BARNEY DEVINE RECALLED

There was one prominent pioneer of whom I saw no especial mention and that was Barney Devine. I had

heard of him all my young life, but held him in some awe, for he was spoken of as the richest man in the

county. I never met him till he and his family bought the John G. Smith home and moved into my

neighborhood. Then I found him one of the kindest of men.

One time Mr. Devine told me of his early life. He lived in Canada and had been bound out to a farmer. The

farmer was abusive, and finally beat him with a neck yoke. So Barney ran away to Chicago, later hiring out

to a farmer who was kind to him. His wages were only $8 a month, but at that he sent money to his parents,

who were poor. But, as he said, he "didn't wear no paper collars and such fancy fixings."

--Kossuth County Advance, 28 November 1929, page 9

LIVERMORE LADIES IN

AUTO CRASH NEAR BADGER

Mrs. Nellie Devine and her daughter Elizabeth of Livermore were in a serious auto crash at the

Badger corners as they were returning home from Fort Dodge one evening last week. Their car

was rammed by a car driven by one of the LuVerne teachers. Mrs. Devine was thrown through the

windshield and severely cut about the face and neck. Several stitches had to be taken in her neck to

close the wounds. Miss Elizabeth was also badly bruised. The car was badly damaged.

--Humboldt Independent, 1 April 1930, page 3

B.W. DEVINE Honored

On 73rd Birthday

Livermore Gazette: There was an enjoyable picnic last Sunday at the B.W. Devine home, the occasion

being the seventy-third birthday of B. W. Devine. The relatives that gathered numbered 63, and consisted of

Mr. Devine's estimable wife, four sons, three daughters-in-law, seven grand children, sister-in-law Mrs. James

Devine with her six sons, three daughters, one son-in-law, Hal Skilling, four daughters-in-law,

thirteen grandchildren; her family all were present except one granddaughter, Basgret Skilling, who is in

school in Cedar Falls. Mrs. Frank Devine, sister-in-law, one son and three daughters; Frank Dunphy and wife

with two daughters; Geo. Dunphy and sister Miss Anna Dunphy; Tony Kajewski and wife and four children;

Joseph Kajewski wife; Mrs. Frank Owens and son, Herbert; also Miss Bernice Ludwlg, sister of Mrs. Tony

Kajewski and Elenor Callahan, sister-in-law of Geo. Dunphy.

Tables were set on the lawn and a real old fashioned picnic dinner was served. The day was ideal and everything

was fine. The occasion was somewhat of a surprise, when the guests arrived with the large cake Mr. Devine

began to think there was something unusual about to happen, but previous to that he had no knowledge. The

picnic was planned by his daughters-in-law. There were eleven nephews, seven nieces, and twenty grand

nephews and nieces. It was sure one grand reunion and there is likely to be many more of them.

--Algona Upper Des Moines, 25 June 1930, page 8

Charles Wernert Dies,

Four Survivors Here

Charles Wernert, 83 year old retired farmer of Livermore, died in the hospital at Fort Dodge

Tuesday morning. Mr. Wernert farmed around Livermore prior to his retirement for a great number

of years, and is quite well known here. He is a brother of Ignatius, Caroline, Catherine and

Christina Wernert of this city, who survive him.

Mr. Wernert was born in Alsace, France, and came to this country when a small boy, with his

parents and two brothers. They came directly to Dubuque, Iowa, where they lived a few years,

coming to Algona from there. Later he married Mary Devine of Livermore who is now deceased

[sic].

Children surviving are: Mrs. Nick Blazen of White Lake, South Dakota; Mrs. George Lenards

[Lenertz] of Livermore and Loretta of Washington. A son, Carl, is deceased. Brothers and sisters

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