From "Pioneering in the Shadow of Chimney Rock" by Leon Moomaw
W. P. DeVAULT
W. P. DeVault arrived in the area in December 1888, taking a homestead north of the new village of Bayard. Their first house was built of black-root sod secured real near the place where they located the house. Dan Hults dug an 80 foot well for him but found no water.
Just exactly what caused Mr. DeVault to come West is not known. He may have been influenced by family relationships. Mrs. DeVault's brother, Elbert Campbell, had filed on a homestead earlier. Mrs. Sarah Campbell, Mrs. DeVault's mother, also had taken a homestead. Her brother, David Lamson, was a Seventh Day Adventist preacher who held services at the "Old Sod Church." Later, Mr. DeVault's father and mother, a brother and two sisters came West, so kinship surely did have some influence in their lives.
When living on the homestead, Mr. DeVault tells of an instance when 4500 steers which were being driven to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, made deep paths in black root sod as they crossed his place. In the early days, Mr. DeVault was asked the question, what was his first mode of travel? His reply was, "walking." Old timers verify the fact that he did walk a great deal, having no other means of travel.
W. P. DeVault was one of those men who had the ability to fill in wherever needed. He taught at least two terms of school. In one of the early elections, he defeated Thomas Winter for Justice of the Peace, but never qualified -- he often took part on programs at celebrations -- he was at one time the defendant's lawyer in a case brought before the Justice of the peace -- he was at another time, elected as County Commissioner of Morrill County. In later years, Mr. DeVault was associated with W. T. McKelvey in the Real Estate business. They were affiliated with The Payne Investment Company helping to dispose of a great deal of land in this section.
In the Early day, Mr. DeVault had used his homestead as the basis for a sheep ranch and kept a band of sheep for many years. Early records show that he was constantly improving the quality of his herd. He was quite successful in carrying his flock through the winter with a limited amount of feed, yet with little loss.
Mr. DeVault finally sold his homestead for $650 or just a little more than $4 per acre. By the time his children were of school age the family moved to town where they all attended school. In 1921 Maude, on of the DeVault girls, was married to Chris E. Moberg. Mr. Moberg began working for the Great Western Sugar Company at Eaton, Colorado, in 1913. He continued in their employ coming to the Bayard factory in 1920 and was retired in 1955, making a total service of 42 years for the company -- 35 years of which were in Bayard. Mrs. Moberg has been the faithful librarian at the City Library for many years.
Special mention should be made of the DeVault sisters, Lizzie and Emma. They took a very active part in all of the early day church and social functions, also working in numerous positions. Later, Miss Emma DeVault became the wife of Charles H. Harpole. Today a worthy representative is found in George R. Harpole.
W. P. DeVAULT
W. P. DeVault arrived in the area in December 1888, taking a homestead north of the new village of Bayard. Their first house was built of black-root sod secured real near the place where they located the house. Dan Hults dug an 80 foot well for him but found no water.
Just exactly what caused Mr. DeVault to come West is not known. He may have been influenced by family relationships. Mrs. DeVault's brother, Elbert Campbell, had filed on a homestead earlier. Mrs. Sarah Campbell, Mrs. DeVault's mother, also had taken a homestead. Her brother, David Lamson, was a Seventh Day Adventist preacher who held services at the "Old Sod Church." Later, Mr. DeVault's father and mother, a brother and two sisters came West, so kinship surely did have some influence in their lives.
When living on the homestead, Mr. DeVault tells of an instance when 4500 steers which were being driven to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, made deep paths in black root sod as they crossed his place. In the early days, Mr. DeVault was asked the question, what was his first mode of travel? His reply was, "walking." Old timers verify the fact that he did walk a great deal, having no other means of travel.
W. P. DeVault was one of those men who had the ability to fill in wherever needed. He taught at least two terms of school. In one of the early elections, he defeated Thomas Winter for Justice of the Peace, but never qualified -- he often took part on programs at celebrations -- he was at one time the defendant's lawyer in a case brought before the Justice of the peace -- he was at another time, elected as County Commissioner of Morrill County. In later years, Mr. DeVault was associated with W. T. McKelvey in the Real Estate business. They were affiliated with The Payne Investment Company helping to dispose of a great deal of land in this section.
In the Early day, Mr. DeVault had used his homestead as the basis for a sheep ranch and kept a band of sheep for many years. Early records show that he was constantly improving the quality of his herd. He was quite successful in carrying his flock through the winter with a limited amount of feed, yet with little loss.
Mr. DeVault finally sold his homestead for $650 or just a little more than $4 per acre. By the time his children were of school age the family moved to town where they all attended school. In 1921 Maude, on of the DeVault girls, was married to Chris E. Moberg. Mr. Moberg began working for the Great Western Sugar Company at Eaton, Colorado, in 1913. He continued in their employ coming to the Bayard factory in 1920 and was retired in 1955, making a total service of 42 years for the company -- 35 years of which were in Bayard. Mrs. Moberg has been the faithful librarian at the City Library for many years.
Special mention should be made of the DeVault sisters, Lizzie and Emma. They took a very active part in all of the early day church and social functions, also working in numerous positions. Later, Miss Emma DeVault became the wife of Charles H. Harpole. Today a worthy representative is found in George R. Harpole.
