The Durbin Families of Knox County, Ohio

Benjamin Durbin, who is now living retired at his pleasant home in Danville, enjoying the fruits of his former toil, was born in Belmont county, Ohio, on the 8th of May, 1828, a son of Baptist and a grandson of John Durbin, both natives of Maryland. In early life the latter was employed as a distiller, but he was a weaver by trade and followed that occupation after coming to Ohio. His death occurred in Howard township when he had reached the eighty-second milestone on the journey of life. He was of German descent. His son and the father of our subject left his native state when a young man and removed to Belmont county, Ohio, where he was engaged in farming until 1832, the year of his arrival in Knox county. Locating in Howard township, he there carried on agricultural pursuits during the remainder of his life, passing to the home beyond when he had reached the age of seventy-four years. In Belmont county, Ohio, he was united in marriage to Catherine King, a native of that county, and she passed away in death at the comparatively early age of forty-four years. Her father, John King, came to this country from Ireland, his native land- Unto this union fourteen children were born,, eleven of whom grew to years of maturity. After the death of the mother of these children the father was again married, but there were no children by the second union.

Benjamin Durbin, the second of his parents' fourteen children, was but three years of age when he was brought to Knox county, Ohio, and his education was obtained in the district schools of Howard township. Remaining with his father until his twenty-first year, he then, in 1850, went to Wyandot county, Ohio, where he remained for the following three years, on the expiration of which period he again went to Howard township. From that time until his marriage he remained with his father on the old homestead, and about 1863 he came to Union township, purchasing and locating on the farm which he still owns. His home place consists of two hundred and forty acres of excellent land, all of which is under a fine state of cultivation, and everything about the place bears evidence of a progressive and thrifty owner. Success has abundantly rewarded the well directed efforts of Mr. Durbin, securing for him an excellent competence, and in 1898 he was able to put aside the active duties of a business Hfe and spend the remainder of his days in quiet retirement, removing to Danville.

Mr. Durbin has been twice married. In 1857 he wedded Margaret McXaman, and they had the following children, namely: William B., deceased; Alice, deceased; Clement, a prominent farmer of Union township; Salora, the wife of Albert Loysdon, of Wyandot county, Ohio; Mary J-, wife of Thomas Durbin, of Howard township; and Bertha, wife of William Grassbaugh, who resides on a farm belonging to our subject in Union township. For his second wife Mr. Durbin those Elizabeth Porter, the widow of Francis McNamara. He cast his first presidential vote for Scott, and his ballot was afterward cast in favor of Whig and Republican candidates until he supported Buchanan in 1856, and he also voted for Bryan at both elections. For six years he served as trustee of Union township. Religiously he is a member of St. Luke's Catholic church, and has assisted in the erection of its three houses of worship in this township, the last one having been erected in 1895.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CLEMENT E. DURBIN.

The people who constitute the bone and sine of this country are not those who are unstable and unsettled, who fly from this occupation to that, who are continuously moving from one place to another, who do not know how to vote until they are told, and who take no active and intelligent interest in affairs effecting their schools, churches and property. Knox county, Ohio, is today fortunate in having so many citizens who have lived here from their birth, whose parents and grandparents spent their lives here, or the major part of them. It shows that this is indeed a favored country and that the first settlers were content to spend their lives in our midst and that they have laid good foundations for the descendants, who are today enjoying, in a way, the fruits of their labors. One of these old and highly respected families is that represented by Clement E. Durbin, farmer of Union township. who was born on August 16, 1863, on a farm in Howard township. Soon afterwards his parents, Benjamin and Margaret (McNamara) Durbin, moved to Union township, where the subject was reared and where he has since resided. The father was born in Belmont county, Ohio, and the mother in the state of New York, she being of Irish descent, her people having come to America from Ireland only a short time before her birth. They located for a time in New York, later coming to Knox county, Ohio. Grandfather Baptist Durbin brought his family to Knox county, Ohio, in 1830, when Benjamin Durbin, father of the subject of this sketch, was only two years of age. Here the family became well established and here the subject’s father grew to manhood, received his education in the common schools and spent his life engaged in agricultural pursuits, becoming a large landowner and one of the influential and highly respected men of his county. Politically, he was a Democrat and always interested in good government and very creditably filled a number of township offices, though he never sought official preferment. He and his family were members of the Catholic church and faithful in their support of the same. The death of Benjamin Durbin occurred on October 19, 1906, his wife having preceded him to the grave on February 6, 1883. They were the parents of eight children, four of whom died in infancy; those surviving are: Clement E, of this review;

Selora A. married Albert Logsdon, of Champaign county, Ohio; Mary J. married Thomas B. Durbin, of Union township; Olive Bertha married Willliam Grassbough and they live in Union township.

