DEVORE, JAMES
WILLIAM, lawyer, and member of the South Carolina
house of representatives, is one of a family which for several
generations and as early as colonial days has had in its circle
large slave owners and wealthy planters in Virginia and the
Carolinas. He was born at "Fairview" plantation, Edgefield county,
South Carolina, on May 6, 1856. His father, James Adams DeVore, M.
D., was a physician possessed by nature of so much energy and
perseverance that prominence in the community as well as success in
his profession were inevitable. His earliest known ancestors in
America were Matthew DeVore, who came to South Carolina from France
and settled at Edgefield, South Carolina, and Edward and Rachel
Holloway, who came from England and settled in Caroline county,
Virginia.
In his boyhood and youth he was exceptionally fond of
riding and hunting. He lived on "Fairview" plantation, the homestead
of his parents, until he was sixteen years old. His mother, Mrs.
Rachel Brown (Prescott) DeVore, was very influential in forming the
ideals and guiding the life of her son through his early boyhood,
and he owes her much for intellectual and spiritual impulse and
uplift. Under her guidance he early learned to love history and the
standard works of literature. He attended the Edgefield village
academy, where he completed his preparation for college. After
several terms spent at Washington and Lee university, Virginia, he
read law under J. C. Sheppard, and began the practice of law at
Edgefield court-house, South Carolina. For those who have learned to
value the influence which noble hearted and inspiring women exert,
as mothers, sisters and wives, it is interesting to note that Mr.
DeVore, at the age of fifty, writes: "While I was naturally inclined
to the course of study and the profession which I chose, I was
influenced by my sister, Mrs. Kate DeVore Butler, who is regarded as
one of the best educated women of her state, under whom I took a
course in literature after I left school." He adds: "I owe more to
the influence of my wife than to any other influence, since my
marriage; and before my marriage I owed most to my sister, who took
unusual interest in me at a time when my mother, on account
of
failing health, could no longer care for me." In 1902 he was elected
a member of the house of representatives of South Carolina, and in
1904 and in 1906 was reflected
from Edgefield county. While
serving his third term in the state legislature he was, on February
20, 1908, elected judge of the eleventh judicial circuit of South
Carolina for a term of four years. He has taken an active part in
putting upon the statute books of his state the new immigration
laws, and he is especially interested in such immigration laws as
affect agriculture, believing that if the provisions which he was
instrumental in getting into the last immigration law of South
Carolina are carried into effect, "they will do more toward the
upbuilding of the rural districts of South Carolina than has ever
been accomplished up to this time by any act passed by the
law-makers of the state."
Mr. DeVore does not hesitate to
profess his strong belief that every honest citizen should stand
boldly for his own convictions and express them clearly, even when
he is in what seems like a hopeless minority, doing his best to
bring his fellow citizens to his way of thinking, and not spending
his time in the effort to find out in what direction the majority
will vote, with the purpose of falling into line to be upon the
popular side. He writes: "I was bold enough to be the first
legislator to introduce a concurrent resolution instructing and
requiring our representatives to use their best efforts to secure
the repeal of the fifteenth amendment to the constitution of the
United States, even if the Southern states should be cut down in
their representation in congress as a result." He believes that if
this were done the greatest possible step would be taken toward a
solution of the race question, and the "solid South" would be broken
up, white supremacy would be maintained in the South, and (as Mr.
DeVore believes) with the cordial support of the North, when its
people should come to understand the situation. He believes that the
South would be more prosperous if the whites of the South were
divided by natural party lines instead of acting solidly; and by the
breaking up of the "solid South," and by that assured dominance of
the white race which he thinks would follow upon the repeal of the
fifteenth amendment, Mr. DeVore declares "We
of the South should
throw the yoke of slavery off ourselves." He also advocates very
strongly a more thorough and systematic teaching of the English
language in the schools and colleges of the South.
On November
11, 1896, he married Miss Sarah Dozier, youngest daughter of James
A. Dozier, Esquire, a prominent member of the Edgefield bar. Mr.
DeVore has published one book, under the title, "Somewhat of a Liar
Myself" (1901). To young South Carolinians his advice is: "Select a
business, then be punctual, persevering and honorable in all your
dealings."
His address is Edgefield, South
Carolina.
Men of Mark in South Carolina By James Calvin Hemphill
Published 1907 – transcribed and contributed by Barb
Ziegenmeyer
