HISTORY OF DURANT
Cedar County, Iowa

”Because I live in the present and believe in the future, I must know the story of the past”
Cyrenus Cole

History? What is history? Noah Webster defines it as “a systematic account of events as distinguished from a romance; a description.” This, then is the history of the birth and development of a little town we know and love – the town we can’t forget – Durant, Iowa, U. S. A. Our town has had a quiet history, however, for no battles were bought here nor has any earth-shaking event taken place here. But through the years, it has stood out on the prairie where one comes upon it somewhat unexpectedly, and it has faced whatever came to it with a calm strength and peace.

The wheels of time have rolled on to the notch 1954 and our citizens pause to look back upon the courage, foresight, ideals and endeavors of our founding fathers and those capable ones who followed and to review the forces that have created this town.

First, let us recall that after the Louisiana Purchase by the United States in 1803, Iowa was wholly and solely reserved for the Indians and that until 1833, Iowa was transferred from one territorial jurisdiction to another. It was government policy not to open the lands to settlers, but to hold them as hunting grounds for Indian tribes which had been forced out of lands east of the Mississippi River. It is a known fact that Chief Poweshiek camped in these parts in 1836 and 1837, and the braves of his Sac and Fox tribes roamed over the entire county in their hunting expeditions. Thus, except for a few fur traders and half-breeds, there were none but Indians in these borders.

The first territorial jurisdiction of importance was that of June 1834 when congress extended the territory of Michigan to include Wisconsin and Iowa. A short time later what is not Iowa was divided into two counties, the southern half was designated Des Moines County and the northern half was termed Dubuque County. In 1835 the Territory of Wisconsin was created and we became part of it and remained so until July 4, 1838 when the Territory of Iowa was established with Robert Lucas as Governor.

The first settler in this vicinity, which later became Durant, was David W. Walton, familiarly known as Colonel, from his having been appointed to the command of a regiment in the territorial militia. He was a native of New Jersey who emigrated to Indiana. Having heard of the richness and fertility of the land of the Blackhawk Purchase, he determined to find out the truth of these statements by personal examination. Accordingly, in the summer of 1835, he and his son, George, made an exploring trip to Iowa, and, after having traveled over and examined a great portion of what afterward became Cedar County, he chose a location near a small stream which he named Sugar Creek because of the fine growth of sugar maples on its banks. Timber and water supply were the first concern of the pioneer. Here, on this location, they spent the summer during which time they staked out two claims on the south half of Section Fifteen, Township seventy-none, Range Two in Cedar county, erected a log cabin and started making improvements. Recall that at this time there were no roads of any kind to guide them. A pocket compass, the North Star and the wind or the source of a stream were their only guides. The prairies had scarcely, if ever, been disturbed by the feet of the invading white man. The immigrants came by wagon, on foot or on horseback.

Walton and son George returned to Indiana late in the fall. The following April, the Colonel with his family, consisting of his wife, five sons and two daughters, returned to Iowa amply provided with all the essentials for frontier life, including a breaking team of four yoke of find looking, strong and heavy oxen, a plow, wagons, and horses. This plow and an ox yoke are still preserved and are in the possession of a great grandson, Lon Walton.

This plow and an ox yoke are still preserved and are in the possession of a great grandson, Lon Walton. Colonel Walton and party crossed the Mississippi at Davenport on May 1, 1836 and arrived at the log cabin he had constructed the previous year and commenced their permanent settlement on May 10, 1836; thus entitling him to the honor of being the first settler in Cedar County, and to his wife goes the honor of being the first white woman to prepare a meal in a house in this County. A year or so later one of his daughters became the first bride in the County. Mrs. Walton never tired of telling that when they arrived on that beautiful May morning, flowers were blooming everywhere, the birds were singing a welcome song, and the whole family agreed they had come to paradise. This home was several miles west of what later became Durant. Colonel Walton, tall, dark and handsome, was a fine specimen of a hardy pioneer. He was honest and straight-forward, an unerring rifle shot, and it is said that once, single handed, he killed a pack of wolves on the spot where the Wilton Methodist Church now stands. At the time he arrived in Iowa, he was forty-seven years of age. He died of cholera in 1850 at the age of sixty-one.

