(New York Times, 2 February 1892, p 2)

OBITUARY.

THOMAS F. DE VOE.

     Col. Thomas F. De Voe, one of the best known of the old New-Yorkers, died last night at midnight at his home, 104 West Thirteenth Street. His death was caused by a complication of diseases. He had been ill for a long time. Last night about 7 o'clock he took an unfavorable turn and sank rapidly.

     For more than sixty years he took an active interest and at times an important part in the affairs of the city. Old age found him still vigorous and left him with time and means to indulge a taste for research and reminiscence. His work in this regard compiled in handy and attractive form some of the most interesting records of old New-York. It involved, also, the collection of a library relating to earlier history of this city.

     Col. De Voe was born at Lower Yonkers in 1811. In his boyhood he came to New-York and was apprenticed to Joseph Hill, a butcher of Washington Market, with whom he remained until 1827. At the opening of Jefferson Market he was one of the first to take a stand, and he remained there continuously in business until 1872, a period of nearly forty years. As early as 1840 the butchers named him to represent them upon a committee of marketmen appointed to act jointly with the Market Committee of the Board of Aldermen in matters affecting rules and regulations for the government of the markets. He also found time to interest himself in the militia, of which he became a member at the age of eighteen years, rising to the rank of Colonel by connection with various regiments, including the Two Hundred and Forty-ninth, the Sixty-third, and the Eighth.

     While he was a butcher he also issued a paper called the Market Assistant. This involved the collection of all current data affecting the markets, and put him in the way, also, of looking into the history of markets in New-York. Later on he made a search of records at the Historical Society, and began to collect books and documents for his own library. The signature "Thomas F. De Voe, Butcher," was attached to everything he produced in the literary line. In 1862 he printed the first volume of his Market Book, which embodied a good part of his researches. He intended to print another volume, but the pressure of other matters prevented him from doing so.

     The publication of the first volume of the Market Book had been preceded in 1858 by a paper upon the same subject, which he read before the Historical Society. When the book appeared it commanded wide attention. It was a flesh and blood story, and abounded in interesting narratives of people who had been more or less closely associated with the times about which he wrote. In 1865 Mr. De Voe read before the American Institute a paper on abattoirs which was regarded as one of the most complete ever written. In 1867 he read a paper before the Long Island Historical Society on "Reminiscences of Old Brooklyn," and in the following year he contributed to the coporation records a paper on "Old Fly Market Butchers."

     He was prevailed upon to give up his stand in Jefferson Market and to enter the employ of the city in December, 1871, when Controller Andrew H. Green appointed him Superintendent of Markets. He held that position until 1876, when John Kelly removed him to make room for Gen. Varian. Controller Campbell reappointed him in January, 1881, when the office of Superintendent of Markets was combined with that of Collector of City Revenues. In October, 1883, he resigned from the city service. For his services as a writer he was elected to membership in the New-York, Long Island, New-Jersey, and Pennsylvania Historical Societies.