Pioneer Families - DURFEY
Extracted From
Chapter XVII
Early history of the town of Hopkinton :
history of East Village (Nicholville) and vicinity,
diaries of Elisha Risdon and Artemas Kent,
soldiers of the Civil War,
genealogical record of sixty of the pioneer families

Carlton E. Sanford
Boston: Bartlett Press, 1903

[Transcribed by Dave Swerdfeger]

IN this chapter is given the genealogical records of many of the pioneers of the town, of all that I have been able to gather sufficient data and information to make a fairly full record. The preparation of these records has required much time, labor, correspondence, persistence and patience. Had I had in the beginning a full comprehension of the tedious labor required, I now feel sure I should not have undertaken it. That there are some errors in dates and possibly a few in names I am quite satisfied, since considerable of my information came from elderly people who wrote feebly and indistinctly. I think it will be readily understood, if the reader will bear in mind that it is in continuous order; that the first, second, third and fourth generations are each carried slightly to the right, and that each generation always has the same indentation. PHINEAS DURFEY b. March 18, 1780, Ellington, Conn.; d. May 25, 1865; m. Ruth Brooks, b. in Charlemont, Mass.; d. September 27, 1858. They were married in Bristol, Vt., and came from there to Hopkinton in 18—, and took up a tract three miles west of Hopkinton village still known as the "Durfey place." After a few years he began keeping an inn and at one time had three log houses standing a little north and east of the present stone house, which latter was built by him in 1818. The celebrated "old Grimes" was an occasional guest with Mr. Durfey. He held various town offices and was a prominent citizen. In the militia he held the position of ensign in 1811, lieutenant in 1819, captain in 1820, 1821. (See story of the farm, among pioneer settlers.) Had three children: Harriet, b. December 5, 1807; d. November 29, 1876, at Henderson, Ky.; m. Samuel Flanders, d. 1841, at Otsego, Ohio. Had three children: Calista Lovisa, b. June 9, 1832; 1. Decatur, Ill.; m. Dr. Oscar F. Parker, d. December 16, 1897, in Decatur, Ill. He practised medicine at Parishville for some years with success. Had one child: Minnie Alice, m. Virgil N. Hostiller. Had one child: Ruth Brooks. Harriet Melissa, b. April 20, 1834; 1. Henderson, Ky.; m. Gabriel Decatur Sugg, October 21, 1858. Had three children: Dr. Oscar F., b. September 2, 1859; 1. Union City, Tenn.; m. Georgie Posey of Henderson, Ky. Had one child: Cameron P., b. June 25, 1895. Ruth K., b. July 28, 1861; 1. Wickliffe, Ky.; m. Edman Hopkins of Henderson, Ky. Had seven children: Strother B., b. October 26, 1883. W. Irving S., b. December 17, 1885. Walter Alves, b. December 6, 1887. Ella Clara, b. November 21, 1889. Ruth Brooks, b. May 8, 1892. Frances P., b. May 5, 1897. Marie L., b. March 20, 1901. Clara E., b. March 28, 1878; 1. Henderson, Ky. Lovisa Maria, b. April 6, 1840; 1. Deming, N. M.; m. Morgan Swope, November 6, 1862; d. June 11, 1902. Had four children: Dr. Samuel D., b. November 5, 1864, Henderson, Ky.; 1. Deming, N. M.; m. Susan L. Weaver, December 26, 1889. Had three children: Mary Lovisa, b. May 6, 1891. Helen Harriet, b. February 19, 1893. Minnie Weaver, b. December 31, 1896. Martha M., b. December 27, 1866; 1. Barlow, Ky.; m. Robert S. Hicks, October 7, 1882, at Shawnytown, Ill. Had nine children: Morgan S., b. October 29, 1883. Annie Lockett, b. October 25, 1885. Lovisa Flanders, b. September 21, 1887; d. April 12, 1895. Robert Sherwood, b. September 23, 1889. James Lockett, b. March 7, 1892. Albert Q., b. January 31, 1894. Henry Swope, b. May 13, 1896. Elizabeth Loretta, b. January 10, 1898. Martha Laura, b. April 15, 1902. Morgan P., b. August 1, 1869, Henderson, Ky. ; accidentally killed June 17, 1872. Albert Joseph, b. August 7, 1871; d. June 3, 1898; single. Joseph B., b. November 26, 1811; d. February 9, 1903; m. Lovisa