Surveys of the land were not started until 1836 when the first legal land sales were held in the county seats at Dubuque and Burling in the newly created Iowa Territory. No other settlers came to this vicinity until 1838 when Harrison Gray and George, Paul and John Hanson and their father arrived and settled just over the boundary line in Muscatine County. The Peter Daum family came in 1844 and settled one mile west of here. In October, 1852 the Matthew Brown family arrived from New York State, and they brought with them several workmen and their families to construct their new home which was just south of town where Louie Sebelien now resides. That same month James Young and family and the J. H. Pingrey family arrived. Mr. Pingrey purchased one thousand acres of land in Muscatine County.

Mr. Brown was a man of education and strong principles, and with his wife, four daughters and one son, took an active part in the community development. The son, Benton W. Brown, was station agent in Durant for thirty years. A grandson, Mr. A. B. Nelson, of Durant, survives and has taken an active interest in civic, religious, and educational activities throughout his lifetime.

So rapidly had the population of the Iowa Territory increased, that in 1846 she was admitted to statehood, but the stage coach, the steamboat and the faithful ox teams and horses were the only means of transportation. Railroads from the east were pushing westward, carrying to isolated settlements many of the comforts of a less strenuous life. In 1854 the railroad reached the Mississippi river, and the river was spanned by a railroad bridge the same year. Iowa’s first railroad, the Mississippi and Missouri, or the M & M as it was popularly known, was in effect, an extension of the Rock Island Road in Illinois and was scheduled to become a part of that system.

In the spring of 1853 Peter A. Day and Grenville M. Dodge, later a famed Civil War general, were told to commence proposed railroad surveys in Iowa from the bridge to Iowa City. That summer Mr. Hiram Price, one of the organizers of the M & M, set out to interest people in the advantages of a railroad and sell stock and persuade towns and counties to issue bonds. However, to his surprise and disgust, he found that Iowans were not generally eager to see the coming of the railroad and they refused to believe that a railroad could raise the price of their produce. About this time Council Bluff’s residents state that they “did not think a railroad of much consequence, but rather was an interference with the Diving plan, and, therefore, not to be encouraged because when the Supreme Architect finished the world, he pronounced it good without a railroad.”

But the railroad did come to Iowa. In 1853 the M & M company surveyed across the Matthew Brown farm, and the surveyors used the Brown home as headquarters. Likewise, the following year, when the road was under construction, several of the men in charge boarded at the Browns. Railroad construction workers were paid the unheard of wages of $1.50 per day.

In 1854 Benjamin B. Brayton, a civil engineer in the employ of the Rock Island Railroad, came here to negotiate railroad business. The orginal plan had been to build the road across the northern part of Muscatine County, but Brayton and his friends, John Adams Dix and Thomas C. Durant of Union Pacific fame, owned land just over the boundary line in Cedar County and changed the course of the railroad to go through their holdings.

That same year 1854, a town was laid out and platted by Brayton. However, a short time later Mr. Durant announced that he would give the sum of $800.00 for the erection of a school house and Brayton changed the name of the new town to Durant in honor of his esteemed friend. One of their first concerns was for the town water supply, and the village well was sunk in June, 1854 on the site of the Pioneer Seed Corn Office. Brayton, Dix and Durant owned a large portion of the town until 1877 when their last interests were sold.

The town of Durant is located twenty miles west of Davenport in the southeast corner of Cedar County. The Muscatine County line is the south boundary line of the town and the Scott County line forms the eastern boundary. The elevation of the town is seven hundred twenty feet. Durant is on the main line of the Rock Island east and west and on U.S. Highway No. 6. It is in the heart of the corn belt and the midst of a prosperous community where farming is now done by the most modern of mechanized methods. Here every one looks to the soil for a livelihood.

