Historical California Stone Carvers, Stone Cutters, & Monument Dealers
Devine Stone Carvers
Leeanna Rossi’s research notes regarding James H. Devine’s personal and work life.
The following research notes were made by Leeanna Rossi, author of “Headstones of The Gold Rush Era: Sculpting Masterpieces in Marble,” available through the Old Sacramento City Cemetery. These notes were generously contributed by Leeanna so others could benefit from all of her research. (I have only modified Leeanna's notes by completing abbreviated words).Visit “Citation List of Leeanna Rossi’s Research Notes,” to look up the corresponding numbers inside the parentheses listed in this document.
James Henry DEVINE, Sacramento, Sacramento County, California.
Place of birth: Ireland - (2)
Date of birth: 1846 - (44)
Date of death: 1929 ?
(According to Leeanna Rossi, James Henry Devine is the brother of John Charles Devine and cousin of Patrick J. Devine and Thomas F. Devine.)
Came to U.S. as a child - (44)
After high school apprenticed as marble cutter for 4 years - (44)
Came to California in January 1864 - (44)
EMPLOYMENT:
1864 - Partnership with John Charles Devine, J.C. Devine & Bro. - (44)
1866 - James Henry Devine Marble Works (with John Charles Devine), 155 K, dwelling L 5/6 - (87)
8/31/1867 - Naturalized in Sacramento County - (10, 13, 14, 22)
1867 - State Fair won best collection of marble work, best sculpture (figure head); “STATEMENT OF J.C. DEVINE & BROTHER” on gold medal; premium $40.00 - (179, 93)
1868 - State Fair won best collection of marble work; premium $30.00 - (180)
1868 - James Henry Devine Marble Works (with John Charles Devine), 155 K, also Devine Brothers were located at same place, dwelling L 5/6 - (88)
12/31/1868 - Notice of Bid: 55 mantels - (61); contract to Patrick J. Devine - (62); prop. by John C. Devine - (209)
1/18/1869 - Notice of Bid: 55 mantels (2nd) - (61); contract - (62); proposal - (214)
1869 - Devine Brothers (John C. Devine) and James Henry Devine Marble Works (John H. Devine), both at 216 K, dwelling L 5/6 - (89, 44)
1869 - State Fair paid $4.00 for cleaning statue - (181)
1870 - Devine & Brother Marble Works (with John Charles Devine), 216-18 K - (90)
4/23/1870 - Receipt of $33.00 from State Capitol for 4 marble slabs - (63, 235)
6/30/1870 - Baskets for Capitol $16.50 - (170)
1870 - State Fair won best collection of marble work, best sculpture; “STATEMENT OF J. C DEVINE & BROTHER” on gold medal; premium $60.00 - (182)
1871 - State Fair won best collection of marble work, best sculpture; “STATEMENT OF J. C DEVINE & BROTHER” on gold medal; WON GOLD MEDAL; premium $46.25 - (182)
1871 - J. C. Devine & Brother Marble Works, 216-18 K - (91)
9/22/1871 - J. C. Devine & Bro., on the 1871 Fair “J.C. Devine & Bro., of this city, have set up in the lower hall 2 most beautiful marble mantels, and some specimens of monumental work. The work of this firm always speaks for itself.”- (100)
1871 - (10/26/71) Receipt of $400.54 from State Capitol, 4 marble slabs, 1 heater cover (ordered 7/25-26/1871), 12 heater covers (ordered 10/25/1871 ). Receipt of $337.50 for 270 heater bases - (64, 236, 160)
11/25/1871 - Receipt of $895.85 fm State Capitol for heater covers - (236, 160)
12/16/1871 - Receipt of $37.12 fm State Capitol, 4 heater blocks and sill of marble - (65)
8/12/1871 - “HOW PUBLIC WORK IS DONE...COST OF HOSPITAL” marble mantels $151.50" - (110)
1871 - Contract installing marble mantels at Sacramento County hospital and poorhouse - (48)
1872 - State Fair displayed sculpture, statuary, plaster busts, marble works, 2 mantles, 2 sculpture figures, 2 Gothic monuments, 2 scrolls, dove with morning glory, sleeping child; won best collection of marble work, best sculpture, best statuary and busts in plaster; “STATEMENT OF J. C DEVINE & BROTHER” on gold medal; premium $80.00 - (184)
