(1828 - 1897)

Was born in Verona, Oneida county, in June, 1828, and is a son of Peter DEVENDORF, a native of
Herkimer county, one of thirteen children of Rudolph and Barbara (THUMB) DEVENDORF, natives of
Mohawk Valley. Rudolph officiated as judge, assemblyman, county clerk, and held other offices in
Herkimer county. Peter DEVENDORF came to Hastings in 1832, and was elected justice of the peace the
following year, which office he held twenty years. His wife was Rhoda A. SHERMAN, a native of Oneida
county. They had five children: Henry C., Rudolph H., Mary, Mrs. Rhoda A. BREED, of Central Square,
Mrs. Catherine BEEBY, of Central Square.

At the age of sixteen years he began work as clerk in Oswego, N.Y., and later was similarly employed
in various places until he was twenty-four years of age, when, in 1853, he purchased of his uncle a
general store in Hastings, which he conducted until 1856. He then removed to Central Square, where
he engaged in the same business, and where he has since been interested. From 1871 to 1883 he
resided in Georgia, where for ten years he served as postmaster of Doctortown post-office. He then
returned to Central Square, where he owns and conducts the largest dry goods and grocery store in
town. In 1858 he was chosen captain of a company of New York State National Guards, and later was
elected lieutenant-colonel. The country's call for aid in her time of trouble found a ready response
from Major Devendorf, and he raised a full company of volunteers which went from Oswego as Company
D., in the 110th Regiment, he being chosen captain. The company served with distinction until the
close of the war, and in 1864 Mr. Devendorf was promoted major. During the last eighteen months of
his term of service he was located at Fort Jefferson, Dry Tortugas, where he commanded the post when
the Lincoln conspirators arrived; Colonel Hamilton was in command in Key West. Major Devendorf's
wife, and their adopted daughter, Mrs. Emma Dygert LOW, were with him during his service in that
port.

In 1853 Major Devendorf was married to Armonella, daughter of Lorenzo D. MARSHALL, of Mohawk, N.Y.,
and granddaughter of John MARSHALL of Warren, N.Y., who enlisted in Colchester, Conn., as a soldier
of the Revolution, and who was supposed to be the last survivor who witnessed the surrender of
Cornwallis,a fact creditable to his youth at the time, and his great age at the time of his death.
His father was drafted, but was the head of a large family, and his eldest son was accepted in his
place, at the age of sixteen years, and was ninety-nine years old at the time of his death. Major
Devendorf is a member of the Masonic Fraternity, and of Waterbury Post, G.A.R., of which he was the
first commander.