On the first town survey half squares were set aside in the north part of town for a schoolhouse and an Episcopal Church, as all three of the town founders embraced that faith, and two large public squares were set aside for park purposes; one in the east part of town and one in the west part. The latter square has always been known as West Park and has been the scene of many, many happy occasions such as dances, picnics, homecomings and all types of community activities. In 1867 the park was planted with maples and elms and these have supplied shade and beauty to old and young for nearly ninety years.

Durant was first recorded as a town June 27, 1855. The first settlers were from New Haven, Connecticut, but by the time the railroad was completed, they were coming in from other New England States and New York and Pennsylvania. Mr. Joseph Weaver, a Princeton graduate and attorney from Pittsburgh, had arrived in 1854 and farmed north of Durant for forty years. He married Catherine Brown, daughter of Matthew Brown.

The first building in town was erected by James Young, a young carpenter, in August, 1855 on the corner where the Wm. Trede building now stands. A short time later, a hotel and a depot were built. The depot, on the site of the present depot, was the first building erected expressly for that purpose in the State of Iowa. It was a large building and did service both as a station and as a church for several years. But because it proved too large for this place, it was moved to Muscatine where it served as a depot for many years. The hotel still stands and has since been remodeled into the Matheny apartments. The hotel was built by Cook and Sargeant of Davenport and was a stop on the old stage coach route. A large livery stable stood just south of the hotel. The hotel was leased to H. S. Downs of Boston, Massachusetts, who also was the first station agent and owner of the first store. In the spring of 1856 Mr. Allen Nesbitt bought the hotel and operated it until his death in 1874. In 1856 Mr. Downs built a fine home which is now known as the Dutton residence. After residing there for several years, Mr. Downs sold the home to the Episcopal Church for use as a rectory.

The Mississippi and Missouri Railroad was completed as far as Wilton on September 19, 1855, and October 1st of that year saw the coming of the first hated and feared locomotive crossing Iowa prairies. What excitement! Many were the dire predictions heard about this terrible steam monster!

Iowa City was most desirous of having the railroad extended to their city and offered a bonus of $50,000.00 provided a train of cars drawn by a steam locomotive would arrive a the depot in Iowa City on or before December 31, 1855. All eastern Iowa was agog over whether or not they would complete the railroad in time to claim the bonus and rejoiced with railroad officials and workmen and citizens of Iowa City when the goal was reached just as the church bells rang in the New Year of 1856.

The M & M was purchased by the Rock Island in 1866 but the railroad across Iowa was not completed until 1869 when it was extended as far as Council Bluffs.

Joseph Weaver had the honor of making the first rail shipment from Durant when he shipped six hundred bushels of wheat to Davenport on a construction car and was paid One Dollar per bushel for same. A short time later six barrels of game were shipped on a freight car. It was said that wild turkeys were so plentiful at that time that as many as a hundred birds were shot in one day.

The first religious service conducted by a clergyman was held in the depot in March, 1856. This service was conducted by Episcopal Bishop Henry W. Lee who delivered his sermon from a hastily constructed pulpit consisting of two boxes, the upper one having been a case of champagne. The Bishop organized the group as St. Paul’s Episcopal Church at the request of several in attendance who had long been members of St. Paul’s in New Haven, Connecticut. The following year saw the completion of a church building in the north part of town where the Joe McCoy tool shed now stands. For several years following the Civil War the Episcopal Rector and his wife and mother-in-law conducted a private school for girls in the church rectory and enrolled a number of out of town as well as local girls. The essentials of high school education were taught as well as some of the fine arts. The rector’s wife was an excellent musician and gave piano instruction. In 1880 an Episcopal Co-educational high school was built on the corner now occupied by the Wm. Bockwoldt home. This was in existence for several years under the direction of Rev. Stroh.

