The Frank L. Devereux Family

By Grace Devereux Guinn

Among pioneer settlers who bought property in the early days of Jacksonville were Captain William R. Miller and his wife, Susan Moore Miller. They came to Jacksonville in 1886 from Kickapoo in Anderson County. On March 30, 1888, they bought a city block which today is bounded by Bolton, Nacogdoches, Main and Larissa streets. On this block now is located the Piggly Wiggly Supermarket No. 2 and other commercial buildings. This property has remained in the same family continuously through four generations; ownership in early 1972 was by Frank D. Devereux of Tyler and Mrs. Grace Devereux Guinn of Rusk, great-grandchildren of Capt. and Mrs. Miller. For many years, the land was used for residences. Capt. Miller planted many of the magnolia trees still growing in City Park and, when in bloom, lend their beauty and fragrance to the southwest corner of the park.

Capt. and Mrs. Miller had one daughter, Jennie Alice, who married Joseph Edward Douglas. They had one daughter, Josie. When J. E. Douglas died in 1879, Jennie remained a widow for thirteen years. In 1892, she married William P. Devereux, and they had a son, Miller Devereux. Miller will be remembered for his love of music and beautiful baritone voice.

Frank L. Devereux came to Jacksonville from Decatur, Texas, in 1896. At that time, Josie Douglas was attending Kidd-Key College, a finishing school for girls, at Sherman. In 1900, Frank and Josie were married. To this marriage, two children were born, Frank D. Devereux and Grace, who is now Mrs. Malcolm M. Guinn. Her husband's firm, Guinn & Guinn, in Rusk, has been a continuous legal firm since 1847—one of the oldest in Texas.

Frank L. Devereux was a partner in the Sory-Devereux Furniture Store from 1902 to 1911. In 1911, he assisted in organizing the First Guaranty State Bank and served as cashier and director. He later became vice-president of this bank and its successor, First State Bank, and was associated with the bank until 1933.

Mr. Devereux served as city secretary for twenty years. He was a steward of the Methodist Church and a member and treasurer of the Board of Trustees of Lon Morris College for 25 years. He received his Masonic degrees in 1902, was elected Worshipful Master in 1906 and received the Grand Lodge Fifty-Year Service Award on April 24, 1952. Frank L. Devereux died in 1953, Josie Devereux in 1956.

Frank D. Devereux married Sara E. Allen on December 21, 1932. He practiced law in Jacksonville for four years and was elected County Judge of Cherokee County, serving from 1933 to 1937. He then joined the legal department of Hunt Oil Company at Dallas. In 1951, he became a member of a law firm in Tyler, and managing partner of that firm, Ramey, Brelsford, Flock, Devereux and Hutchins at his death January, 1972.

The Devereux family all were members of the Methodist Church. One of the beautiful stained glass windows in the present First United Methodist Church is a gift from the family. The upper section reads, "In loving memory of our mother, Jennie Alice Miller." The lower portion is inscribed, "In loving memory of our grandparents, Capt. W. R. and Susan Miller."

Capt. & Mrs. W. R. Miller

Joseph Edward Douglas and Jennie Alice

Frank and Grace Devereux, 1912

The Devereux home across from the city park where Piggly Wiggly No. 2 now is located on Larissa.

Josie Douglas Devereux at 6 years of age.

Frank L. Devereux about 1900

Josie Douglas, who married Frank L. Devereux, and her friend, Mittie Brown, who married J. E. McFarland. Picture about 1899 with the young ladies in fashionable attire for bicycling.

Miller Devereux, one year old.