1872 - Advertisement: “John C. Devine & Bro., Capital Marble Works, 216 and 218 K St. near 8th, Sacramento City. Premiums awarded by the Agricultural Society for the years 1867, 1868, 1870 and 1871; also Gold Medal for 1871. Manufacturers and dealers in Italian and Vermont Marbles, Monuments, Headstones, Tombs, Mantle Pieces, Table Tops, Plumbers' Slabs, Imposing Stones, Statuary, etc., at the lowest cash prices.” - (93)
1872 - J. C. Devine & Brother, Capital Marble Works - (93)
1873 - J. C. Devine & Brother Marble and Granite Works, 216-18 K - (94)
7/25/73 - Construction at the State Capitol $37.12 - (162) - (173)
1873 - State Fair displayed sculpture, statuary mantle, 1 Italian mantle, 1 Italian headstone, 1 Italian scroll, 1 Italian monument; won best exhibit sculpture; premium $20.00 - (185)
1874 - Devine Brothers (John Charles Devine and James Henry Devine), proprietors of Capital Marble Works (est. 1863 at 724 K- (46)) 216-18 K - (33, 95)
1875 - J. C. Devine Marble Works, 216-18 K - (96)
1875 - State Fair premium $50.00 - (187)
1876 - “OUR INDUSTRY - MARBLE WORKS. J. C. Devine is located at 216 K Street, between Seventh and Eight, also engaged in marble business.” - (125)
1/19/1876 - Construction at the State Printing Office $35.00 - (164)
1877 - State Fair displayed sculpture, collection of marble works; won best exhibit marble works; premium $50.00 - (188)
11/21/1877 - Construction at the State Capitol $44.00 - (151)
1878 - El Dorado County Fair won best sculpture, best collection of marble work - (189)
5/23/1879 - Safe & Furniture Bank Commission $2.50 - (151)
1879-1880 - John C. Devine Marble Works, 216 K - (34, 3)
1880 - Uses 45 tons marble and 50 tons granite per year, employs 8-10 people in dressing and polishing Italian and Vermont marble, also Penryn and Rockville granite - (46)
1880 - $4,500 capital, 7 employees, 4 males over 16 years, average wage per day; skilled: $3.00; unskilled: $2.00; number of hours work per day May-November: 10; number of hours worked per day November-May: 9; total wages: $2,400; value of material: $2,000, value of product: $5,600 - (48)
7/24/1880 - Notice of Bid: granite and iron inclosure - (221); proposal by John C. Devine - (222); surety for Thomas & Martin Kelley by John C. Devine. - (223)
7/21/1881 - Notice of Bid: Granite and iron inclosure - (221); proposal by John C. Devine (224)
1882 - Chair of Executive Comm, Sacramento Branch of Irish National Land League - (129)
1883-1884 - J. C. Devine Marble Works, 725 K - (130, 19)
1888-1893 - J. C. Devine Marble Works, 724 K - (132, 134, 35, 36)
9/6/1889 - Repairs to Capitol Building $3.93; 10/10/1890 Repairs to Capitol Building $10.25 - (158)
2/2/1895 - Cont. Exp. Assembly $50.00 - (157)
1895 - J. H. Devine Marble Works (with John C. Devine), 726 alley 7/8 K/L - (136)
1895-1903 - Trustee for Sacramento City, Ward 6, - (136-143, 38, 39); 10 years served as a member of the Board of Trustees - (44)
1895 - Closed business - (44)
1896 - John C. Devine Marble Works, 726 alley 7/8 K/L - (37)
5/13/1900 - Letter to San Francisco Call “ONE WAY OF STOPPING THE CHINESE INVASION” - (241)
1901 - Ran for mayor of Sacramento - (44)
9/3/1903 - Mayoral candidates article - (242)
9/3/1903 - (James H. Devine) bribery charges - (243)
1904 - No employment listed - (144, 40)
Address: Property: 722-24 K, 2324-24.5 K rooming house with 16 rooms - (44)
Ages: 68/22 - (8), 70/25 - (2), 72/22 - (9), 73/22 - (10), 79/31 - (11), 80/34 - (3), 82/36 - (12), 90/44 - (13), 92/46 - (14)
Vital Statistics: Height: 5 feet, 10 inches, complexion: light, eyes: gray, hair: brown - (14)
Other Information: F: Michael, died in Ireland; M: Ann, moved to America after father’s death, died in Jersey City in 1883, raising 10 children - (44); wrote A Treatise on Drinking Water - (44); one of three on comm. to represent Sacramento at World’s Fair in St. Louis, Missouri, in 1904.- (44)
Commercial use of material within this site is strictly prohibited. It is not to be captured, reworked, and placed inside another web site ©. All rights reserved. Peggy B. and George (Pat) Perazzo.