CHAS. A. DURKEE (1833-1902)

DURKEE, RYAN, HINMAN, CAMPBELL, LEWIS

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 10/8/2019 at 18:47:32

OLD SETTLER DEAD
CHAS. A. DURKEE PASSED AWAY TUESDAY MORNING
WAS A PIONEER RESIDENT OF THE COUNTY AND A MAN OF REMARKABLE INDUSTRY
Chas. A. Durkee died at his home in this city Tuesday morning, from an attack of heart disease, from which he had suffered for some time. Few men among the early settlers of the town will be more greatly missed than the deceased. For a period of thirty years or more, he has been one of the best known men of the town and in the early days was one of the most important for he and his violin furnished the inspiration for most of the old time merrymaking when the town was a village. He was an indefatigueable worker and probably moved more houses and built more foundations in the town than any other resident. Through bluff and blunt in exterior, he was warm hearted and genial to those who knew him best and his old friends will mourn him as a good citizen departed.
Chas. A. Durkee was born in Rutland county, VT Aug 22, 1833. At the age of eleven, he accompanied his parents to Wisconsin and two years later to McHenry County, IL. When twenty years old he went to California where he remained for seven years. While blasting rocks in California, he lost a hand and an eye by the premature explosion of a charge of powder.
In 1860 he returned to Illinois and in 1862 he was united in marriage with Mary Ryan, who survives him. He came to this county with his family in '69, taking a homestead in Rock township and a few years later he moved to town where he resided the balance of his days.
Besides his wife, five children survive him. They are Mrs. Frank Hinman of Ft. Dodge; Mrs. T. D. Campbell of this city; Mrs. E. O. Lewis of Montana; George of Minneapolis and Oscar of this city. One son, Charles, was killed in a railroad accident near Sheldon five or six years ago.

Source: The Cherokee Weekly Times, (Cherokee, IA) Thursday, March 27, 1902, Pg. 1