Within a few years several other congregations were formed. The Methodist Church was built where the Wm. Johansen house stands, and the Christian church in south Durant stood where the George Bierkamp home is located. These buildings were sold as the congregations dwindled and were remodeled into residences. A Congregational Church flourished for several years, but after membership decreased, it was sold in 1896 to the Episcopal Church where services are still being held. The Rev. W. R. Bagby is the present Vicar. St. Martha’s Guild is a group of very active church women organized to assist in all church projects. Mrs. Elmer Langmann is the 1954 president.

On June 30, 1856 the Durant School District became a reality, and during 1857, a school was conducted by Lafayette Parker in one room in the hotel. He was paid the magnificent salary of Three Dollars per month. A schoolhouse was built in the spring of 1858 on a half block of land donated by Cook and Sargeant. The twenty-six by thirty foot building cost $800.00 which had been previously donated by Mr. Durant, and was located on the present schoolhouse site. It served the community until 1869 when a new building was erected. A third building was constructed in 1904 and this building together with the gymnasium which was added in 1938 and the agriculture, shop and hot lunch annex which was added in 1951 still serve the youth of the community. The first birth recorded in the town was that of the daughter born to Mr. and Mrs. Isaac N. Gilbert in December, 1857. She was named Mary Durant, and received, according to promise, from the founders of the town, a warranty deed to the lot north of the Turner Hall where the Herman Voss house is now located. The Gilbert family returned to New York State years ago.

The first physician of the community was Dr. Erastus. B. Bills of Connecticut who came in 1855. He was a Yale graduate and served the community faithfully and well until his death in 1902. In addition to his duties as a doctor, he also served as postmaster for a period, was an active vestryman in St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, was a Justice of the Peace and represented Cedar County in the State Legislature for a time. His office occupied the corner where the Trede Electric Company now stands and his residence was located on the corner now occupied by the Dr. J. E. Christiansen home. The fine old elm tree at the corner of the Henry Glaser residence was set out by Dr. Bills and still stands as a living memorial to him.

For the next ten years Durant continued to grow as glowing tales of the opportunities in Iowa were circulated. It has been said that Cedar County, formed late in 1836, was about thirty years in settling, yet by 1854, it is safe to say that very little virgin prairie land was left in the hands of the government. During the late fifties young German immigrants began to come to the community. Some had been exiled by the Schleswig-Holstein War, but all found the freedom and opportunity they sought and remained here. They were honest, industrious and thrifty, and made the most desirable type of citizens. Later they bought farms on borrowed capital from eastern bankers at the exorbitant rate of two and one-half to three percent interest. Today the grandchildren and great-grandchildren of these sturdy immigrants carry on in the best tradition.

While Durant was recorded was recorded as a town in 1855, it was not incorporated until July 5, 1867. Mr. Allen Nesbitt was the first elected mayor and served until his untimely death in 1874. The story goes that one night the Orcutt and Loomis store was discovered on fire, and Mr. Nesbitt, who was head of the volunteer fire department, had just entered the burning building when a barrel of gun powder exploded causing injuries from which he died a few weeks later.

Thus did Durant begin. From the virgin Iowa prairies, a town began to grow. Men and women of the finest type came from the east and from lands across the water and settled here, built homes, established business enterprises, broke the prairie and worked the rich black soil and did their part to make a great America.

Durant has not been unscathed by war. Young men from Durant have fought in all the major wars beginning with Jacob Weaver, a Revolutionary War soldier, and even today a number of our fine young men serve in the armed forces both at home and overseas. One of the outstanding service men is Colonel Victor Byrnes, Assistant Surgeon of the Air Force in Europe, who is widely recognized eye specialist. Several of our young women too have served in various capacities during World War II and the Korean Conflict, and one of the most noteworthy of these is Captain Bernice Sebelien now serving in the Army Nurse Corps.

It is known that the Abolitionist John Brown had sympathizers in these parts in the late fifties prior to the Civil War, and that Cedar County served as the rallying point for Brown and his followers, and the quantities of arms and ammunition were shipped from nearby West Liberty. Undoubtedly these supplies as well as Brown and his men passed through Durant.

