The Saginaw Daily News
Thursday, November 1, 1917

Resolutions eulogizing the late James P. Devereaux were adopted by the Saginaw County Bar Association and the Four Minute Men. The funeral will take place Saturday morning at 8:30 o’clock from the residence and at 9:00 o’clock from St. Andrew’s Church, Rev. Farther H.P. Maus, officiating. The body will be placed in the receiving vault at Forest Lawn.
The pallbearers will be Bird J. Vincent, Dr. W. J. O’Reilly, Miles J. Purcell, P. F. Treanor, W. E. Richardson and J. E. Powers.
The courthouse will be closed for a time Saturday morning to permit the officials to attend the funeral services.
The Knights of Columbus will meet at the club rooms Friday evening at 7:30 o’clock to go in a body to the home and at 8 o’clock Saturday morning at the club to attend the funeral services in a body.

The Bar association resolutions were as follows: We meet to pay the last tribute of respect and esteem to the memory of one of our most talented and prominent members.
“James Devereaux was forty-two years of age at the time of his death, and had been a member of this bar for twelve years, coming to Saginaw County and entering upon the practice of his profession at Chesaning shortly after his graduation from the law department of the University of Michigan where by his strenuous work and untiring efforts he had distinguished himself as a student.
From an (sic) humble beginning and by his own personal efforts, prompted by a lofty ambition he perfected his education through years of effort, until at the time of his death, he was held in the very highest esteem, as a lawyer and citizen, by a large number and increasing circle of admirers and friends.
As a lawyer, he stood in the front ranks of his profession, being keen and capable, with a well balanced and analytical legal mind; in the presentation of law problems, he was clear and convincing; as an advocate, he possessed those rare gifts of the finished and natural orator; in a word, out friend and brother was possessed both by natural and mental attainments, with all of the essential qualities of the well equipped lawyer.
His genial personality and kindliness of heart endeared him to all those who knew him, and he was beloved by a host of friends. His charitable qualities, prompted by a generous heart and kindly disposition and a complete and well known sympathy for those of his unfortunate fellow men, was one of his most pronounced and admirable qualities. All in all, our brother, whom we mourn today, was a whole hearted, whole souled, generous minded loveable character, with large accomplishments for his chosen work, which expresses the sum total of the attributes of a manly, noble hearted man.
His home life was in generous proportion to the man, as his close, intimate, personal friends knew him, and as herein described. He was a loyal and devoted husband and father. Four children, the oldest scarcely seven, the youngest but two years of age, and his wife, who has shared with him, from almost the very beginning of his professional career, his rapid and substantial advancement, mourn his loss.
As a citizen, he was most loyal and patriotic. He was fearless and commanding in the defense of the institutions of his country, and in this trying hour, notwithstanding the many duties which burdened his shoulders, he gave unstinted and generous service in furthering the success of the Liberty Loans and the cause of his country.
While yet in the prime of his young manhood, firmly established in his chosen profession, endeared to his friends and acquaintances by his loveable traits of character, with an ideal home circle, his hour struck and in the twinkling of an eye, like a soldier upon the battlefield, he passed from rosy health to eternal sleep.
He had served the County of Saginaw as Prosecuting Attorney, and at the time of his death was hastening to a trial to perform an official duty, which he had assumed on account of the absence of his warm personal friend and associate in business, Prosecuting Attorney Bird J. Vincent, who was at the Officer’s Training Camp at Fort Sheridan. These duties he had gallantly and magnanimously undertaken to perform in addition to his private practice, which was large and ever increasing.
His honest integrity and professional honor was as commanding and unblemished as his manhood was noble.

Be It Therefore Resolved: that in the death of James P. Devereaux, our profession has suffered a severe and permanent loss; that the community in which he lived, and in which his activities were centered has been deprived of a generous hearted noble man, an upright patriotic citizen.
Be It Further Resolved: that we tender to his bereaved wife and family our heartfelt sympathy, in this hour of great trial.
Be It Further Resolved: that these resolutions be spread upon the Records of the Circuit Court for this County, and that a copy be presented to the wife of our deceased brother.

Miles J. Purcell
Wm. G. Gage
Raymond R. Kendrick
Arthur W. Ganschow
Jerome Weadock

The Four Minute Men Resolutions (similar and not transcribed) adopted by:

Fred J. Traverse
Bird J. Vincent
Jerome Weadock