Devier James Lamphier Smith: A Pioneer's Journey (1839-1894)
Early Life and Adoption
Devier James Lamphier was born on May 7, 1839, most likely in Jefferson County, New York. His birth parents remain unknown to this day, though DNA evidence suggests he may have been the grandson of Isaac and Rosina (Laun) Lanfear of Lorraine, Jefferson County. This mystery adds an intriguing element to his family story, as autosomal DNA matches in the 4th to 5th cousin range point to this connection.
Shortly after his birth, Devier was adopted by Ranslow and Mary (Bell) Smith of Henderson, Jefferson County, New York. The adoption took place before 1843, when the Smith family made their westward journey to Dodge County, Wisconsin. He gained an adopted sister, Mary Jane Smith, born around 1837, who may have also been adopted by the Smiths.
The Wisconsin Years
When Devier was just four years old, his adoptive family joined the great westward migration, moving to Wisconsin when it was still a territory. This was during the era of manifest destiny, when thousands of families were seeking new opportunities in the expanding American frontier.
By 1850, the Smith family had established themselves in Burnett township, Dodge County, Wisconsin. Ranslow Smith had built considerable wealth as a farmer, owning $2,000 in real property—a substantial sum for the time. Young Devier, then eleven, was already learning the ways of frontier life.
The family's prosperity continued to grow throughout the 1850s. By 1860, they had moved to Oak Grove in the same county, where Ranslow had expanded his enterprises to include both farming and inn-keeping. His property was now valued at an impressive $7,800 in real estate and $930 in personal property. At age 21, Devier was working as a farm laborer and had accumulated $1,232 in personal property of his own—remarkable wealth for a young man on the frontier.
Love and Marriage
On April 4, 1861, just as the Civil War was beginning to tear the nation apart, Devier found personal happiness when he married Abbie A. Vaux in Rolling Prairie, Dodge County, Wisconsin. This union would prove to be both loving and enduring, lasting over three decades until his death.
The couple would be blessed with five children, though tragedy would touch their family as was common in that era:
-
Abbey Ardelle "Della" Smith (April 11, 1862 - January 1, 1944): Their firstborn daughter became a music teacher and married Henry Austin Carringer in 1887. She lived a long life, eventually settling in San Diego, California.
-
Devier David "Davie" Smith (October 15, 1863 - February 2, 1920): Their son would follow in his father's footsteps in the livery business and married twice—first to Leava A. Smith in 1889, then to Amy A. Ashdown in 1908.
-
Mary Ann "Matie" Smith (May 7, 1866 - July 14, 1922): Born on her father's birthday, she became a music teacher like her sister and married three times, reflecting the challenging nature of frontier life.
-
Agnes Bell "Aggie" Smith (February 26, 1868 - April 23, 1870): Tragically, little Aggie died at just two years old in Bedford, Iowa, a heartbreaking loss that the family carried with them.
-
Lucian H. "Lutie" Smith (June 16, 1875 - March 19, 1878): Another son lost too young, dying at age two in Kansas, buried at Pleasant Hill Cemetery in Concordia.
Legal Recognition and Name Change
An interesting chapter in Devier's life occurred in 1866 when his adoptive father Ranslow wrote his will, referring to his son as "Devere J. Lamphear, Commonly called Devere J. Smith, my adopted son." This prompted Devier to seek legal recognition of his adopted name.
In a formal proceeding that demonstrates the careful attention to legal matters even on the frontier, the Wisconsin State Senate passed a special act on March 21, 1866. This legislation officially changed his name from Devier Lamphier to Devier J. Smith and declared him "the adopted child and legal heir of Ranslow Smith of Dodge County." The act was signed by Governor Lucius Fairchild, making Devier's adoption and name change legally binding.
The Westward Migration Continues
The Smith family embodied the restless American spirit of the 19th century. After Mary Smith died on May 12, 1865, the family made another major move in 1867, this time to Bedford, Taylor County, Iowa. A newspaper article from the Dodge County Citizen noted their departure: "To Missouri. -- DeVere Smith and Family, Wm. Gelling and Family, James Woodward and Family. about to go, Samuel Newton and Wife."
In Iowa, Devier engaged in extensive land dealings that showed his growing business acumen. On December 10, 1867, he purchased 220 acres from Tobias Denny for $1,400—a substantial investment that included both prairie and timber land. The complex series of land transactions that followed between Devier and his father Ranslow demonstrated the family's strategy of consolidating and developing their holdings.
