Randolph County, Indiana
John L. De Voss
The dental profession of Randolph county suffered materially on the 22nd day of January, 1909, for on that day occurred the death of Dr. John L. De Voss, one of the most able and promising of the men in the dental profession of the county, also one of the most public-spirited of her citizens, and one of the youngest. Just a few months over his thirty-third year of life, the uncompromising hand of death came at a time when he was in the prime of life, when the laurels of success and reward for untiring perseverance had begun to be realities to him. Such are the unaccountable vagaries of life, that the young and gifted should be destroyed, while others, whose presence on earth is of no consequence to themselves or fellows, should be allowed to live the full three score and ten. As a dentist, Doctor De Voss was a success. Of a decided mechanical turn of mind, combined with an artistic temperament, it is not to be wondered that he found success awaiting him. Added to this natural bent was his industry and persistency, being willing to put forth any effort in order to learn a little more of this, one of the world's most important and useful professions. Then, too, he was a gentleman of integrity and uniform courtesy, which won for him a wide circle of friends in the county which he called home.
John L. De Voss was born near Fairview, Indiana, on October 4, 1875, and was the son of Joseph C. and Cynthia Armillia (Read) De Voss. Joseph C. De Voss was born October 7, 1837, in Hillsboro, Highland county, Ohio, and died in Winchester, December 24, 1908, when at the age of seventy-one years. Mrs. De Voss died January 18, 1914, at the age of sixty years. Mr. De Voss was a soldier in the Civil war, being a member of Company K, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. He served for nine months, and during that time participated in the battles of Franklin and Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. De Voss was twice married. His first wife was Julia Campbell, and four children, namely: Milton, David A., Daniel and Cora, were born to the union. With the exception of David, all the children are deceased. His second marriage was to Cynthia Armillia Read, and two sons - John L. and Cyrus Read-were born to them. Fraternally, Mr. De Voss was a member of the Masonic Order, the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and the Grand Army of the Republic. In religious matters, he clung to the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church.
Our subject spent his youthful days on the farm, and from there attended the district schools. Afterward he attended the high schools at both Albany and Tipton, Indiana. Thinking of a business career he entered the Muncie Business College, but gave that up and decided to take up dentistry. Accordingly he matriculated in the Central Dental College of Indianapolis, and graduated from that institution with high honors with his class in April of the year 1901. He located soon after his graduation in the town of Winchester, this county, and conducted a very lucrative practice here for a period of eight years, until the sickness that so untimely called him to his Maker.
Mr. De Voss was married to Mary Stout in Winchester on April 26, 1900, and two children were born to them, namely: John Roger, born November 18, 1904, and Francis Armillia, born June 5, 1908. Since her husband's death, Mrs. De Voss has owned and conducted a first-class ladies' furnishing emporium and is making a decided success of her venture. Mrs. De Voss' mother was a native of Illinois and died when our subject's wife was twelve years of age.
Fraternally, Mr. De Voss was a loyal member of the Free and Accepted Masons, the Knights of Pythias, the Sons of Veterans, and the Randolph Club. Politically, he was a Republican.
Past and Present of Randolph County, Indiana, 1914.
Contributed by Gina Richardson