Clement E. Durbin was reared on the farm and when a boy he assisted with the general work on the place, attending the common schools in the winter time, in Danville, until he became of age. thereby receiving a good education.

Mr. Durbin was married on April 11, 1888, to M. Catherine Durbin, daughter of John C. and Margaret (Colopy) Durbin, of Howard township, and to the subject and wife seven children have been born, namely: Alice

G. is teaching in the Danville schools; Pauline C. is teaching in the schools of Union township; Bernadette A. is a graduate of the Danville high school; austin L. is a student; Beatrice T., Mary M., Ignatius O.

Mr. Durbin and his wife began housekeeping on the farm where he now resides, the old Banbury homestead. This place, which consists of one hundred and sixty-five acres, he has kept well improved and under a high state of cultivation, and in recent years he has erected a modern and commodious dwelling and has convenient and substantial outbuildings In connection with general farming he pays much attention to the raising of good live stock, and he has been very successful in whatever he has undertaken, farming along modern lines of soil adaptation and crop rotation.

Politically, Mr. Durbin is a Democrat, and he is a member of the Catholic church and active in the work of the same. His daughters are well educated and prominent in the social life of this part of the county; they are very successful as teachers, and they are decidedly musically inclined, being splendid performers on the piano and violin and frequently sought in public performances of a musical nature.

JOHN C. WINlTERRINGER.

One of the best known pioneer families of Knox county, one whose various members have done their full share of the work allotted to them in furthering the work of transforming the primeval forests into a fertile, productive country, equal to any in the great Buckeye state, is that worthily represented in the present generation by John C. Winterringer, of Buckeye City, Pinion township. His useful and industrious life has been spent in his home community, for he had the sagacity to foresee a great future for the same and he knew that for him no better opportunities were to be found in any other section of this or any state, so he has been content with home, which, most people will agree, is the best place after all.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

The life history of him whose name heads this sketch is closely identified with the history of Knox county, which has been his home since his boyhood days. He began his career here in the early pioneer epoch of the county and throughout the years which have since come and gone and has been closely allied with its interests and upbuilding. He is a native of the Keystone state, his birth having occurred in Lancaster county, on the 26th of October, 1833. His father, John A. Durbin, claimed Maryland as the state of his nativity, where he was born in 1800, and was there reared and married. In 1843 "" made his way to Knox county, Ohio, locating in Howard township, on the farm which was occupied by a brother of our subject, Simeon Durbin, until his death, and there the father's life's labors were ended in death, at the age of fifty-three years. He was identified with the \Miig party and was a member of St. Luke's Catholic church, at Danville. The mother of our subject bore the maiden name of Margaret Logsdon, and she, too, was a native of Maryland. Her death occurred when she had reached the age of seventy-five years. This worthy couple became the parents of eleven children, ten of whom grew to years of maturity, seven sons and three daughters, and of these six are still living.

Raphael Durbin, the third in order of birth in the above family, was a lad of ten 3'ears when he came with his parents to Knox county. His boyhood home was located on the line separating Pennsylvania and Maryland, their house having been located in the former state, while their barn was in the latter, and in his native place he attended the log school houses common in those early days. After coming to this state he remained with his mother until his marriage, after which he purchased and located on the farm which he still owns. His place now consists of two hundred and thirty-three acres of excellent and well-cultivated land, on which he is engaged in general farming and stock-raising. By persistent energy and the display of considerable foresight he has succeeded in his chosen occupation, and in 1880 he erected the large and tasteful residence which now adorns the place.

