a stalwart democrat, unfaltering in his belief in and support of the principles of the party. He served as city attorney for seven years and carefully safeguarded the interests of the municipality through that party. He has been a member of the Iowa State Bar Association for a number of years and for five years has served on its executive committee. He likewise belongs to the American Bar Association and to its local council for Iowa. In community affairs he is deeply interested, is a trustee of the P. M. Musser Public Library and gives his aid and support to all the measures and movements which he deems of value and service in upbuilding the city and county. None question his loyalty to the public welfare. He is a man of progressive spirit and of high principles and his genuine personal worth commends him to the confidence and good will of all with whom he comes in contact.
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