Parents of George P. DeVinny
Ezekiel Jewel DeVinny was born on March 14, 1837, in Blairsville, Pennsyvannia. He married Frances Elizabeth Butterbaugh on March 5, 1863 in Eastrun, Indiana County, Pennsyvannia. They were married in Lizzie's father's home while Ezekiel was on a ten-day furlough from the army. They had six children: Harry M. (born December 3, 1865), Belila Jane ("Jennie," born March 15, 1868, died in 1905), Mary E. ("Molly," born March 29, 1871), George P., born December 30, 1875, died in 1960), Alexander (born February 28, 1979 or '80), and Arta Ora (born March 20, 1888). He died on November 5, 1915 and was buried in Gottenburg, Nebraska. He was a carriage maker. He was a blacksmith by trade. he was 5'11" tall. He had blue eyes, light hair, and a fair complexion. His mother's maiden name was Drake.
He enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War from July 10, 1861 to June 13, 1864. He was sick from August 1862 to September 20, 1962. He applied for a disability pension in 1889, claiming that he had strained himself after the battle of Bull Run in August 1862, causing him to suffer from piles and heart disease. His application was denied. He reapplied and was granted a pension of $12 a month in 1890. It was later increased to $15 a month and again to $30 a month. After the war ended he lived in Pennsyvannia until 1884. He moved to Nebraska and lived there until 1891. Then he lived in Kansas and Indiana Territory for nine months, in Nebraska for seven years, in Colorado for one year, and in Nebraska after that until his death. From 1930 onwards Ezekiel and Lizzie lived in the Soldiers and Sailers Home in Burkett, Nebraska.
[Most of this information is in a diary that Ezekiel DeVinny wrote during the Civil War.]
Civil War documentation
Apparently, our great grandfather Ezekiel DeVinny wrote the words to the well known hymn Life's Railway to Heaven, but didn't publish or copyright the poem, and somehow later Charlie D. Tillman obtained a copy, and got with M. E. Abbey who composed the tune. Searching the web, I found a site devoted to this hymn which states "The origin of this song is murky," and mentions Eliza Snow as possible author of the poem.
See http://www.preciouslordtakemyhand.com/christianhymns/lifemountainroad.html.
Here is the poem.
Life's Railway to Heaven
Written by E. J. DeVinny (father of George P. DeVinny)
Life is like a mountain railroad
With an Engineer that's brave.
We must make the Run successful
From the cradle to the grave.
Watch the curves, the fills, the tunnels
Never falter, never fail,
Keep your hand upon the throttle
And your eyes upon the rail.
Blessed Saviour, thou wilt guide us,
Till we reach that blessed shore,
Where the angels wait to join us
In Thy praise forevermore.
You will roll up grades of trial,
You will cross the bridge of strife.
See that Christ is your Conductor
On the lightning train of life.
Always mindful of obstruction,
Do your duty, never fail,
Keep your hand upon the throttle
And your eyes upon the rail.
You will always find obstructions,
Look for storms of wind and rain,
On a fill or curve or trestle,
They will almost ditch your train.
Put your trust alone in Jesus,
Never falter, never fail.
Keep your hand upon the throttle
And your eyes upon the rail.
As you roll across the trestle,
Spanning death's dark swelling tide,
You behold the Union Depot
Into which your train will glide.
There you'll meet the Superintendent,
God the Father, God the Son,
With the hearty, joyous plaudit,
Weary pilgrim, Welcome Home.
