Kentucky: A History of the State, Perrin, Battle, Kniffin, 8th ed., 1888,
Jefferson Co.

REUBEN THOMAS DURRETT, a son of William and Elizabeth Rawlings Durrett, was
born in Henry County, Kentucky, January 22, 1824.  His grandfather, Francis
Durrett, after going through the Illinois campaign of 1778-79, under Gen.
George Rogers Clark, returned to his home in Virginia, whence the family
removed to Kentucky and settled on land selected in Henry County, while it
was part of Virginia.  Here his father, after early shelter in the
conventional log-house of the times, with the labor of his negroes, molding
brick, sawing lumber, riving shingles, etc., built the first brick house
in Henry County, which stands to-day, at the old homestead, two miles north
of New Castle, as solid as it was when erected nearly a century ago.  The
Durretts are of French origin, the name having been originally spelt
Duret.  The family traditions extend back to Louis Duret, an eminent
physician who flourished in France during the last half of the sixteenth
century.  Some curious old books, published by him and his descendants,
have been preserved all these years in the family, and are now in the
possession of the subject of this sketch.  Early in the seventeenth century
some of the Durets of the Protestant faith, smarting under the effects of
the massacre of St. Bartholomew, crossed the channel and established
themselves in England.  In 1644 Christopher Duret was prominently connected
with the Baptist Church in London, and his name appears to the address
accompanying the Confession of Faith put forth that year.  In England the
French sound of the letters making Duret as if written Duray, was lost,
and the name pronounced as it was spelled.  In the course of time this
pronunciation was emphasized, by doubling the "r" and the "t", thus making
the name Durrett, as we have it now.  About 1730, John Durrett left
England, and making his way across the ocean to Virginia, settled upon a
tract of land which he purchased in Spottsylvania [sic] County.  A few
years later he was followed by Bartholomew Durrett and Richard Durrett,
both of them likewise purchasing lands and settlings in Spottsylvania [sic]
County.  These were the ancestors of the Durretts in America, the subject
of this sketch claiming descent from his great-grandfather John Durrett.
Mr. Durrett, after deriving such advantages as the schools of his native
county afforded, was in Georgetown College, Kentucky, from 1844 to 1846. He
then went to Brown University, in Providence, Rhode Island, where he was
graduated with the degree of A. B. in 1849, followed in 1853 by the degree
of A. M., for continued progress in learning.  Immediately after
graduating, he began the study of law, and applied himself with such
diligence during the summer and fall of 1849 that he was enabled to combine
the two years' course of the Law Department of the University of Louisville
in one, and graduated with the degree of LL.B., in 1850.  He at once began
practice at the Louisville bar, which was continued until 1880, when he
felt that his success had yielded him a sufficient competence on which to
retire.  During Mr. Durrett's thirty years at the bar, he never permitted
himself to be drawn aside into politics.  In 1852 he was appointed
assistant elector on the Scott and Graham ticket, and in this capacity
made a number of speeches, and this was the nearest he ever came to holding
a political office.  He was ever ready to help others to political
preferment, but wanted no office for himself, although important ones
were more than once within his reach.  When Beriah Magoffin made the race
for Governor of Kentucky in 1859, Mr. Durrett took and active part in his
behalf.  After his election, Gov. Magoffin sent for him and asked what he
could do for him.  Mr. Durrett having answered that he desired no office,
the governor responded that he would make him one of his aids anyhow, and
after his inauguration sent him a commission as colonel.  In this way Mr.
Durrett got the epithet of Colonel, which has stuck to him ever since.
Mr. Durrett deserves notice as an orator, a poet, and a writer.  His
valedictory address when he graduated at the law school in 1850, his Fourth
of July oration at the invitation of the City Council of Louisville, in
1852, his address before the Kentucky Mechanics' Institute in 1856, and his
Centennial address at Louisville in 1880, all of which have been published,
have been admired for their learning and eloquence.  Quite a number of
his speeches in the Court House have also found their way into the
newspapers of the day on account of the impression they produced when
delivered.  He has not of late indulged in poetry, but while he was younger
he quite often wrote verses, and in such style as to impart much pleasure
to others.  His "Night Scene at Drennon Springs" in 1850, his "Thoughts
over the Grave of Rev. Thomas Smith" in 1852, his "Old Year and New in the
Coliseum at Rome" in 1858, and his numerous pieces sometimes full of humor
published in the newspapers from 1850 to the beginning of the civil war,
entitle him to high rank among our Western poets.  It is as a prose writer,