Entrepreneurial Spirit in Multiple States
After Ranslow Smith's death in 1873, Devier continued the family tradition of seeking new opportunities. The family moved briefly to Andrew County, Missouri, where Devier engaged in farming and the livery business, then settled in Concordia, Cloud County, Kansas by 1875.
In Kansas, Devier's entrepreneurial spirit truly flourished. He operated a livery business and became involved in cattle trading—both lucrative enterprises in the booming cattle towns of Kansas. His wife Abbie contributed to the family income as a milliner, creating and selling women's hats, while their daughters Della and Matie earned money as music teachers, reflecting the family's emphasis on education and cultural refinement even on the frontier.
The Nebraska Adventure
In 1885, the family made their final major move to McCook, Red Willow County, Nebraska. On April 1st, Devier purchased John Dunbar's farm and livery business, establishing the Blue Front livery stable that would be run by his son David. This venture proved highly successful in the rapidly growing railroad town.
Devier's innovative spirit led him to patent a harness rack on December 1, 1885, receiving United States Patent Number 331,565. This invention, designed to improve the efficiency of his livery operation, demonstrates his practical approach to solving everyday business problems.
The Kansas Ranch Years
Perhaps the most adventurous chapter of Devier's life began in 1885 when he and John Dunbar explored the Wano valley in Cheyenne County, Kansas. As Devier later recalled, they "slept on the present site of Wano when there was not a roof to cover them." By November 5, 1885, he had moved permanently to his Spring Ranch, beginning a new phase as a Kansas homesteader.
A touching entry in the Smith Family Bible, written on November 10, 1889, reveals the personal cost of this frontier life: "Spring Ranch, Cheyenne Co, Kans... Myself on the Ranch alone. have read a number of Chapters in this good book today it does my Heart good to read the Holy Bible. May we all praise the Lord forever is my prayer, Devier J. Smith." This entry, written while his family was scattered between California and Nebraska, shows both his loneliness and his deep faith.
Between 1889 and 1890, Devier successfully patented 320 acres of government land in Cheyenne County, establishing himself as a substantial landowner. A contemporary newspaper biography praised him as "one of the best farmers in the county, and is noted for his thrift, economy and common sense."
Final Years and Legacy
By the early 1890s, Devier had sold Spring Ranch and returned to McCook, Nebraska, where he continued operating his livery business. His entrepreneurial spirit remained active—he even sold hair tonic for $2 a bottle, showing that he was always ready to explore new business opportunities.
Devier James Smith died suddenly of heart disease on May 1, 1894, at the St. Charles Hotel in McCook. He was 52 years old. His obituary noted that he had been "in the livery business in this city for several years" and was "taken sick last Friday evening and gradually became weaker until death relieved his suffering."
The funeral services were held at the M.E. church with Rev. A.W. Coffman officiating. As a member of the Ancient Order of United Workmen (A.O.U.W.), a fraternal organization common among working men of the era, his burial was conducted under their auspices at Evergreen Cemetery in McCook.
Historical Context
Devier's life spanned one of the most dynamic periods in American history. Born in the era of westward expansion, he lived through the Civil War, the building of the transcontinental railroad, the Indian Wars, and the great agricultural development of the Plains states. His career as a farmer, hotel keeper, livery stable owner, and cattle trader made him a typical representative of the entrepreneurial spirit that built the American West.
His multiple moves—from New York to Wisconsin to Iowa to Missouri to Kansas to Nebraska—reflect the mobility that characterized 19th-century American life. Each move represented not just a search for economic opportunity, but participation in the great American experiment of expanding civilization across the continent.
Remembering Devier J. Smith
Devier James Lamphier Smith's life story is one of resilience, entrepreneurship, and family devotion. From his mysterious origins as an adopted child to his success as a western businessman, he embodied the American dream of self-made prosperity. Though he faced the typical hardships of frontier life—including the heartbreaking loss of two young children—he built a legacy of hard work, innovation, and community involvement that his descendants could be proud of.
His gravestone in McCook's Evergreen Cemetery bears the simple inscription "D. J. Smith, 1842-1894," but the full story reveals a much richer life—that of a true American pioneer who helped build the communities and institutions that shaped the developing West.
