DUFFIELD, James Sr.

DUFFIELD, BYERLY, FUNK, MATHIAS

Posted By: Volunteer: Sherri
Date: 8/14/2016 at 16:53:59

JAMES DUFFIELD, SR., deceased, one of the honored pioneers of Van Buren County, located his claim in Van Buren Township, then a part of the Territory of Wisconsin, in the autumn of 1836, and the following spring removed his family to their new home, accomplishing the journey by the means of a yoke of oxen and a team of horses attached to the same wagon.

Mr. Duffield was a native of Maryland. His father, however, was born in Pennsylvania. He became a resident of Maryland and subsequently emigrated on horseback across the mountains to Jefferson County, Ohio, where he engaged in trading. In 1833, he removed to Fulton County, Ill., and in 1837, accompanied by his wife and children he reached Van Buren County, Iowa. His wife, in her maidenhood, was Miss Marietta J. Byerly, a native of Pennsylvania. Unto them were born ten children as follows: Maria, now Mrs. Funk, of Caldwell, Kingman County, Kan.; John who is married, resides in Van Buren County; William, who drowned in 1850, in Henry County; George C.; James, who is married and resides on the old homestead; Joseph, who died in Vicksburg, Miss., in 1849; Elizabeth, wife of Thornton Mathias, of Van Buren Township, Van Buren County; J.H., who is married and resides in Jerseyville, Ill.; Jane, who died in Ohio, at the age of three years; and Henry D., who is married and living in Van Buren County. These children are worthy representatives of their honored parents and as the result of their early training have become useful members of society and valued citizens of the various communities in which they make their homes.

James Duffield, coming as he did to Van Buren County in 1837, had to endure the hardships and privations of pioneer life, such as grinding their own corn meal, going long distances to market, etc. Indians then were more numerous than their white neighbors, wild game of all kinds was plentiful and wolves were frequently killed near the settlement. Neither was it an easy task to transform the hitherto unimproved prairie into a rich and fertile farm, but the work Mr. Duffield accomplished through his energy, perseverance and industry. His days were greatly taken up by his business interests, yet he found sufficient time to devote to public affairs, especially if any enterprise for the benefit of the community was the question in hand. He did all in his power to promote the interests of town and county and was a valued citizen. In political sentiment, he was first a Whig and afterward a Republican, but never sought or desired political preferment. He assisted in the organization of the county and forming of the State; his life has left an impress on the community and with the record of its progress and advancement his history has been inseparably connected. He died at his home in Van Buren County, in 1876, after a long and useful life and his wife was called to her final rest ten years later. Both Mr. and Mrs. Duffield died in the eighty-six year of their age.

Source: Van Buren Co. Genealogical Society Obituary Book G, Page 160, Keosauqua Public Library, Keosauqua, IA