In April 1880, the Durant Volunteer Fire Department was organized, and since that time they have been commended for their speed and efficiency in fighting fires and have kept local fire losses to a minimum. Their first equipment was a hose cart. A few years later they added a hook and ladder wagon. In 1919 they purchased a fire truck with three chemical tanks, and some time later purchased another truck. The new truck was then designated as the town truck and the chemical truck was reserved for the surrounding rural districts. In 1950 a completely modern truck was purchased, and it is the last word in fire fighting equipment. The present Fire Chief is Raymond Christensen.

Durant has always been noted for its well kept homes surrounded by lovely lawns and gardens and for its fine parks. The two larger parks are located in the east and west parts of town and the Pythian Park is located along main street on railroad property. For years this space was the stockyards and later the village dumping ground, and was a dreadful eyesore to our fastidious townspeople. In 1914 the Rock Island Railroad gave a ninety-nine year lease to the local Pythian Sisters, and they have converted it into a beauty spot of renown, and they supervise and pay for its upkeep.

East Park was renamed in 1938 and became officially known as the Samuel A. Dutton Memorial Park in memory of S. A. Dutton, a Civil War veteran and a colorful character. He loved to work with the children and young people of the community and was active in Sunday School work for more than fifty years. He came to Durant in 1866 from Connecticut and farmed just north of town and took an active part in religious, patriotic and political events until his death in December, 1928. Also he was a lover of nature and donated and set out many of the rare and beautiful trees in Dutton Park just east of his residence.

Unique in the town’s institutions is the building known as the Chapel. It was built in 1915 with funds raised by a local group of earnest women organized as the Ladies Aid Society. They solicited funds to the amount of $498.30 and started construction, and this energetic group of women raised more than $3000.00 to pay off the indebtedness and make improvements from time to time. Through the years this building has housed the Union Sunday School, provided a meeting place for Presbyterians and Lutherans and has been the scene of many happy events as well as countless funerals. This organization is still most active and Mrs. B. C. Denkmann is now the president.

The Lutheran Church was organized in Durant in June, 1938 I the Chapel, and they have held services there ever since that date. They sponsor an organization for the young people of the church which is called the Luther League, and the women of the church are active in the Lutheran Circle. An annual event is the Mother-Daughter Banquet served by the ladies of the Lutheran Circle. Rev. C. O. Carlson was the first pastor. Rev. Leighland Johnson is the present pastor, and the church membership is steadily increasing.

Our town has had a still has a number of fine organizations which have meant a great deal to the civic and social life of the community. Turngemeinde was begun in 1874 and gave excellent instruction in athletics, fencing, turning and tumbling. Frank Haller was First Speaker and Martin Beuthien was Secretary. Later the Damen Auxiliary to the Turngemeinde was organized and flourished until 1936 when it was discontinued. Mrs. Christ Sorgenfrey was the first president and Mrs. Dorette Samberg was secretary. Kranken Unterstutzung Verein was organized in 1890 and was a charitable organization as the name indicates but was discontinued a number of years ago.

A Modern Woodmen Camp existed for some time but it is no longer in existence. Henrietta Camp No. 4617 Royal Neighbors of America, auxiliary to Modern Woodmen, was organized in November, 1906, and is still active. Mrs. Emma Denkmann was the first Oracle and the present Oracle is Mrs. Fred Moeller.

Knights of Pythias Lodge No. 265 was organized in May, 1902 with Mr. Ernst Diedrich as Chancellor Commander. The present membership is one hundred twenty-three and Ralph Erps is Chancellor Commander. Durant Temple No. 178 Pythian Sisters was organized in August, 1904 by Mrs. Ernst Diedrich with Mrs. Frances Johnson as Most Excellent Chief. The present membership is eighty-six sisters and nine knights. Mrs. Mate Bierkamp and Miss Claudia Boldt are the only remaining charter members of the group. The temple supports many community activities, but their special project is the upkeep of Pythian Park. Mrs. A. J. Mumm and Mrs. Lou Stark Garris have brought fame to Durant Temple by virtue of their having served as Grand Chiefs of Iowa and California respectively. Mrs. Joe McCoy is the Most Excellent Chief for 1954, their golden anniversary year.

