History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

162 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
in 1865. Later in the '60s he removed to this county and took up
the occupation of farming which he followed for a number of
years. His success in tilling the soil brought to him a handsome
competence that now enables him to live retired. In early manhood
he wedded Mary A. Gugerty, who was born in Lee county,
Illinois, in 1854 and is a daughter of Thomas Gugerty, one of the
pioneer settlers of this county.
John P. Devine pursued his education in the schools of Dixon
and is a graduate of the literary and law department of Dixon
College. He completed his law course with the class of 1903 and
was admitted to the bar in 1905, when he opened an office and has
since engaged in practice in Dixon. As the years have passed
he has gained a distinctively representative clientage and he is
regarded as an able and faithful minister in the temple of ji;stice,
being careful at all times to conform his practice to a high standard
of professional ethics, never seeking to lead the court astray
in matters of fact or law and presenting his points logically and
forcefully.
Mr. Devine has always voted with the democratic party since
age conferred upon him the right of franchise and has become a
recognized leader in its local ranks. He is now a member of the
state legislature, to which he was elected in 1910, and to the \atal
questions which come up for settlement he gives his' earnest
consideration.
FREDRICK C. DEGNER.
Lee county was called upon to mourn the loss of one of its
early residents when Fredrick C. Deguer died on his farm in
Bradford township in 1893. He had lived in this part of Illinois
since 1866 and for a long period was influentially connected with
agricultural interests here, developing one of the finest farms in
this locality. He was born in Germany, June 29, 1843, and he came
to America in 1866, locating in Lee county, Illinois, where two
years later he bought a farm. For many years thereafter he cou-
timied to make his home upon this property, carrying foi'ward the
work of improvement and development with characteristic energv.
He provided the place with a comfortable residence and substantial
buildings and was very successful in its conduct, becoming
one of the best known farmers and stock-raisers in this localitv.