In 1 86 1 occurred the marriage of Mr. Durbin and Miss Barbara A. Buck, who was born in Union township, Knox county, and was a member of one of the early pioneer families of that locality. Her parents, Everhart and Adeline Buck, were natives of Germany, and came from that country to the United States. On the 2d of October, 1 88 1, while the family were crossing a stream, Mrs. Durbin, her sister Miartha and one child, Mary, were drowned. Another child, Julius Peter, is also deceased, and seven still survive: Edward, who is married and resides in Howard township; Joseph A., John S., AVilliam E., Gertrude,

Frances and Leo, at home. The family are members of St. Luke's Catholic church at Danville, in which Mr. Durbin is an active worker, and he assisted materially in the erection of its house of worship in this city. In political matters he is a firm believe in the principles of the Democracy. The cause of education has ever found in him a warm friend, and for one term he served as a director Oif schools. In manner he is courteous and genial, and among the people with whom he has been so long connected he is quite popular.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

JOHN C. DURBIN.

Many years have passed since John C. Durbin became a resident of Knox county and he has therefore witnessed much of its development and progress as it emerged from a frontier settlement to a comfy ranking with the best in this great commonwealth. He feels just pride in what has been accomplished and in the work of improvement he has borne his part as a loyal and progressive citizen.

Mr. Durbin was born in Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, April 27, 1839, and is the fifth son of ten children born to John A. and Margaret (Logston) Durbin. He was only five years of age when the parents came with their children to Knox county and there amid the wild scenes of pioneer life was reared. He lived in Howard township and attended the district schools of the neighborhood, and in the summer months worked in the fields planting, plowing and harvesting. Here he resided until his marriage, which occurred on the 20th of October, 1863, the lady of his choice being Miss Margaret Colopy, a native of Coshocton county, Ohio, born August 22, 1838, her parents being Thomas and Margaret (Bowman) Colopy. They were natives of Ireland, were married in the Emerald Isle and one child was born to them ere their emigration to America. Mrs. Durbin is their fourth daughter and seventh child. She was reared in Linton township, Cochocton county, the days of her girlhood being passed as that of most of the girls of that period. She attended the public schools and became familiar with the different departments of housework under the direction of her mother.

At the time of their marriage, Mr. and Mrs. Durbin began their domestic life in Howard township, Knox county, and upon their first farm remained for six years, after which they spent thirteen years upon another farm in the same township. They next removed, in March, 1883, to the farm which has since been their home. Here Mr. Durbin owns and operates ninety-seven acres of land, all of which is under cultivation. There are good buildings, including a new and commodious barn, upon the place, and the farm is divided into fields of various sizes by well kept fences. His is one of the most attractive homes in the county. The cultivation bestowed upon his land results in securing for him rich harvests and annually his income increases.

Unto Mr. and Mrs. Durbin have been born eight children: Thomas B., who married Mary Jane Durbin, a daughter of Benjamin Durbin; Francis J., who wedded Agatha Swingle, a daughter of Christ Swingle; Mary C, the wife of Clement E. Durbin; Elizabeth B., the wife of Joseph Grassbaugh; Peter, Ludjer, Raymond and Sylvester, all of whom are still with their parents. The family circle is yet unbroken by the hand of death and the youngest child is now twenty-one years of age. All have been well educated and three of the number have been successful school teachers, while one of the sons is engaged in the grocery business in Mount Vernon. The family are all communicants of St. Luke's Catholic church at Danville and Mr. Durbin took an active part in erecting the new house of worship there. He has usually given his political support to the Democracy but has never sought or desired political offices, believing that it would interfere with his business whereby he is winning a comfortable competence.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

HENRY P. DURBIN.

The name of Durbin is closely interwoven with the history of Knox county, for at an early day its representatives came to this part of Ohio and since that time members of the family have been actively identified with the line of work that leads to the substantial development and improvement of a community. From pioneer times down to the present they have been associated with agricultural interests — and it is the work of the farm that forms the basis of all business activity. Henry Patterson Durbin is now engaged in the cultivation of the soil upon an excellent farm in Morris township. His ancestry on both the paternal and material sides may be traced back to Germany, but in the primitive period of American settlement those from whom he traces his descent crossed the Atlantic to the new world. Samuel Durbin, his grandfather, was a native of Pennsylvania and in that state was reared and married. Li 1810, accompanied by his wife, he came to Knox county and entered a large tract of land from the government, developing therefrom a farm which is still owned by his descendants. Since that time the Durbins have been classed among the leading citizens of Knox county on account of their sterling worth and the efficient aid they have given to all measures and movements for the general good.

