C H Devenny

C H Devenny
Third and Jefferson
Louisville, KY

Charles Henry Devenny
(1857 - 1947?)

Timeline sources: US census, city directories and newspaper items as noted

1857
Pennsylvania, Charles Henry Devenny is born to John and Marcia Devenny
1880
Philadelphia, PA, US census making paper boxes as prisoner in Philadelphia County Prison
1886
Louisville, KY, city directory as photographer at 367 w Jefferson (367 possibly a printing error)
1887, 1888
Louisville, KY, city directory as photographer at 267 w Jefferson
1889
Louisville, KY, city directory as photographer at 1908 Preston
1890
Louisville, KY, city directory as photographer at 257 w Jefferson
1890 Apr 16
Courier Journal (Louisville, KY) Devenny is sued for $100
1891
Louisville, KY, city directory listing says Devenny has removed to Chicago

1892
Louisville, KY, lists only Clara Devenny as artist at 654 e Jefferson
1892 Aug 04
Courier Journal (Louisville, KY) Devenny and wife are defendants in inheritance suit
1893
Louisville, KY, city directory as photographer with Robert J Carpenter and Devenny at 846 Market
1893 Oct 06
Courier Journal (Louisville, KY) news item Carpenter and Devenny fined $10 for operating without a license
1894 Mar 01
Inter Ocean (Chicago) Louisville, KY, news item Landlord dies after fight with Devenny
1894 Mar 04
Courier Journal (Louisville, KY) news item Devenny released from custody
1896
Louisville, KY, city directory as photographer but NOT listed in business pages; res 1627 23rd with wife Clara as artist at same address
1897
Louisville, KY, city directory as photographer at 708 Green
1899
Louisville, KY, as retoucher with C H Elrod, photographer; res 627 1st

1900
Pittsburgh, PA, US census as photographer; res 406 Grant
1901 Jun 18
Pittsburg (PA) Daily Post funeral notice, wife Clara dies
1903
Philadelphia, PA, city directory NOT listed as photographer (business pages only available)
1910
Louisville, KY, city directory Charles Devenny not listed but all three daughters are living together at 306 e St Catherine
1910
Louisville, KY, US census Charles Devenny as traveling salesman for Eastman Kodak; as widower ; has moved in with three daughters on E Oak st
1911
Louisville, KY, city directory Charles Devenny as traveling gent living with his three daughters at 213 e Oak
1912
Louisville, KY, city directory Charles Devenny NOT listed; 3 daughters living at 322 Ormsby
1913
Louisville, KY, city directory Charles Devenny as traveling agent living with his three daughters at 1312 s Floyd

-- continued in next row --

1914
Louisville, KY, city directory Charles Devenny NOT listed; Leone and Madeline living at 926 s 3rd and Agnes living at 1341 Olive
1915
Louisville, KY, city directory Charles Devenny NOT listed; Leone living at 839 s 2nd and Agnes living at 1341 Olive; Madeline NOT listed
1925
Oak Park, IL Charles Devenny NOT listed; daughter Agnes and husband at 949 n Harvey
1916 - 1920
Louisville, KY, city directory NOT listed; three daughters NOT listed
1922 - 1925
Oak Park, IL, city directory Charles NOT listed, Angnes and her husband at 949 n Harvey
1930
Oak Park, IL, US census Charles Devenny living with daughter Agnes and her husband Barry G Durham, 949 n Harvey

There is an Oak Park, IL, 1947 death certificate for a Charles H Devenny, spouse name Clara, birth date 9 May 1857 but the birth place is given as Wilmington, Delaware. Every census gave his birth place as Pennsylvania.

As can be seen, Charles Devenny moved around a lot. Locating him in records was hampered somewhat by the fact that there were several people by that name in the eastern part of the US at that time. Further, as in the death certificate, the family names, dates and places of birth shifted often.

It’s just speculation but this cabinet card was probably finished around 1890. The stamped address “Third and Jefferson” could be the same as 257 Jefferson. The gold, embossed imprint was popular around that time also.

It looks as if he left photography sometime after 1903. By 1910 his is working as a traveling agent for Eastman Kodak.

Courier Journal (Louisville, KY) - 16 Apr 1892

Pittsburgh (PA) Daily Post - 19 Jun 1901

Courier Journal (Louisville, KY) - 04 Aug 1892

Courier Journal (Louisville, KY) - 06 Oct 1892

Logansport Tribune - 01 mar 1894

Inter Ocean (Chicago, IL) - 01 mar 1894

Courier Journal (Louisville, KY)- 04 Mar 1894

photographer: Carpenter and Devenny
9th and Market, Louisville, KY
Finished around 1893
example from auction site

photographer: Carpenter and Devenny
9th and Market, Louisville, KY
Finished around 1893
example from auction site

photographer: Devenny
Third and Jefferson, Louisville, KY
Finished around 1886-1890
example from auction site

photographer: Devenny
Third and Jefferson, Louisville, KY
Finished around 1886-1890
example from DeadFred website

photographer: Devenny
Louisville, KY
example from auction site
(Note this is a different imprint from any of the others on this page.)

Not the one you were looking for? Here's the photographer's INDEX by name. All the Cabinet Card photographers of the 19th century found in LOST GALLERY are listed there.

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