DEVRIX SAMMONS NOTES

[Devrix]:  As stated earlier, less is known of Devrix than of some of his brothers 
and sisters both because he had no military service and thus no records, and because 
he died earlier than most and so there was little oral history remaining about him.  
He was born circa 1851.  The birth date on his tombstone in Alcona Cemetery has been 
the source of a good deal of confusion. The birth date may well be that of his next 
older brother, Gilbert, but if so, how the mistake arose is not known.  He lived in 
Schuyler County, Missouri up until his departure for Rooks County.  At the age of 
about 19 he married America Legrand (probably the Sarah A. Legrand who appeared in 
the 1860 census as a niece of Henderson and Joel Legrand). 

He had, as mentioned above, two children by her, Maggie and Thomas Park Sammons.  
There seems to be no record in Rooks county of the two children from Devrix's first 
marriage.  Devrix may have left them in Missouri, possibly with some Legrand in-laws 
but this is speculation.  Maggie probably and Thomas for certain ended up in Nebraska 
though exactly how is not known. There is data on Thomas showing that he married one  
Minnie Bates circa 1900 and was living with his father-in-law in eastern Nebraska.  
So far no mention of Maggie has been found.  In any event, after Devrix arrived in 
Kansas, he married Minerva Swift.  Based on information located by Laura Sammons, 
Darrell Sammons' daughter,  he took out a homestead claim and received a patent on 
it a few years later though he immediately turned around and sold it.
     
It is very difficult to define the movements of Devrix and his family at this period.  
Based on the age given in an affidavit written for Richard Owings (the brother-in-law 
of Thomas Sammons) around 1889 and some of the years he mentioned seeing Owings, he 
may have left Rooks County around 1885-7.  At the time of the affidavit, he gave his 
address as P.O. Devizes, Norton County, Kansas  Devizes is almost on the Nebraska 
line and is just across the border from Furnas County where his sister, Susan 
Pettijohn, and possibly some Legrand's were living.  Later census records list Bob 
(1889) and Ike Sammons (1890) as having been born in Nebraska so either Devrix and 
his family moved again further north in Nebraska, or, quite possibly were living in 
Nebraska with Devizes just across the line as their Post Office address.  

In any case Frank was subsequently listed as having been born in 1892 in Kansas so 
they presumably had moved back to Kansas, and Rooks County.  Devrix died in 1893, 
cause unknown.  However, there was mention in local newspaper articles of that time 
that there were extensive cases of "la grippe" (influenza) in the area so he may 
have died in a flu epidemic.

Most of Devrix's children remained in Rooks County although later Edmund moved to 
Smith County and George moved to the Eldorado area.  The youngest, Frank, 
subsequently moved to Colorado.
     
Both Devrix and Joseph were the progenitors of a sizable clan of Sammons in Rooks 
County and elsewhere with many descendants.

Obituary:  Minerva Jane Swift, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. W. Swift, was born April 3, 
1863, and departed this life November 5, 1935, at Stockton, Kansas; after an illness 
lasting several years; at the age of 72 years, 7 months, and 2 days.  On October 19, 
1879, she was united in marriage to Devrix Sammons and to this union were born eight 
children.  Mr. Sammons passed away in 1893 and in October 1907 she was united in 
marriage to J.C. Pulley, who passed away in 1924.  Her childhood days were spent at 
Logan, Ohio, and the rest of it was spent in this locality.  Since the death of Mr. 
Pulley, she made her home with her daughter and son-in-law, Mr. and Mrs. A.J. White, 
of Stockton, Kansas.  As an early settler she shared the common lot of the pioneer, 
in toil, sorrow, and joy.  She was a kind friend, loving wife and mother, who lived 
her Christianity day-by-day.  She had been a member of the Christian Church for many 
years and had always had a firm faith which had kept her strong in the hopes of 
eternal life.  She leaves to mourn their loss seven children, 20 grandchildren, and 
10 great-grandchildren.  Her children are: Edmond L. - Council Grove; George W. - 
Eldorado; William H. - Webster, and Joel Franklin - Ault, Colorado; and one step-son, 
Thos. P. Samons, of Nebraska City, Nebraska; one son and one step-daughter having 
preceded her in death; besides many other relatives and friends.  She was a member 
of the Rebekah Lodge of Stockton and of the Relief Corps.  Funeral at Christian 
Church in Stockton and interment at Alcona Cemetery.

Charlotte Curlee Ramsey
http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~cramsey/index.html