Frank Quinlan DeVoe

Frank Quinlan DeVoe was born on 15 October 1875 in Monticello, Sullivan County, New York.^1,2,3,4,5 His middle name, Quinlan, came from the name of the doctor who delivered him.⁶ He was the son of Isaac DeVoe and Cordelia A. Oakley.⁷

Frank Quinlan DeVoe appeared on the census of 21 June 1880 at North Tarrytown, Mount Pleasant Township, Westchester County, New York, in the household of his father.⁸ His highest grade of school completed was eighth grade elementary school.⁹ His first working days were spent on a dairy farm west of the Hudson River.¹⁰

Frank Quinlan DeVoe married Eva Matilda Troup, daughter of Charles Robert Troup and Rachel Amelia Walpole, on 6 December 1905 at 36 Fisher Avenue, White Plains, Westchester County, New York.^11,12,13 The minister was William Dana Street, and the witnesses for the marriage certificate were William H. Cargon Jr. and Rachel Troup.¹² Rachel Troup was the bridesmaid, and William Cargon was best man.^13,14 After his marriage he lived in White Plains, where he had a grocery route; fruits and vegetables were always his really great interest.¹⁰

Frank Quinlan DeVoe appeared on the census of 22 April 1910 at 24 Bank Street, White Plains, Westchester County, New York, in which the home was described as rented.¹⁵ He was a salesman for a grocery store according to the 1910 census.¹⁵ During some period he had his own grocery store, on a corner in an apartment building on Lexington Avenue, White Plains, New York.¹⁰ A disastrous fire in the building destroyed the store, and since he had no insurance he was out of business.¹⁰ He returned to a grocery route, entirely fruits and vegetables, throughout the outskirts of White Plains.¹⁰

Frank Kenneth DeVoe recalled that his family lived for a number of years as caretakers in a large sixteen-room house, the Anderson estate, on Post Road in White Plains. The estate included a barn and orchards. Eventually the estate was settled and the property sold.^16,17 Martha (Josselyn) DeVoe recalled the Anderson place as being at the top of a hill on the northwest side of the Post Road; she used to walk past it on her way to the Ridgeview Church. The old house was large and had been subdivided into two parts. She thought it was torn down later.¹⁸ A house and outbuilding labeled "Thos. Anderson" appeared in a 1907 atlas; the property was the area enclosed by the New York Post Road, Tibbits Avenue, Ridgeview Avenue, and Midland Avenue, excluding strips of property along the east side of Ridgeview and the north side of Midland.¹⁹

The DeVoes were also caretakers at one time at a house at 55 Mamaroneck Road, Scarsdale, Westchester County, New York.^20,21 At some period he was the superintendent of the Greeley estate in Hartsdale, Westchester County, New York.¹⁰

Frank Quinlan DeVoe appeared on the census of 19 January 1920 at 53 Rathbun Avenue, White Plains, Westchester County, New York, in which the home was recorded as rented.²² He was a gardener for a private family, according to the January 1920 census.²²

Frank Quinlan DeVoe appeared on the census of June 1925 at 23 Bank Street, White Plains, Westchester County, New York, where his occupation was given as carpenter.²³ Frank Kenneth DeVoe said that as a carpenter his father was very meticulous, couldn't stand poor workmanship, and would expound at length about the carelessness and lack of interest in the work of so many carpenters.¹⁰

The Bank Street apartment house was the DeVoe residence before the family moved to Davis Avenue.²⁴ Frank and Eva (Troup) DeVoe lived on one side and Rachel (Walpole) Troup on the other; they were there when Frank Kenneth DeVoe was in college.²⁵ Frank Kenneth DeVoe recalled that Rachel Troup rented the third floor.¹⁶ A letter received by Frank Kenneth DeVoe in 1929 was addressed to 86 Bank Street, White Plains, New York, so either the family had moved from one Bank Street address to another or the street was renumbered.²⁶

Frank Quinlan DeVoe probably appears in a photograph of a family picnic taken possibly about 1930.

Frank Quinlan DeVoe appeared on the census of 17 April 1930 at 36 Linda Avenue, White Plains, Westchester County, New York, in which the home was recorded as rented at 75.00 monthly.²⁷ He was a carpenter for a building contractor according to the April 1930 census.²⁷

Martha DeVoe described Frank Quinlan DeVoe as opinionated and could not be reasoned with; he tended to dominate conversations with his opinions.^28,10

Frank Kenneth DeVoe said that his Uncle Bill, his Uncle Fred, and his father tended to argue together: "Those three together were something, because they could each one find a different side to take."¹⁰

Frank Quinlan DeVoe appeared on the census of 22 May 1940 at 36 Davis Avenue, White Plains, Westchester County, New York, where he was shown as a carpenter in building construction.⁹

Frank Quinlan DeVoe resided in July 1945 at 36 Davis Avenue, White Plains, Westchester County, New York.²⁹

Frank Quinlan DeVoe died at 1:30 a.m. On 30 November 1955 at Harlem Valley State Hospital, Wingdale, Dutchess County, New York, at age 80.^30,4,5 The cause of death was arteriosclerotic heart disease; he had also had senile psychosis and simple deterioration for over one year.³⁰ His residence at the time of his death was 16 East Post Road, White Plains, Westchester County, New York.³⁰ He was buried on 3 December 1955 in lot 1350 (Walpole plot), Kensico Cemetery, Valhalla, Westchester County, New York.^31,32,33