CHARLES DEVERGER. Such is the competition in every line of business that one must possess unusual ability and a great amount of push to achieve success. Every year the number of competitors grows in strength and on each side we behold the breadwinners anxiously waiting for a chance to win Dame Fortune's smile.
Our subject was born in St. Louis, Mo., May 14, 1830. His father, Benjamin Deverger, was a native of St. Louis County, Mo., and his grandfather, De Gerda Deverger, was born in Canada. The latter named gentleman passed his youth on Canadian soil, but after reaching man's estate came to the United States, settling in what is now St. Louis County, near the present site of the village of Florisant. He was surrounded on all sides by the Indians, and that section of the country was at that time included in the Spanish possessions. He engaged in agricultural pursuits, and died on his farm, having been deprived of his sight through the last few years of his life. He married Miss Elizabeth Du Vile, whose birth occurred in St. Louis County. Her father was a native of France, and was one of the first white men known to have taken up his residence among the red men in Missouri, and he had an immense amount of influence over them. He sometimes performed sleight-of-hand tricks, and the Indians called him Manitou, because of his great prowess.
Mr. Deverger's father spent his youth in his native county and when quite a young man entered the employ of the American Fur Company, remaining with them ten years, and making annual trips to the mountains and buying furs from the Indians. He finally settled on a farm near Florisant, where he died of cholera, July 10, 1849. He married Miss Julia Pelky, who was born in St. Louis County. Her father, Andrew Pelky, was born in Kaskaskia, Ill., being of French descent. While a young man he moved to St. Louis County, married there and passed the remaining years of his life in that county. His wife who previous to her marriage was Miss Fruzene Gurney, was a native of St. Louis County and there her entire life was spent.
The subject of our sketch was reared on the home farm and continued to remain with his mother until 1861, at which time he removed to Calhoun County where he rented land. At the expiration of two years he purchased a tract of land one and one-half miles east of Brussels and at once commenced to clear up his property. After planting a fine orchard and otherwise improving the farm he resided there for a period of sixteen years, after which he sold that land and bought the farm he now occupies. This place contains one hundred and seventy acres of land on section 4, township 13, range 2.
Mr. Deverger was married, June 27, 1858, to Miss Catherine Defore, a native of St. Charles County, Mo., and daughter of Charles and Elizabeth Defore. This marriage was blessed with four children, viz.; Sophia, Mary Elizabeth, Julia C. and Frederick. Mrs. Deverger died in 1867 and our subject was a second time married, his present wife being Sarah Ann Presse, a native of Randolph County, Mo. and the daughter of Joseph and Hannah (Fitzwater) Presse. By the second union our subject has had eight children, six of whom are now living — Emma C., Henry, Hannah, Harvey, Benjamin and Ettie L. Mr. Deverger and two of the children are members of St. Mary's Catholic Church, while some of the other children are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject's mother died on the home farm in St. Louis County, in February, 1882. She was the mother of eleven children, nine of whom grew to maturity.
Our subject is a prosperous man and one who fully appreciates the necessity for good judgment alike in large and small matters. He gives careful attention to his farming and naturally, therefore, succeeds admirably. Both he and his family are well liked in the community in which they reside, and their home is a very happy one.
Extracted 23 Mar 2017 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Album of Pike and Calhoun Counties, Illinois, published in 1891, pages 706-707
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