BIRTH-MARRIAGE-DEATH-BURIAL-
PARENTS-BIOGRAPHY: Lillian Duryee Osmun, DURYEE GENEALOGY; 1638-1917; New
London OH, Perrins Brenenstul, 1917; pp 10-12; in poss of Marlin Duryea,
Hillsdale MI, photocopy in poss of Tad D. Campbell, Gilroy CA;
NOTE:
William Duryee, son of Frederick & Charity Duryee, born 27 Dec 1784 at
Schenectady NY. In 1805 he married Sarah Groot who was born 1783 at
Glenville NY. To this union one dau & seven sons were born. In Spring
1835 Mr. & Mrs. Duryee with five of their sons (Frederick, John M.,
Simon, William H., and Cornelius) emigrated by ox-teams and wagons from
NY to MI. The dau Eliza and two sons Isaac and George remained in the
East. They crossed the Detroit River by boat, thence through the dense
forest to the place called Florida. On 23 May 1835 he took up 120 acres
of land described as south half of southwest quarter and west half of
southeast quarter, section 3. Then on 26 Dec 1835 he took up 51.84 acres,
described as northeast quarter of northwest quarter, section 3, this
being a half mile northeast of what is now the village of Osseo. He at
once began building a large log house on the same from whitewood trees
being halved, this being the first log house in the township. The family
worked at clearing the land while he worked at his trade making boots and
shoes. There were no neighbors for several miles around but a tribe of
Baw-Beese Indians a few miles away, which had a village at Squawfield.
They were friendly and came often to trade wares and would bring wild
game for the white women to cook. The nearest store or mill was at
Jonesville (the county seat) and the only road was the Indian trail. Two
or three days was required for the trip. On 3 Apr 1837 the legislature
appointed that the first township meeting be held at William Duryee's
house, which same was held on a log near the house, there being 29 voters
present. William, his two sons Frederick & John M., and his son-in-law
Amby[sic] Orcutt constituted four of the company. William was elected
justice of the peace for a term of 4 years. In 1841 he was elected
supervisor of the township. At this time money was becoming very scarce,
the day laborers being paid only in script which only counted forty sents
on the dollar. In the spring of this year the legislature passed a bill
for the construction of the southern railroad from Adiran to Hillsdale
Center, for which William Duryee took the contract of grading and laying
the ties. He began work in Fall 1841 and Mrs. Duryee boarded the men. It
was while at this work that she overdid, took a heavy cold and passed
away 22 Dec 1841 at Osseo MI after a short illness, aged 58 yrs, burial
in Osseo Cemetery, Rev. Hunt officiating. In early life she had become a
Christian and united with the M.E. Church. In Jan 1842 Mr. Duryee
completed his work, receiving for his hard labor only script. In that
year the road was completed and in Jun 1843 the locomotive Comet made its
first trip over it, carrying Mr. Duryee and 3 of his sons. On 11 Nov 1847
he married Mrs. Polly Lyons of Hudson MI. In 1848 they moved to Hudson
where they resided until 1859 when she fell and broke her hip, later
going to her daughter's Frances Fenton of Seneca MI, where she remained
until she died 11 Dec 1885, aged 88 yrs, burial in Hudson Cemetery.
William Duryee spent his later years with his dau Eliza, passing away 29
May 1871[sic], at her home just north of Osseo MI, aged 87 yrs, burial in
Osseo Cemetery at the side of his first wife. At an early age he joined
the First Baptist Church, of which he remained a member until his death.
During his stay with his dau he built her frame house.
BIRTH-MARRIAGE-DEATH-MILITARY: Pension file of William Duryee; ; War of
1812, Capt. Ebenezer S. Cadwell's Co. NY Militia under Col. Erastus
Cleveland, Pension File 24,605, WC 29375; ; original on file with
National Archives, Washington DC, photocopy in poss of Tad D. Campbell;
NOTE: Drafted 10 or 15 Sep 1814 at either Hanover or Smithfield, Madison
Co NY, enlisted 21 Sep 1814, honorably discharged at Sackett's Harbor NY
14 Nov 1814, his military service was "rendered primarily in the
immediate vicinity of Sackett's Harbor", decribed as "light complexioned,
blue eyes, slim build, height about five feet seven inches, hair light
brown a little curly", married Polly Lyons on 11 Nov 1847 at Pittsford,
Hillsdale Co MI, died 29 May 1872 at Osseo MI. Received bounty land in
the 1850's.
