Thomas Jefferson Duryea 1834-1913

DURYEA, FOX

Posted By: deb (email)
Date: 5/1/2015 at 23:02:50

The Burlington Hawk-Eye

MR. P. (sic) J. DURYEA IS DEAD

Well Known Former Resident of Des Monies County.

Passes Away in Morning Sun (IA) -- Was Railroad Timber Contractor.

P. (sic: T.) J. Duryea, one of the best known pioneer residents of Des Moines county, but lately of Morning Sun, Iowa, passed to his reward yesterday noon, following a stroke of paralysis, which affected him just twenty-four hours previously. Mr. Duryea was seventy-nine (sic) years of age at the time of his death, and leaves a widow and seven grown children. He was born in Ohio, and lived there with his parents until he was twenty-two years of age, when he accompanied the family to Burlington, coming by river route. He arrived here in 1856, and soon went with his father to the vicinity of Kingston.

There his father assisted in locating and founding the town of Kingston, which was named after a fellow settler named King.

T. J. Duryea had learned the art of wood sawing, and he soon became prominent in the railroad timber supply business. He erected saw mills at various points of advantage in Des Moines county, and supplied ties and bridge timbers to the various railroads in this locality. He supplied all of the ties for the construction of the Burlington street railway systems up to the year 1888. He also supplied all of the ties for the Burlington Cedar Rapids & Northern from Burlington to Cedar Rapids, and continued to supply that road with timbers for many years. In this capacity he was one of the best known business men in the locality. In 1892 he retired from business and moved to Morning Sun where he spent the remainder of his life with the exception of two years which he spent in Seattle, Washington. While he made a good deal of money in his business there were risks, but he died comfortably situated.

Mr. Duryea was married to Miss Harriet P. Fox in Kingston on June 3, 1858. Ten children were born to this union, seven of whom are still living. The seven are: W. O. Duryea, of Morning Sun; C. A. Duryea, of South Bend, Washington; Mrs. Anna Idella Wyman (sic) of Morning Sun; J. B. Duryea, of Seattle, Washington; Mrs. Harriet Lynn, of Seattle, Washington; G. P. Duryea, of Raymond, Washington, and K. J. Duryea, of Los Angeles, California.

The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, January 16, with burial at Elmwood Cemetery, Morning Sun. Reverend Mr. Cameron of the Methodist church there, will conduct the services. A number of relatives from Chicago and other localities are expected to be absent.

Mr. Duryea was an upright man, who believed in the golden rule, and had not an enemy on earth. He was a democrat in politics and held several offices in Des Moines county.