Henry Patterson Durbin was born in Mount Vernon, June 7. 1838, and to its public schools system he is indebted for the educational privileges he enjoyed. Early in life he went to Paris, Illinois, where he was married, on the 20th of December, 1864, to Miss Mary Chilcoat, a daughter of Nathaniel and Mary (Swoise) Chilcoat. Seven children have been born unto them, as follows: Emery, who is operating the old home farm with his father; Jessie E., the wife of James Parish, by whom she had four children — Ethel Adel, Frances Marie, Tina, deceased, and Minnie; Lizzie, who died in 1893, at the age of eighteen years; William R., who lives in Mount Vernon; Miles, at home; one who died in infancy; and Grace, wife of Ellsworth Johnson.

Mr. Durbin has for a number of years resided in Morris township, where he owns and operated a valuable tract of land of one hundred and sixty acres. The industry which has ever been characteristic of his business career has enabled him to overcome all the obstacles and difficulties in his path and steadily advance on the high road to success. Tliomas Emery Durbin, his son, who is associated with him in the management and cultivation of the home farm, was born in Paris. Illinois, January 23, 1866, but during his infancy was brought by his parents to Knox county. He pursued his education in the public schools and then turned his attention to the pursuit to which he had been reared — that of farming. Experience and careful consideration have taught him the best methods of tilling the soil so as to produce good crops and annually his rich harvests add to his financial resources.

On the 16th of February, 1898, Thomas E. Durbin was married to Miss Birdie E. Hess, who was born July 7, 1878, and they are now the parents of two interesting little sons, Dwight Russell and Floyd Hess. Mr. Durbin is a member of the Knights of Pythias fraternity, belonging to Timon Lodge, No. 4, and also to the Uniformed Rank. He was also at one time associated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In his religious faith he is a Methodist and in his political views is a strong Republican, unwavering in his allegiance to the party which he thinks best conserves the public welfare.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

CHARLES WRIGHT DURBIN.

The subject of this sketch, who was a prominent citizen of Fredericktown, Knox county, Ohio, was born in Morris township, that county, August 17, 1864, and died at Fredericktown, December 25, 1891. His parents were John and Elizabeth (Wright) Durbin, who settled at Fredericktown when Charles was six weeks old. There the boy grew up and was educated in the village school, later taking a classical course at the Wesleyan University, at Delaware, Ohio. For five years succeeding his graduation he was superintendent of schools at Fredericktown, and for about four years he filled the office of county examiner of teachers. In politics he was a Republican, and his convictions on religious questions led him to affiliate with the Methodist Episcopal church.

Mr. Durbin married, December 28, 1886, Lina Craven, daughter of Leander and Leonora (Ewers) Craven, who bore him three children: John Vincent, born May 2, 1888; Pauline, born June 29, 1889; and Elizabeth, born September 7, 1891. Mrs. Durbin was born in Wayne township, Knox county, 'March 7, 1865, and was educated in the district schools near her childhood home and at the Union school at Fredericktown, graduating in the latter in May, 1882. Her parents were natives of Loudoun county, Virginia. Her father was born in 1818, her mother in 1824, and the former died November 28, 1895, the latter June 20, 1898. They were the parents of five children. Their daughter Clara died in infancy, their son, William Franklin, at the age of seventeen years, and their daughter, Marcejla, married Elias Cooper and died in 1886, aged thirty-eight years, leaving daughters named Mildred and Ada. Their daughter, Lilian Elizabeth, married Milton Grove and lives in Morrow county, Ohio.

Mrs. Durbin's paternal grandfather, IMahlon Craven, was born in Virginia March 13, 1786, and married Hannah Iden March II, 1810, and they had children named Shelton, Samuel, James, Leander, John W., Thomas, Martha, Sarah E., Eliza and Mary. When their son Leander, father of Mrs. Durbin, was about fifteen years old they located in Knox county, Ohio, and in 1857 Leander settled in Wayne township, where he cleared and improved a large farm. Mrs. Durbin's maternal grandfather, Gregg

Ewers, married Elizabeth Ashford, who bore him the following children: Leonora, Elizabeth, Harriet, William Fenton and Mary. Leonora and William Fenton Ewers are dead. Mr. and Mrs. Ewers were of English birth, and they seem to have been brought when young to America by their parents. Mrs. Durbin has a sugar bowl that one of her great-grandmothers brought over with her from her native land, a memento which Mrs. Durbin prizes highly and which is an object of much interest to her many friends.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.