BIOGRAPHY-MILITARY-OCCUPATION-RESIDENCE: Elon G. Reynolds, COMPENDIUM OF
HISTORY & BIOGRAPHY OF HILLSDALE COUNTY; ; Chicago, A.W. Bowen & Co,
1903; p 251; ;
NOTE: Biography of William H. Duryea[sic]. His parents,
William & Sally Duryea, were New Yorkers by nativity who came to MI in
1834, settling on government land, which they entered to the northeast of
Osseo. They cleared up this land and resided on it some years, then moved
to Hudson and remained a few years, when they returned to Osseo and there
made their home until death. The elder William Duryea was twice married,
his second wife surviving him. A shoemaker by trade, he followed this
craft for many years. When the War of 1812 broke out he joined the
Federal army and rendered an appreciated service in the cause of his
country, incurring disabilities in the service, for which he subsequently
received a pension from the U.S. government. Of his seven sons and one
daughter, two sons are living, William H. and Simon, a resident of
California. He erected a
large log house near Osseo, which, for a long time, served as a tavern
for the neighborhood and all of the travelers, it being the first and
most pretentious structure built in the section.
MILITARY-RESIDENCE: INDEX OF AWARDS ON CLAIMS FOR THE SOLDIERS OF THE WAR
OF 1812, NEW YORK; ; Baltimore, Genealogical Publishing Co, 1969; p 156;
;
NOTE: Wm. Duryea, residence Hudson MI, amount allowed $38.00.
BURIAL-DEATH-BIRTH-MILITARY: Headstone viewed by Tad D. Campbell, East
Hill Cem, Jefferson Twp, Hillsdale Co MI, 3 Aug 1994; picture in
poss of Tad D. Campbell, Gilroy CA;
NOTE: William Duryee 1784-1871[sic],
Served in War of 1812.
CENSUS-RESIDENCE: 1820 U.S. Census, Semphronia, Cayuga Co NY; 1820; p 86;
line 7; National Archives, San Bruno CA, M33, Roll 68;
NOTE:
William Duryee, 3 M under 10, 1 M 10-16, 1 M 26-45, 1 F 10-16, 1 F 26-45,
2 persons engaged in agriculture.
CENSUS-RESIDENCE: 1830 U.S. Census, Sennett, Saphronia Twp, Cayuga Co NY;
1830; p 223; line 18; National Archives, San Bruno CA, M19, Roll 88;
NOTE: William Durgee[sic], 1 M under 5, 2 M 5-10, 1 M 30-40, 1 F 5-10, 1
F 30-40.
CENSUS-RESIDENCE: 1840 U.S. Census, Florida Twp, Hillsdale Co MI; 1840; p
82; line 17; National Archives, San Bruno CA, M704, Roll 205;
NOTE:
William Duryee, 1 M 10-15, 1 M 15-20, 2 M 20-30, 1 M 50-60, 1 F 50-60, 6
persons total, 6 persons engaged in agriculture.
CENSUS-BIRTH-SPOUSE: 1850 U.S. Census, Town of Hudson, Lenawee Co MI;
1850; p 230; line 15, house no 453, family no 453; National Archives, San
Bruno CA, M432, Roll 355;
NOTE: Dtd 31 Jul 1850, William Durga[sic], age
67, Shoe making, real estate $1500, born NJ[sic]. Also enumerated with
this family were Peter Hunt, age 69, born NY, and Abel Wheeler, age 73,
born PA.
CENSUS-BIRTH: 1870 U.S. Census, Jefferson Twp, Hillsdale Co MI; 1870; p
2; line 14, no 12; National Archives, San Bruno CA, M593, Roll 673;
NOTE:
P.O. Osseo, enumeration of James Stephen[sic], William Durell[sic], age
86, Farmer, no real or personal estate, born NY.
