DeVilbiss – Digital Shoebox

Rufus and Rachel DeVilbiss

Boss — Wed, 28 Jun 2023 13:08:20 +0000

Rufus Winnfield DeVilbiss

Rufus was born in Frederick County, Maryland on September 10, 1846. He was a farmer and a merchant. When he moved from

Frederick, Md to Kansas in 1881 , he adopted the “V” in his last name. His descendants use “V”. Rufus moved to Calcasieu Parish, LA 1888 and returned to Maryland in 1901.

Note from Ruth Butcher (Jesse's daughter)

“My father’s family was living in Kansas when the territory in Louisiana became available for homesteading (1888). My grandparents, Rufus Winfield and Rachel Ruth DeVilbiss decided to go to the new area and homestead some land there. They traveled by train, father riding in the stock cars to care for the cattle and oxen they were moving with them. Grandfather homesteaded section 14 north of Roanoke. They built a small house there. Grandmother picked up some acorns where they were visiting one day and took them home and planted them. They grew to be huge oak trees and are still there.”

“Father (Jesse) was the oldest, then three girls, Carrie, Grace, and Irene and the youngest of the family was Clifton. There was no school at Roanoke so at age 14 Carrie was sent to Chambersburg Pennsylvania to go to school at her uncles “finishing’ school. She graduated in 4 years and received a certificate for teaching and taught in Maryland for more than 14 years. She lived with her aunt and uncle, C.E.Crawford and Olivea Ann Crawford, who had a beautiful home in Gaithersburg. She later married Ben Woodward when she was about 40 years old. He had a small acreage near Washington Grove and had several cows. He bottled milk every day and had a route in Washington Grove where he delivered milk.”

Clinton Norwood DeVilbiss

Carrie and Grace

Cora Vivian DeVilbiss

“Aunt Grace became a Registered Nurse and worked for many years as a special-duty nurse at a hospital, I think Presbyterian, in Philadelphia.

Aunt Irene was a dress maker and millner and lived in Clarksville, Virginia where she had a small shop. her husband, L.H. Yancey had a little mill just out of town on a little stream of water. He ground meal and made flour using water power. It was quite interesting to see it in operation.

Uncle Clifton became a doctor and surgeon, received many awards, and had a large practice in a rural area. He liked hospital work. Unfortunately he suffered a rattlesnake bite when he was young, living in Louisiana. That left him lame and he found he couldn’t tolerate the hard floors to work inside.“

Jesse and Clara DeVilbiss

Boss — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 19:19:26 +0000

Jesse Winnfield DeVilbiss

Jesse was born 24 December 1871 in Frederick, Maryland. Jesse was 10 years old when his father, Rufus, moved the family to Kansas. When Jesse was 17 years old, Rufus moved the family down to Louisiana to homestead.

Note from Ruth Butcher (Jesse's daughter)

“My father’s family was living in Kansas when the territory in Louisiana became available for homesteading. My grandparents, Rufus Winfield and Rachel Ruth DeVilbiss decided to go to the new area and homestead some land there. They traveled by train, father riding in the stock cars to care for the cattle and oxen they were moving with them.

Grandfather homesteaded section 14 north of Roanoke. They built a small house there. Grandmother picked up some acorns where they were visiting one day and took them home and planted them. They grew to be huge oak trees and are still there. Father was the oldest, then three girls, Carrie, Grace, and Irene and the youngest of the family was Clifton.

“My mother [Clara Hendrickson] came from Iowa. Her father (Hendrickson) worked in construction, also was an Itinerant preacher- going from place to place as he was called. He helped haul brick and build the courthouse in De Moines, Iowa.

Clara’s parents died when she was just a young girl. She was making her home with a preacher, Rev. Church, and his family. Taking care of the two small children, Ray and Eva, when he decided to migrate to Southern Louisiana as the land there was being opened up and offered for homesteading. He wanted her to go with them.

They made the trip in a covered wagon, quite an experience. Many people from that part of Iowa moved to Louisiana at that time. Rev. Church established the United Brethren church at Jennings and later one at Roanoke also.”

Memories from Billie Seibert (Elsie's son)

“I’m sure that my recollections of the Grandparents [Jesse & Clara] are much colored with things from my parents and other family members. I was not around them very much, just four or five trips to Jennings with my Mom and once or twice when they visited us in New Orleans.

I first think of Grandpa as BIG. I don’t think he was super tall, but he was wide. My Dad had many stories of how strong he was. The other characteristic was SILENT. There was not a lot of conversation with him. I feel that he was comfortable with himself and felt that he had a good life.

My impression of Grandma was that she was the “enforcer” and made sure that all the details of the family life went the way that her husband desired. She, like Jesse, was quietly religious. You didn’t get bible quotations, but you got strong thoughts on right and wrong. You also got some suggestions to Elsie on raising kids.

My Dad [Joe Seibert] often talked about them and he thought they were great as parents and had led good lives. He talked about the first time he went to Jennings after marrying Mom.

There he was – New Orleans city slicker and a CATHOLIC and married to their daughter. He said that they didn’t embrace him, but they treated him OK. He knew some of her siblings were not happy and they didn’t hide it very well. When they sat to eat Grandma asked your Dad [Alton} to say the blessing and he responded, “good food, good meat, good God let’s eat”. I guess that took the spotlight off my Dad for a while.”

Jesse & Clara’s Kids

Boss — Sat, 24 Jun 2023 19:19:26 +0000

Through the years, Jesse & Clara’s children found opportunities to get together. Here is a gallery of old photos provided by Bill Seibert and Jim Miller.