One of the well-known evangelists in the upper
Ohio valley at the turn of the last century was W. H. Devore.
"Uncle Henry" was a self-made preacher like many of
his generation and a fixture in the pages of the Christian
Leader from its beginning until his death in 1919. He was
described as having an "even temperament, not easily ruffled,
a good counselor, and one who had the spirit of the Master."
(Rowe, 8).
William Henry Devore was born in Beverly, Ohio,
on May 25, 1847. His parents were Solomon and Margaret Devore.
His father was a gospel preacher, and William was baptized by
his father at the old Clay Townhouse in Gallia County, Ohio, when
he was 16 years old. He married Rachel Harkins and resided in
Danville, Ohio. He worshipped with the church of Christ meeting
there and led singing for the congregation.
Devore began preaching at the age of 27, having
been encouraged by a brother Cobren, one of the elders of the
Danville congregation to "make an exhortation." After
working on his talk all week, in which he determined to "impress
the people," Devore was called to give his exhortation. In
his own words it was a "signal failure," but Devore
was thankful that God had allowed him to fail. After returning
home, he vowed, "If God has anything for me to do, I will
find out what it is and do it, and from henceforth and for evermore
I would never attempt to ape any man or to be seen by men but
approved by God." (Preacher, 2).
One text that Devore kept as a guide throughout
his ministry was 2 Timothy 2:15: "Study to show thyself approved
unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly applying
the Word of Truth." This was the text for the one sermon
he had prepared when called, the week after his failure, to go
to Grass Run, Ohio, and preach in the schoolhouse on Saturday
night. His brother-in-law, Will Harkins, accompanied him, but
both men had little experience. After a 7 mile walk to the schoolhouse,
Devore made a better effort this time despite being interrupted
in the sermon by a drunk from the village. He was invited to stay
the night and give another sermon the following day. Though he
had only one sermon with him, Devore agreed. His first preaching
call lasted for three consecutive weekends, beginning on Saturday
night and finishing on Monday evening. For this he was paid $1.15.
Thus began a preaching ministry which lasted for more than 40
years and endeared "Uncle Henry" to hundreds of believers
in rural communities radiating from his Ohio home and carrying
him to West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Michigan, and Illinois.
The period in which Devore preached was marked
by division within the Restoration movement. Devore looked on
the missionary society and instruments of music in worship as
additions to the gospel, which was the only basis for Christian
unity. He wrote, "The spirit that prompts or leads men and
women to introduce into the work and worship of the church of
God anything not absolutely necessary to obey one or all the commands
and ordinances of Jesus Christ, is not the spirit or any part
of the spirit of Christ" (Letter - 1905, 4).
His years of preaching were characterized by hardship
and sacrifice. One time after evangelizing in the Tygart valley
of West Virginia, he wrote, "I am going from here home to
spend a week or more pulling and digging up weeds, and hoeing
out the truck patches. I can serve God acceptably and spend part
of my time in the 'tater patch.' Sometimes I feel like asking,
'What is a preacher without a tater patch and a hen roost?' "
(Letter -1917, 4). His wife Rachel often bore the burden of providing
for the family while her husband was away preaching. She would
send him on his way to answer the calls to preach "But knowing
that I was doing good, she suffered the privation of many enjoyments
in silence." (Preacher, 2).
Devore died on February 15, 1919. He is buried
in Vinton, Ohio.
Articles Cited: W. H. Devore, "How I Became
a Preacher," Christian Leader and the Way 5-29-1906:
2; "Letter From Bro. Devore," Christian Leader and
the Way 7-25-1905: 4; "Letter From Bro. Devore,"
Christian Leader 7-3-19 17: 4; Fred L. Rowe, "William
Henry Devore," Christian Leader 2-25-1919: 8.