however, that Mr. Durrett's fame will probably be most lasting.  He began
writing for the newspapers as soon as he left college, and has kept it up
ever since, though most of his writings have been published anonymously,
or as editorials for which he received no credit.  He was from 1857 to
1859, editor of the old Louisville Courier, and presented his editorials in
that paper with such learning, ability, and fascination of style, as to
secure him high rank among our most popular and effective writers. Of late
years his writings have been principally of an historic character,
particularly distinguished for original research and mastery of the
subject.  His articles in the Southern Bivouac for March, April and May,
1886, on "The Kentucky Resolutions of 1798-99," may be taken as specimens
of the character of his historic writings. In these articles he corrected
the errors which three-quarters of a century had thrown around these famous
resolutions, and placed them in a new and lasting light that was just to
the great men concerned in the production, and responsible for their
consequences.  In 1884, a number of gentlemen of Louisville, who took an
interest in historic subjects, joined Mr. Durrett in the organization of a
club for the purpose of collecting and preserving the history of Kentucky.
This association was called "The Filson Club" in honor of John Filson, the
first historian of Kentucky.  Mr. Durrett was made president of the club,
and requested to prepare and read at its next meeting, a sketch of John
Filson.  This he did, and the article thus prepared and read, afterward
appeared in print as "Filson Club Publications No. 1."  This is, perhaps,
the best production that we have yet had from the pen of Mr. Durrett, and
its original matter, pleasing style, and attractive appearance will make
it a valuable and permanent contribution to the history of the country.
In gratifying his literary taste, Mr. Durrett has collected a large and
valuable library--the largest and most valuable private collection
perhaps in the West.  His collection of Kentucky books has no equal, he
having made it a point to secure every printed work or manuscript written
by a Kentuckian, or written about Kentucky or Kentuckians, or containing
anything about Kentucky, or that was printed or written in Kentucky.  He
has also embraced in his "Bibliotheca Kentuckiensis" books which once
belonged to eminent Kentuckians, especially of the pioneer period, and in
his line preserved many quaint volumes, much valued by persons of
antiquarian taste.  While his collection is not so exhaustive with regard
to any other State, he has most of the histories of the United States,
and of the different States and Territories, and nearly all of the
important works known as Americans.  He has also the best histories and
standard works of other countries, so that within his own library walls he
has all the sources of information he may need in the investigation of any
subject to which his attention is directed.  This vast collection,
moreover, is not selfishly confined to the wants of its owner alone, but
is free to the use of every one in search of knowledge.  Mr. Durrett is
exceptionally conversant with the contents of his books, and there is
nothing in which he takes more pleasure than in making his great library
useful to others.  In recognition of his learning and enterprise in
behalf of knowledge, Mr. Durrett has been made a member of many of the
historic associations and learned societies of this country and Europe. He
has always been a liberal contributor to the deserving charities of his
time, and did more than any one else toward securing for Louisville the
only free library now in its midst, having inaugurated the movement for
establishing the Public Library of Kentucky, now the Polytechnic Society,
and remained at the head of the enterprise until the valuable property now
occupied on Fourth street was purchased, and the building thereon filled
with books and specimens free to the use of every citizen.  Scarcely less
beneficial to the public was the establishment of the Louisville Abstract
and Loan Association, now the "Kentucky Title Company" in which he took a
leading part.  This institution now enables our citizens to readily
ascertain whether the title to the property they buy or sell is good or
bad, and to cover all doubt by insuring their real estate against loss by
defects of title.  A plain, quiet, unpretending gentleman, of the old
Virginia school, not often conspicuously connected with enterprises of a
public character, he has yet, in his own unostentatious way, done an
enviable part both as a private and public citizen.  In 1852 Mr. Durrett
was married to Miss Elizabeth Humphreys Bates, only daughter of Caleb and
Elizabeth Templeton Bates, of Cincinnati, O. [sic].  From this union came
four children, only one of whom, Dr. William Templeton Durrett, survives.

Durrett Duret Duray Bates Filson
=
New_Castle-Henry-KY Jefferson-KY Scott-KY Cincinnati-Hamilton-OH
Spotsylvania-VA RI England

http://www.rootsweb.com/~kygenweb/kybiog/jefferson/durrett.rt.txt