“Life Story of an Old Lady”
AUTOBIOGRAPHY (Transcribed by Kenneth Devenny Jr and copied from a handwritten letter by Grandma Blanch (Soash) Devenny
I lived in a dugout 13 X 13 and spent many happy years there until I was 5.
Father homesteaded in Kansas the year of 1886 when I was near 6 father completed the new home, which was a great event of his life. He was very prosperous for several years then misfortune struck him leaving his health bad. We then moved to Manhattan Kansas living there for some 2 years or more can't remember exact time for I was very young lady near 7 years old.
Hunting for more prosperous ground father then took his flock of 8 onto a cattle ranch "We though" but turned out to be a turnips and bean ranch for topping turnips and shelling beans was no easy job, fortunately that only lasted one year.
We moved to Davis County or Geary County, KS as the name has been changed since I was a Child. I'll never forget the day we landed at the place such a beautiful memory every thing was so beautiful even to the grass hoppers, flowers on the prairie spring creeks, barns, we explored the whole thing. Before mother called us to supper, so tired I think we fell asleep at the table, then tucking us away to bed must of been a job for I know mother must of been as worn out as we were.
As well as I can remember we stayed on the place 2-season farming and cattle raising were our industry selling out our crops and moving in February 1898 to Missouri.
We moved in covered wagons taking 2 weeks to make the trip, which has left, to many things to my memory to add which you can imagine for yourself. Mother with eight of us to look out for, as father preceded us by train as he was a very sick man arriving ahead of us he had rented us room in a hotel in the town of Jerico Springs, MO. located in Cedar County having a population of nearly 400 people very interesting town the river Jordan and the beautiful city of Jerusalem where the upper crust lived.
We stayed at the hotel long enough for father to find a home. He bought a farm 5 miles north of Jerico we moved out on my 10th year in life, which has been kept very busy up to date.
In 1899 father traded the farm for a very comfortable home again in Jerico living there until coming to the west.
Charlie Soash and I preceding in 1901 to go to Seattle landing August 21st experiencing some very unusual things on our trip although having a very good time. We arrived in Seattle around 10 O'clock pm, broke, and no one to meet us and can you guess how we felt.
Boarding a streetcar after consulting a policeman we arrived at my sister Ella's and was she surprised.
We worked here and there, and then I met my fiancé, Mr. Alexander Elijah Devenny. We were married in Seattle, Wash. 2 Dec 1902 having a very happy life for 38 years raising a family of 6 boys and 3 girls which a parent should be very proud ofthe Following children were born:
Kenneth Irwin Devenny 19 Oct 1903 Seattle, King, WAGrace Leonna Devenny 29 Jan 1905 Seattle, King, WAGeorge Leroy Devenny 14 Nov 1906 Seattle, King, WAChester Alexander Devenny 15 April 1908 Lost Lake, "Near Shelton" Mason, WAGrant Orin Devenny 11 Oct 1910 Lost Lake, "Near Shelton" Mason, WAWayne Richard Devenny 13 Oct 1912 Lost Lake, “Near Shelton" Mason, WAElma Virginia Devenny 6 Jul 1914 Seattle, King, WAWalter Devenny 8 Mar 1916 Seattle, King, WABeatrice Lorraine Devenny 10 Aug 1917 Seattle, King, WA
So there you have a complete story of the life of Blanch Estella (Soash) Devenny up to date 27 Mar 1943.
Baby Walter died 5 Jan 1917 in Seattle, King, and WA (added at age 9 mo and 28 days)Alexander Elijah Died 14 Feb 1940 in Steilacoom, Pierce, and WA (added at age of 74 yrs 1 mo. 16 days)
Mary Ann (Mc Gowan) Devenny, Mother of Alexander born in IrelandRobert Devenny, Father of Alexander born in Ireland
Alexander Elijah Devenny, born 29 Dec 1865 in Montgomery Co. Indiana near Darlington.*Blanch Estella Soash, born 15 Mar 1880 in Washington Co. Kansas near Washington the county seat at that time.
*(Added) OCCUPATION: Homemaker,
*(Added) Died 6 Jan1967 at age of 86 yrs 9mo's 22 days
*CEMETERY: Forrest Lawn Cemetery 6701 30th SW (West Seattle) Seattle, WAPhone: 206-932-0050 Funeral Director Yarington, White Center, Seattle, WATime of Funeral: 1 p.m. Wed -11 Jan 1967.
Blathmac, Brother of Niall Caille