In 1920 the J. L. Shryer Post of the American Legion was organized with Dr. T. D. Jacobs as Commander. It was named for Lt. J. L. Shryer, Medical Officer, who died in 1918 while serving in France. They are an organization that has meant much to the community, and they own their Legion Home. They sponsor the Boy Scout and Cub Scout Troops. Today the membership is hundred fifteen and Dave Beiler is the Commander. Also in 1920 Mrs. Dorette Samberg organized and was the first president of the American Legion Auxiliary. They support community activities and do a great amount of work for hospitalized veterans and their families. Mrs. Ray Larson is now president and the unit has sixty-two members.

The Durant Community Club has been active since 1922 when it was organized by Mr. D. C. Wunder and Mr. H. A. Miller. Its purpose is to promote the best interests in Durant and vicinity. One of their present annual events is the well attended Father-Son Banquet which is held in the Chapel and is served by the famous cooks of the Ladies Aid. For the past several years they have sponsored the Summer Recreation Program for the children of the community. Dr. W. B. Weeber is the president for 1954.

In 1923 the Durant Woman’s Club was organized and Mrs. A. F. Schiele was elected president in 1924 when it affiliated with the General Federation. This group has ever shown a most active interest in civic and cultural affairs of the town. They sponsor the Brownie and Girl Scout Troops. In 1932 they presented a splendid George Washington bi-centennial pageant and are in charge of the 1954 centennial pageant depicting the high points in Durant’s first one hundred years. This pageant was written and directed by Mr. Rod Vahl of the Durant High School faculty. Mrs. Harlan Finck is pageant chairman and Mrs. Leo Rosenberger is president of the club.

The Red Cross Chapter has met every emergency call which has come to it since World War I days. Mrs. A. B. Nelson headed this organization for thirty years during which time Durant ladies have diligently sewed, knitted or rolled bandages as the need arose. During World War II Dr. J. E. Christiansen conducted First Aid Classes. Alma Hartz Iker, R.N. gave Red Cross Home Nursing instruction, and a group of ladies made surgical dressings under the able supervision of Mrs. Harry Horn and Mrs. Waldo Horn. For the past several years the chapter has provided Reed Cross Swimming instruction to the children of the community. Dr. James M. Hood is now the chapter chairman.

The Durant Garden Club is a worthwhile organization studying and encouraging all phases of flower gardening. Their annual flower shop is a delightful social event. The club was organized in 1939 with Mrs. Alice Schiele as its first president. Mrs. B. C. Denkmann is the 1954 president.

The Parent Teacher Association has a large membership that is active in promoting the general welfare of the children of the community and co-operation between parents and the school. Mrs. LeRoy Frick was the first president and Mrs. Bernice Schnede is the 1954-55 president.

Public utilities in Durant are highly satisfactory, and the town is well serviced by the Municipal Light Plant which was built in 1942 on the site of the old town hall erected in 1891. Today the plant has four generators in operation. In 1953 mercury vapor street lights were installed, a far cry from the old kerosene street lights of long ago when Mr. Engel walked from lamp-post to lamp-post carrying his ladder and pausing to mount the ladder and light each lamp with a match. The following morning he reversed his procedure, filled each lamp and carefully cleaned the chimney. Gas mains were laid in 1898 and street lights were modernized. In 1914 the Iowa Electric Company began service and furnished power to the town until 1942, when citizens voted municipal service. Robert Riggle is Superintendent at the Municipal Light Plant. The E. E. A. furnishes poser to most of the rural homes in a wide territory surrounding the town. Our telephone service is furnished by the United Telephone Company.