A. Parker, February 19, 1840; b. January 21, 1820; 1. Parishville, N.Y. He was the first child born in town after the coming of Dr. Gideon Sprague, and was the oldest person born in town save William Dewey, born in 1810, living at Western, Minn., when this was written. Mr. D. was remarkably well preserved for one of his years. He was a quiet, reserved, honest man, and won and held the respect and esteem of all who ever knew him. Had one child: Sarah L., b. December 24, 1842; 1. Parishville, N.Y.; m. Charles W. Clapp, March 23, 1870. Had one child: Eva L., b. April 15, 1871. Maria, b. May 10, 1816; d. March 7, 1894; unmarried. She was a gentle, affectionate and loving woman, and gave much of her life to nursing and caring for the invalid and sick. She was a noble woman and highly beloved by all. JOSEPH DURFEY b. August, 1785, Ellington, Conn.; d. April 9, 1854; m. Charlotte Hopkins, b. October 24, 1790, Pittsford, Vt.; d. January 27, 1880. He came to town as early as October, 1805, and soon took up a tract just west of his brother, Phineas, where Alanson Fisher afterwards long resided, and where his son Herman now lives. He built a log house a few rods west of the present residence, and was married January 3, 1811. About 1830 he built the present house. All his children except Charlotte were born in the log house, no trace of which remains. Mr. George S. Wright says that Mr. Durfey had the reputation of being as honest a man as there was in town. He moved to Troy, Ohio, in October, 1836, going with a team all the way, and died there in 1854. Had seven children: Jerome, b. September 15, 1812; d. January 27, 1813. Phineas H., b. April 24, 1814; d. July 10, 1887, Fillmore, Minn.; m. Clarissa Owen, b. November 12, 1815; d. June 20, 1878, Lima, Iowa. He was apprenticed to Samuel Flanders. In 1855 he went to Rochester, Minn., and at that time he could kill deer from his doorstep. He built the first flour mill and was the first postmaster. This place now has seven thousand population. In 1861 went into milling business at Fillmore, Minn., and in 1869 moved to Lima, Iowa. Had six children: Joseph O., b. 1843; d. aged one year. Marion A., b. June 2, 1845; 1. Riceville, Iowa;m. Philip M. Mosher, December 3, 1865; b. March 7, 1844, Canton, N.Y. Had five children: Halsey, b. April 1, 1867; single; 1. Miles City, Mont. Lucian M., b. March 18, 1870; 1. Riceville, Iowa;m. Helen Fellows, September 10, 1895; b. April 14, 1868. Had one child: Philip J., b. May 11, 1898. Winnefred E., b. July 5, 1873; 1. Sumner, Iowa; m. Robert D. McCook, Sumner, Iowa, September 29, 1896; b. June 1, 1873. Had two children: Marion, b. May 4, 1900. Ernest M., b. March 5, 1902. Grace R., b. September 12, 1876; single; 1. Riceville, Iowa. Harry E., b. June 20, 1879; 1. Riceville, Iowa. Martha A., b. June 31, 1847; d. June 10, 1900, Villard, Minn.; m. Sylvester M. Sherman, September 14, 1867, at Chatfield, Minn.; 1. Duluth. Had five children: Frank S., b. September 9, 1868; 1. Stacy, Minn.; m. Mattie E. Cooper, January 1, 1896; b. March 6, 1877; is postmaster. Had four children: Chester C., b. October 17, 1896; d. November 25, 1896. Eunice M., b. May 21, 1899. Lucille L., b. May 21, 1899. Fern F., b. November 20, 1901. Merrit F., b. April 14, 1870; d. July 22, 1873. Ami W., b. May 11, 1873, Minneapolis; 1. Stacy; m. Eva L. Lent, October 9, 1895; b. October 10, 1877, at Stacy; is a merchant. Had two children: Harry L., b. January 9, 1897. Hyacinth I., b. March 24, 1901. Mabel C., b. April 12, 1876, Minneapolis; 1. St. Paul, Minn.; m. Miles E. Cooper, February 25, 1901, at St. Paul. Fred D. L., b. March 26, 1878; 1. Gray Eagle, Minn.; m. Fannie M. Webster, April 17, 1900; b. May 17, 1880; editor of paper. Had one child: Merrill F., b. August 6, 1901. Dayton W., b. February 18, 1849; 1. Chatfield, Mimi.;m. Rebecca J. Stewart in 1869, Fillmore, Minn. Had six children: Marion J., b. August 13, 1872; m. Irvin Persons, June 30, 1897; 1. Pilot Mound, Minn. Had two children: Louisa J., b. May 9, 1898. Alice