Shelby  County,  Indiana
Biographies

Thomas  N.  Devening

          This enterprising and public-spirited citizen of Madison township, Tipton county, was born in Shelby county, this state, November 12, 1858, brought up on a farm and educated in the common schools.  His parents,  Philip and Permelia (Robertson) Devening,  were married at Shelbyville and were residents there.  Philip Devening was born in France, a son of  Daniel Devening, who emigrated to this country and settled in Ohio when his son was two years old, and afterward came to Shelby county, Indiana, where he followed his trade of baker.  He finally died, however, in Cincinnati.  Philip Devening grew up to manhood in Shelby county, learned the baker's trade of his father and also, when a lad, drove on the canal and worked on a railroad.  Finally he settled upon a farm in Shelby county, where he yet li\es; he also runs a tile factory.  His children are:  Thomas N. (our subject) , Anna,  John,  Mary,  Laura  and  Nancy.  The parents are members of the Baptist church.
          Thomas N. Devening after reaching manhood went to Kansas, where he followed farming two years.  Returning to Shelby county he assisted his father on his farm until 1883, when he married and settled upon a farm of his own; but the same year he came to Tipton county and purchased a farm, where he has improved the buildings and added to the cultivated area by additional clearing. In 1887 he exchanged this place for his present tile and brick factory at Hobbs, which he has since conducted with success.  He has greatly improved the original structure and added to its productive capacity, now having a thirty-five-horse-power engine, etc.  He has a good trade here, being prepared to fill any kind of orders in his line.  He also has charge of the gas works of his village, and is prepared to do gas-fitting.  He is a natural mechanic.
          In politics he is independent, not binding himself to the ticket of any particular party.  Is an active member of the Holiness Christian church, in which he was licensed one year as a preacher.  He gave the ground and rendered other assistance in building a house of worship for his church at this place, which now has a membership of about twenty-five members.  In matrimony he was united with  Miss Flora Gunning,  of Shelby county, a daughter of  David and Martha F. (McCombs) Gunning,  her father a native of Shelby county and a farmer and cooper by trade, who, after his marriage in Shelby county, came to Tipton county, and died here in 1886.  Mrs. Gunning is a member of the New-Light Christian church.  Her children are  Belle,  Cordelia,  Leander,  Thomas,  Flora (wife of Mr. Devening) and  Elbert; and Mr. and Mrs. Devening's only child is  Horace P.,  born April 2, 1895.  They worship at the Holiness Christian church.
Biographical and genealogical history of Cass, Miami, Howard and Tipton counties, Indiana, Lewis Publishing Company, Chicago, Illinois, 1898, page 520-21.
Contributed by Phyllis Miller Fleming

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