BIOGRAPHY

JONATHAN DURKEE - OF DARIEN, NY

Jonathan Durkee, son of Thomas and Abiah (Smith) Durkee, was educated in the common schools and at Dartmouth College. He married, first, Chloe Gleason, January 3, 1798, and settled in Hanover, N. H., caring for his parents until their decease. He came to Darien in 1810, bought 400 acres of land where his daughter, Mary Ann Wilson, Frank Chapin and his son Albert F., now live. He put in two acres of wheat, returned to New Hampshire, and the next spring brought his wife and six children to share his pioneer life. He erected the set of buildings now standing. Mr. Durkee died in 1856, aged 82 years, and his wife in 1841. They had 12 children. In 1843 he married Betsey Felton, who died about 1857. He was known as major; was a prominent man in his town, and held the offices of supervisor, justice of the peace, and trial justice. His only daughter married Frank Chapin, August 30, 1838, and settled near her father. At his death Mr. Chapin bought the old homestead, residing there until his decease in 1887.

FROM: Gazetteer and Biographical Record of Genesee County, New York, Edited by: F. W. Beers, J.W. Vose & Co., Publishers, Syracuse, NY 1890