M., b. January 21, 1900; d. September 20, 1900. Henry B., b. March 17, 1874; single; 1. Wykoff, Minn. Eliza A., b. May 22, 1876; teacher; 1. Chatfield, Minn.; m. Dallas Arnold, June 30, 1902. Bessie R., b. August 26, 1888; d. October 28, 1888. Phineas D., b. December 15, 1890. Ellen C., b. December 29, 1892. Dresden L., b. March 16, 1850; 1. Volga City, Iowa; m. Mary E. Stearns, April 7, 1878, Lima, Iowa; b. February 9, 1845. Had four sons: Fred C., b. May 3, 1880; m. Eugenia E. Herring; 1. Riceville, Iowa. Charles D., b. March 11, 1882; 1. Volga City, Iowa. Herbert P., b. April 6, 1885; 1. Volga City, Iowa. Henry I., b. March 2, 1887; 1. Volga City, Iowa. Follett F., b. April 11, 1852; 1. Lima, Iowa; m. Hattie Ward, 1876, Fayette, Iowa. Had five children: Elizabeth M., b. July 26, 1878, at Lima, Iowa; I. Fayette, Iowa; m. Ernest E. Kelley, February 23, 1898. Had three children: Lewis C., b. April 25, 1899. Arthur L., b. November 8, 1900. Elsie Irene, b. June 15, 1902. Mabel R., b. June 14, 1880, at Lima; d. January 21, 1902; m. Charles A. Kuhnes, December 30, 1896; 1. Lima, Iowa. Had two children: Olive F., b. July 14, 1898. Zella L., b. April 1, 1901. Arley I., b. September 7, 1884, at Lima, Iowa. Robert R., b. November 3, 1888, at Fillmore, Minn. John Merl, b. May 16, 1892, at Albany, Iowa. Dilectus W., b. June 16, 1815; d. Fort Seneca, Ohio; m. Diana D. Greene, d. 1872. Had four children: Darwin D., died at the age of three years. Homer A., He was a member of Co. B, 55th Regiment, mortally wounded at second battle of Bull Run, and died September 12, 1862, aged eighteen. Julina H., d. in 1847, aged nine months. Lavinia H., d. in 1848, aged two years. Lucius E., b. September 15, 1817; d. Chardon, Ohio, November 11, 1889; m. Sophia Tinkham, December 31, 1851; b. October 1, 1825; 1. Chardon, Ohio. Was admitted to bar in 1847, settled in Chardon in December, 1852. Had three children: Louis B., b. March 3, 1861; d. May 20, 1863. Lucius L., b. March 3, 1861; 1. Boise City, Ida.; m. Fanny M., daughter of Colonel William Van Home, October 20, 1891. He graduated from West Point Academy in June, 1886; served in war with Spain and three years in Philippines. He is now captain and commandant at Boise City, Ida. Had three children: Gordon A., b. August 17, 1892, at Cheyenne, Wy. Lloyd Van Home, b. December 23, 1895, Columbus, Ohio. Francis A., b. September 15, 1897, Columbus, Ohio. Joseph A., b. January 27, 1867, at Chardon, Ohio; 1. Pueblo, Cal.; m. Emma M. Case, September 22, 1892; b. February 14, 1869. Is superintendent in works of Colorado Fuel and Iron Co., Pueblo, Colo. Had one child: Maude L., b. July 19, 1897. Abigail Alice, b. October 14, 1824.; 1. Grand Rapids, Mich.; m. A. Flummerfelt, October 20, 1845; d. August 1, 1883. She is a bright, intelligent old lady, and the sole survivor of her father's family. She greatly assisted in this record. Had three children: The eldest d. in infancy. Rosalia A., d. at five years. Charlotte L., d. at three and one-half years. Joseph G., b. January 7, 1828; d. December 15, 1880, Garretsville, Ohio; m. Elizabeth C. Smith, July 2, 1851, Cardon, Ohio; d. 1882. Had three children: Hattie E., b. May 2, 1852; d. April 30, 1866. Henry C., b. May 1, 1854, Parkman, Ohio; 1. Kansas City, Mo.; m. Ida P. Wales, September 24, 1874; d. December 21, 1887; m. 2d, Etta Corey, January 1, 1890. Had one child by first and one by second marriage: Hattie E., b. June 25, 1875, Troy, Ohio; m. Louis E. Burgner; 1. Oberlin, Ohio. Had one child: Reba D., b. September 4, 1900. John Henry. Gracia Maud, b. June 27, 1870; m. E. W. Bennett, November 19, 1888. Had two children: Elizabeth D., b. July 23, 1900. Jennett B. Charlotte C., b. October 24, 1833; d. August 19, 1884, Grand Rapids, Mich.; m. Manly G. Colson, d. October 16, 1861, McGregor, Iowa. Had one child: Lottie Alice, d. January 16, 1890; m. Dr. A. E. Luton; 1. Grand Rapids, Mich. Had four children, three now living: Edith L., Alice L. Lottie C. Mrs. Flummerfelt lives in this family.     INDEX