David Durham

DURHAM

Posted By: Mary E Boyer (email)
Date: 11/28/2006 at 22:07:45

BIOGRAPHY OF DAVID DURHAM
Pioneers of Marion County - Pages 127 & 128
Clay Township - Marion County - Iowa

Mr. D. was born in Belfast, Maine, July 7th, 1792, and immigrated to Ohio in 1828. He started on the 3d of September, and reached Dovertown, Morgan county, Ohio, on the 10th of October, where he located, and opened a farm. But, after being engaged in this business four or five years, he went to the salt works on the Muskingum river, and engaged as a laborer to Sennet Ramey, who, a year or two later, appointed him superintendent of his salt works. After serving in this capacity for some time, he purchased an establishment and went into the salt business on his own account. But owing to the plentifulness of the commodity, together with limited means of shipping it down the Muskingum in scows and canoes, and transportation by land in wagons, the business proved unprofitable, and he failed to meet all the payments on the property. This was in 1836, when money matters became close and precarious. Abandoning the salt works he then employed himself for one season in transporting flour and salt to and from Zanesville by flat boats and scows. Early in ‘37 he moved to Zanesville, where he engaged in various occupations, till the autumn of that year, when he moved to McLain county, Illinois. But not being able to settle there as he desired, with a large family, he moved again in the spring following, and stopped in what is now Jefferson county, Iowa. Here his companion, Nancy Durham, who had shared his varied fortune for more than twenty years, died, April 12, 1839. After about five years’ residence in Jefferson county, Mr. Durham moved to Clay township, where he took and occupied a claim till he secured a title from the government in 1847.

During his residence here Mr. Durham was elected a member of the Board of County Commissioners, as stated in another place, and carried the first mail between Oskaloosa and Knoxville. After a long and somewhat eventful life, attended with many conflicts with fickle fortune, having at last secured a competence and a resting place for himself and children, he departed this life, March 15, 1866, aged about seventy years.

Mr. Durham was much respected for his noble traits of character, being of a amiable disposition, kind and obliging to all who had occasion to apply to him for help, in time of need. His departure was, therefore, lamented by a numerous circle of friends and acquaintances, but not as those who mourn without hope.

Transcribed by Mary E. Boyer for Iowa Gen Project - Marion County