Schley County GaArchives News.....Frank Devane, Last Vet, to become 94 June 1938
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Ernie Jones http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00032.html#0007882  April 3, 2005, 5:48 pm

The Ellaville Sun June 1938
FRANK DEVANE, LAST VET, TO BECOME 94
Schley's Only Confederate Soldier to Spend Birthday Anniversary at Chattanooga, 
Tenn., Where He is Visting His Daughter; Shook Hands With Gen. R.E. Lee

Frank M. Devane, Schley county's only surviving Confederate veteran, becomes 94 
years old next Wednesday, June 15.

The aged man, blind and deaf, will spend the day at Chattanooga, Tenn., where 
he is visiting a daughter, Mrs. Jesse Clonts(?).

Mr. Devanes's fondest recollection of four years' service in the War Between 
the States is of shaking hands with General Robert E. Lee after hearing the 
Confederate chieftain make his historic farewell to his men immediately after 
surrendering at Appomatox courthouse in April, 1865. He likes to recall the 
frenzy with which the ragged soldiers literally dug an apple tree up by the 
roots for souvenirs of the farewell scene.

Although he took part in many major battles, including the Battle of Gettysburg-
-said to be the bloodiest of the war--the Schley county man escaped injury.  
A "buddy," squatting by his side in the firing line, was instantly killed 
during the Gettysburg hostilities.

He has frequently recalled the hardships of the struggle, pointing out the 
scarcity of food and adequate clothing.

Mr. Devane volunteered for service in 1861, when he was 18, and was assigned to 
Company B of the 17th Georgia regiment.  Among the battles in which he took 
part was the Battle of the Wilderness.

Born June 15, 1844, in what is now Schley county, he was a son of Liza Sellars 
Devane and J.T. Devane.  Of eight brothers and three sisters, only one sister, 
Mrs. J.M. Chapman of Schley county, is living.  He married Miss Polly Wall.  
They reared 11 children, six of whom are living. They are Marion Fletcher 
devane of Ellaville; P.H. Devane, Aiken, S.C.; John Devane, Milledgeville; 
Rainey Devane, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Mrs. Jesse Clonts, Chattanooga, Tenn., and 
Mrs. Albert Walters of Ty Ty.

He has 33 grandchildren and 44 great grandchildren.  One grandchild, Mrs. W.H. 
Oliver of Ellaville, with whom he has made his home much in recent years, is 
treasurer of the local Sarah E. Hornady chapter of the United Daughters of the 
Confederacy.

Mr. Devane attended his last Confederate reunion at Chattanooga four years ago.

He has a fondness for ice cream and eats a pint a day, but his chief weakness, 
relatives say, always has been chocalate candy, with an occasional diversion to 
peppermint. 

ADDITIONAL NOTE:
Frank M. Devane is Francis Marion Devane, son of
John and Elizabeth Sellars Devane of Ellaville. 
Researcher:James Richard Sellars  blfts@gulftel.com

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