In 1905 Julius Lage created a sensation as he drove down the streets in the town’s firs automobile – a Stanley Steamer! Dame Fortune had again smiled on Durant as we were now the White Pole Road, later named the River to River Road across the state. The Iowa law of 1904 had provided that if a car approached a horse and buggy on the road, the car must stop if the driver in the buggy held up his hand. The motorist also was required to give assistance to the other driver. This meant getting out and leading the horse past the car. Sometimes the motorist would pass a horse only to be embarrassed later by having the horse pass him as he patched a tube or inflated a tire with a hand pump. Then the old-timer in the buggy would smugly call out “Get a horse!”

In 1928 a huge celebration was stated in observance of the completion of the paving. Durant residents rejoiced that “At last we are on pavement from New York to Hell’s corner” meaning the pavement extended to the corner of George Hell property. Several well known celebrities were on hand and the Honorable Robert G. Cousins of Tipton gave the address of the day. The festivities were climaxed with a dance at night on the new pavement.

Citizens of Durant are justly proud of the public school. The 1953-54 enrollment was 379. The school consists of kindergarden, eight grades and four years of high school. There are nine grade teachers and ten on the high school faculty. The high school offers a wide choice of subjects, having been a four year course since 1908 and accredited since 1923. E. J. Hannum is the present Superintendent, and Charles Rahn is high school Principal.

The city administration is in the capable hands of Henry Lamp, Mayor; Roy Lammers, George Hass, Wm. Erps, Elmer Langmann and Billy D. Paulsen who comprise the Town Council. Henry C. Schafer is City Clerk.

Durant’s first bank, the Durant Savings Bank, was organized and opened in the year 1889. The members of the first board of directors were H. H. Sindt, Lorenz Miller, C. L. Schiele, Frank Haller, Wm. Wulf, Henry Gruemmer, H. Treded, William Bierkamp and M. Beuthien. During its period of existence it had but six presidents and five cashiers. The first president was M. Beuthien, who was followed by Wm. Bierkamp, Sr., Wm. Bierkamp, Jr., O. W. Schiele and Louis Trede. The five cashiers were D. H. Snoke, F. C. Langfeldt, A. H. Bierkamp, W.E. Bierkamp and B. C. Denkmann. It was in continuous operation until the Bank Holiday in March, 1933 and shortly thereafter went into liquidation.

In 1903 the Farmers and Merchants Saving Bank was opened for business and remained in operation until 1931 when it went into liquidation.

During the latter part of the year 1933 the town was without banking facilities until an office was opened by the Bennett State Bank and operated until July, 1935, when the Liberty Trust & Savings Bank was granted permission to transfer their charter from New Liberty to Durant and opened for business on July 10, 1935. This bank will celebrate its Fiftieth Anniversary later in the year. The present officers are as follows: Henry Hansen, President; Oliver A. Hansen, Executive Vice President; Billy D. Paulsen, Cashier; and Ted J. Ketelsen, Assistant Cashier.

Today Durant has a population exceeding eleven hundred and can boast of more than eighty business firms which serve the town and surrounding area. Several of these business firms have operated for more than thirty years. For example, Wm. Luense has been a harness maker for sixty years and established his business in 1918. Many of the farms in this vicinity are still held by the third and fourth generation descendants of the early settlers.

Who dares to say that a small town has no history? In delving into our past, enough fact and folk lore have been unearthed to form the basis for several novels.

Through the passing of a hundred years, our town has grown and prospered, and we express gratitude for our blessings. Like any other small town, Durant has had her share of joys and sorrows, good fortune and bad, but still stands undaunted by the passing of time and serenely faces the future.

If the coming generations are a faithful to the ideals of honesty, integrity and public service as were those who have gone on before, then we shall continue to go forward to fulfill our destiny. A feature of the ancient Greek games was the relay race in which the runner, at the end of his lap, handed on the lighted torch to his successor. The torch of our history was kindled by Benjamin B. Brayton. Let it be your pledge and mine to bear it . . .

High like a beacon
Till our strong years be sped
And sinews weaken;
Till others in our stead
Take from our loosening hand
The torch full-streaming which we pass at Death’s command.
Written By Virginia R. Miller
(Mrs. Huxley A. Miller)