Marshall County KS Archives Biographies.....Dever, Thomas 1846 - living in 1917
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@gmail.com July 23, 2005, 5:29 pm

Author: B. F. Bowen

THOMAS DEVER.

    Many men and women of Ohio have come to the state of Kansas, where they have
played an important part in the development of the state. These representatives
of the eastern state have entered into the business life and agricultural
pursuits, attaining much success. Among the number who have come to Kansas from
Ohio is Thomas Dever, now a retired farmer and one of the prominent men of
Marshall county. He was born on December 4, 1846, in Tuscarawas county, Ohio,
the son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Wise) Dever.

    Andrew Dever was born in Ireland in 1813, and remained a resident of his
native land until he was eight years of age. At that time his parents decided to
come to America and seek a home. The parents had received their education in the
schools of their native land and were familiar with the conditions of that
country. There was little in life for them in their native land, and being of a
progressive nature, they were anxious to have a home of their own. On their
arrival in the United States in 1867, they established their home in Ohio, where
they lived for a time and later moved to Hancock county, Illinois, where the
father died in 1882. Mrs. Dever, the wife of Andrew Dever, was born in Ohio in
1817 and died in 1891, her parents, being natives of the state of Pennsylvania.

    To Andrew and Elizabeth. (Wise) Dever were born the following children:
Richard, Thomas, Mary, Augustus, Alice, Mattie, John and one that died in
infancy. Richard is now a retired farmer and is one of the well-respected
residents of his home community; Mary C. Wise is a resident of Keokuk, Iowa;
Augustus lives near St. Louis, Missouri; Alice is now deceased; Mattie died some
years ago, and John lives at Adrian,, Missouri. Mr. and Mrs. Dever were
prominent people in their home district, where they were held in the highest
regard. They took much interest in the development of the county and were
particularly interested in the schools and the moral development of the community.

    Thomas Dever received his education in the common schools of Ohio and was
reared on the home farm. He remained at home until he was twenty-seven years of
age, when he rented land and worked for himself in the state of Illinois. He
later purchased eighty acres of land in that state, which he farmed for three
years; he then sold the tract and in 1884 came to Kansas, and purchased one
hundred and twenty-six acres of land in section 14, Oketo township, Marshall
county. At the time he made the purchase there were no improvements on the
place, with the exceptions of a house and a well. Soon after establishing
himself on the farm, he began the task of making improvements, and soon had one
of the well-developed farms in the township. He spent over three thousand
dollars on the farm, in order to make it one of the ideal places in the county.
As he prospered in his work as a general farmer and stockman, he purchased more
land and is now the owner of two hundred and thirty acres and one hundred and
sixty acres in Howard county, Texas, and is today known as one of the
substantial and successful men of the district.

    Mr. Dever was one of a family of eight children, he being the second born,
and during his early life had much to do with the improvement of the old home
place. There he learned the principles of farming and stock-raising, in which he
later engaged, and at which he remained until 1908, when he retired to Oketo,
where he now lives, but looks after his large land interests. In addition to his
farming interests he is interested as a shareholder of the Farmers Co-operative
Store at Oketo.

    Thomas Dever has been twice married. He was first united in marriage in 1876
to Mary A. Esterbrook, the daughter, of Alonzo and Polly (Rucker) Esterbrook.
Polly (Esterbrook) Dever was born in Hancock county, Illinois, in 1859 and died
in 1896. To this union seven children were born: Bina, Clarence, Earl; Pearl,
Guy E., Ray E. and Edith. Bina, Clarence, Earl, Guy E. and Edith are now
deceased. Pearl is the wife of Frank Costello, a resident of Florence, Colorado;
Ray is a resident of Imperial, Nebraska.

After the death of Mary A. Dever, Thomas Dever married to Mrs. Lydia (Van
Vacter) Esterbrook, in 1900. Mrs. Dever was born in 1871 in Princeton, Missouri,
and died in 1904. To this union two children were born, Eleta B. and Lydia G.,
both of whom are at home, with their father.

    Mr. Dever and his family have long been members of the Methodist church and
have taken much interest in all church work and the moral development of the
county. For many years, Mr. Dever has served as a trustee of the local church
and has had much to do with its growth and development. He has always taken a
great interest in local affairs and has served as a member of the school board,
as road overseer and mayor of the city of Oketo, and during his two terms as
mayor, many improvements were made, and the little city now ranks with the best
in the county.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

History of Marshall County, Kansas: its people, industries, and institutions
by
Emma E. Forter

Indianapolis, Ind.: B.F. Bowen & Co. (1917)

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