Historical California Stone Carvers, Stone Cutters, & Monument Dealers
Devine Stone Carvers
Leeanna Rossi’s research notes regarding John C. 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.
John Charles DEVINE, Sacramento, Sacramento County, California.
Place of birth: Galway - (47), Ireland - (1)
Date of birth: 1839 - (obituary)
Date of death: 3/23/1912 - (obituary)
(According to Leeanna Rossi, John Charles Devine is the brother to James Henry Devine.)
EMPLOYMENT:
7/8/1858 - Naturalized New York - (13)
1860 - Laborer - (1)
1862 - Moved to San Francisco, marble cutter with Myers & Hagan, dwelling 531 Market - (76)
1/24/1864 - Married Bridget Lemmon (?) of Ireland - (2),(24); 6 children: Martin Devine, Anna Devine, Mary Devine, Hattie Devine, John Devine, James Devine - (3)
1864 - Partnership with James Henry Devine, J C Devine & Bro. - (44)
1866 - James Henry Devine Marble Works, 155 K, dwelling L 5/6 - (87)
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, 155 K, also Devine Brothers were located at same place, dwelling L 5/6 - (88)
5/1/1868 - Construction at the State Capitol (19 days labor) $57.00 - (235)
12/31/1868 - Notice of Bid: 55 mantels - 61; cont. to P.J. Devine - (62); prop. by J.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 (James H. Devine), both at 216 K, dwelling L 5/6 - (89)
1869 - Devine Brothers Marble Works, 216 K-32 (James Henry Devine Marble Works, same address) - (44); residence same (with James Henry Devine) - (32)
1869 - State Fair paid $4.00 for cleaning statue - (181)
1870 - Devine & Brother Marble Works (with James Henry Devine), 216-18 K - (90)
4/23/1870 - Receipt of $33.00 fm. State Capitol pro. 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 collect 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 (with James Henry Devine), 216-18 K - (91)
9/22/1871 - 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 (10/26/1871) - Receipt of $400.54 fm. 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 - Paid $895.85 for heater covers at State Capitol (12/1/1871) - (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 (with James Henry Devine) - (93)
1873 - J. C. Devine & Brother Marble and Granite Works (with James Henry Devine), 216-18 K - (94)
7/25/1873 - 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 & James Henry Devine), proprietor of Capital Marble Works, (established 1863 at 724 K - (46) 216-18 K (with James Henry Devine) - (33,95)
1875 - J. C. Devine Marble Works (with James Henry Devine), (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 Eighth, 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)
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)
1879-1880:John C. Devine Marble Works (with James Henry Devine), 216 K, residence P 11/12 - (34)
1880 - Stone cutter - (3)
7/24/1880 - Notice of Bid: granite and iron inclosure - (221); proposal by John Charles Devine - (222); surety for Thomas and Martin Kelley by John Charles Devine - (223)
1881-1882 - The following excerpt from Pacific Coast Directory, for 1880-81...of California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Utah, Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and British Columbia, L. M. McKenney & Co., Publishers, San Francisco, Cal., presented on the Golden Nugget Library web site, by Nancy Pratt Melton. (Transcribed by Peggy B. Perazzo)
J. C. Devine - Capital Marble Works, Sacramento, Sacramento County, California
(pp. 727) “Devine, J C, Capital Marble Works - 722 K.”
7/21/1881 - Notice of Bid: granite and iron inclosure - (221); proposal by John Charles Devine - (224)
1882-1886 - J. C. Devine Marble Works, (with James Henry Devine) 722 K - (129); 724-25 K - (130,131,19)
10/8/1885 - Plumbing, Ventilation $6.50; 11/21/1877 Construction at the State Capitol $44.00 - (154)
12/10/1885 - Printing Text Books $20.75; 1/18/1886 Printing Text Books $42.50 - (155)
6/1/1889 - Repairs to Capitol Building $28.24 - (156)
1888-1893 - J. C. Devine Marble Works (with James Henry Devine), 724-726 K - (132,133,134,36); proprietor Capital Marble Works, same address - (133); same residence (1890-1892) - (13,14)
1895 - J. H. Devine Marble Works, 726 alley 7/8 K/L - (136)
1895 - Closed business - (44)
1896 - Stonecutter (with James Henry Devine) 726 alley 7/8 K/L - (37,137)
1896 - J.C. Devine Marble Works, 216-18 K - (118)
1897 - Marble cutter - (138)
1898 - John Charles Devine moved to Sutter Creek - (139)
1900 - No employment listed - (141)
1903 - No employment listed - (143)
03/23/1912 - JOHN CHARLES DEVINE DIES IN SACRAMENTO, age 73, last residence Oakland - (obituary)
Address: 1879-1880 P 11/12 (with James Henry Devine) - (34); 1884-1885 1126 P (with Martin) - (19); property: 722-24 K, 2324-24.5 K rooming house with 16 rooms - (44)
Ages: 60/23 - (1), 70/33 - (2), 73/28 - (10), 79/37 - (11), 80/38 - (3), 82/44 - (12), 90/51 - (13), 92/53 - (14)
Vital Statistics: Height: 5 foot 8 inches, comp-light, eyes-blue, 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; died of arterial apoplexy and buried at St Joseph cemetery, location 3-5-3 - (21)
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