From "Pioneering in the Shadow of Chimney Rock" by Leon Moomaw
W. P. DeVAULT
W. P. DeVault arrived in the area in December 1888, taking a homestead north of the new village of Bayard. Their first house was built of black-root sod secured real near the place where they located the house. Dan Hults dug an 80 foot well for him but found no water.
Just exactly what caused Mr. DeVault to come West is not known. He may have been influenced by family relationships. Mrs. DeVault's brother, Elbert Campbell, had filed on a homestead earlier. Mrs. Sarah Campbell, Mrs. DeVault's mother, also had taken a homestead. Her brother, David Lamson, was a Seventh Day Adventist preacher who held services at the "Old Sod Church." Later, Mr. DeVault's father and mother, a brother and two sisters came West, so kinship surely did have some influence in their lives.
When living on the homestead, Mr. DeVault tells of an instance when 4500 steers which were being driven to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, made deep paths in black root sod as they crossed his place. In the early days, Mr. DeVault was asked the question, what was his first mode of travel? His reply was, "walking." Old timers verify the fact that he did walk a great deal, having no other means of travel.
W. P. DeVault was one of those men who had the ability to fill in wherever needed. He taught at least two terms of school. In one of the early elections, he defeated Thomas Winter for Justice of the Peace, but never qualified -- he often took part on programs at celebrations -- he was at one time the defendant's lawyer in a case brought before the Justice of the peace -- he was at another time, elected as County Commissioner of Morrill County. In later years, Mr. DeVault was associated with W. T. McKelvey in the Real Estate business. They were affiliated with The Payne Investment Company helping to dispose of a great deal of land in this section.
In the Early day, Mr. DeVault had used his homestead as the basis for a sheep ranch and kept a band of sheep for many years. Early records show that he was constantly improving the quality of his herd. He was quite successful in carrying his flock through the winter with a limited amount of feed, yet with little loss.
Mr. DeVault finally sold his homestead for $650 or just a little more than $4 per acre. By the time his children were of school age the family moved to town where they all attended school. In 1921 Maude, on of the DeVault girls, was married to Chris E. Moberg. Mr. Moberg began working for the Great Western Sugar Company at Eaton, Colorado, in 1913. He continued in their employ coming to the Bayard factory in 1920 and was retired in 1955, making a total service of 42 years for the company -- 35 years of which were in Bayard. Mrs. Moberg has been the faithful librarian at the City Library for many years.
Special mention should be made of the DeVault sisters, Lizzie and Emma. They took a very active part in all of the early day church and social functions, also working in numerous positions. Later, Miss Emma DeVault became the wife of Charles H. Harpole. Today a worthy representative is found in George R. Harpole.
W. P. DeVAULT
W. P. DeVault arrived in the area in December 1888, taking a homestead north of the new village of Bayard. Their first house was built of black-root sod secured real near the place where they located the house. Dan Hults dug an 80 foot well for him but found no water.
Just exactly what caused Mr. DeVault to come West is not known. He may have been influenced by family relationships. Mrs. DeVault's brother, Elbert Campbell, had filed on a homestead earlier. Mrs. Sarah Campbell, Mrs. DeVault's mother, also had taken a homestead. Her brother, David Lamson, was a Seventh Day Adventist preacher who held services at the "Old Sod Church." Later, Mr. DeVault's father and mother, a brother and two sisters came West, so kinship surely did have some influence in their lives.
When living on the homestead, Mr. DeVault tells of an instance when 4500 steers which were being driven to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, made deep paths in black root sod as they crossed his place. In the early days, Mr. DeVault was asked the question, what was his first mode of travel? His reply was, "walking." Old timers verify the fact that he did walk a great deal, having no other means of travel.
W. P. DeVault was one of those men who had the ability to fill in wherever needed. He taught at least two terms of school. In one of the early elections, he defeated Thomas Winter for Justice of the Peace, but never qualified -- he often took part on programs at celebrations -- he was at one time the defendant's lawyer in a case brought before the Justice of the peace -- he was at another time, elected as County Commissioner of Morrill County. In later years, Mr. DeVault was associated with W. T. McKelvey in the Real Estate business. They were affiliated with The Payne Investment Company helping to dispose of a great deal of land in this section.
In the Early day, Mr. DeVault had used his homestead as the basis for a sheep ranch and kept a band of sheep for many years. Early records show that he was constantly improving the quality of his herd. He was quite successful in carrying his flock through the winter with a limited amount of feed, yet with little loss.
Mr. DeVault finally sold his homestead for $650 or just a little more than $4 per acre. By the time his children were of school age the family moved to town where they all attended school. In 1921 Maude, on of the DeVault girls, was married to Chris E. Moberg. Mr. Moberg began working for the Great Western Sugar Company at Eaton, Colorado, in 1913. He continued in their employ coming to the Bayard factory in 1920 and was retired in 1955, making a total service of 42 years for the company -- 35 years of which were in Bayard. Mrs. Moberg has been the faithful librarian at the City Library for many years.
Special mention should be made of the DeVault sisters, Lizzie and Emma. They took a very active part in all of the early day church and social functions, also working in numerous positions. Later, Miss Emma DeVault became the wife of Charles H. Harpole. Today a worthy representative is found in George R. Harpole.
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