Alameda
County
Biographies
GEORGE
WHITFIELD DURKEE
Since coming to California during
the year 1854 Mr. Durkee has made his home in Alameda
county, of which he is among the oldest surviving settlers. He has witnessed
with interest the many changes wrought during the half century of his residence
there. When he came west San Francisco was, as now, the metropolis of the
coast; but other cities that now boast a large population were then mere
straggling hamlets or sheep and cattle ranges. Vast stretches of country
remained in the primeval condition of nature, awaiting the patient labor of the
pioneer. The farm upon which he settled in 1867 was wholly unimproved at the
time of its purchase, but under his efficient oversight it has been increased
in value and its productiveness enhanced. The property comprises one hundred
acres adjoining Warm Springs on the east and for some years has been devoted to
hay and grain.
The name Durkee
is of Dutch origin and represents some of the oldest families of New England.
The progenitor of the family, William Dierke or Durkee, was born about 1630 and came from the West Indies
to Ipswich, Mass. He is the fifth generation removed from the subject of this
sketch. His son, Deacon John Durkee, removed to
Windham, Conn., and a son of Deacon John Stephen Durkee,
had a son Phineas, who removed to Yarmouth, Nova
Scotia, from Brimfield, Mass., about 1762, being the first to migrate to
Canada. This move was made through the influence and advice of a Rev. Ebenezer
Moulton, who was a Baptist minister and a cousin of Mrs. Durkee.
Phineas had a son named Stephen, who was the
grandfather of the subject of this review. The family bearing
this name have flourished in Nova Scotia since the emigration in 1762
and have been prominently identified with the religious, educational,
commercial and agricultural interests of that province.
Mr. Durkee
was born at Yarmouth, September 11, 1830. His parents, George and Mehitabel (Corning) Durkee, were
also natives of that peninsula and remained upon a farm there until they died.
Of their ten children three sons and three daughters attained mature years.
George W., who was the eldest son, received such educational advantages as the
common schools afforded. On leaving school he entered upon a seafaring life,
securing employment as cook on a ship when he was seventeen years of age. From
that humble position he worked his way up to be (sic) able seaman, in which
capacity he sailed via Cape Horn to California on the Spitfire in 1854. When
the ship cast anchor in the harbor of San Francisco he gave up his position and
sought a favorable location for permanent settlement. At first he worked as a
farm hand in Alameda county in the Santa Clara valley
and for a number of years carefully hoarded his earnings until he was able to
purchase the property he still owns Many obstacles have impeded his progress. More
than once he has been obliged to endure hardships that would have discouraged a
man less resolute, but he has never allowed reverses to daunt his determined
spirit
After Mr. Durkee
had spent a number of years in California he made a visit to his native land
and while there, in 1859, he was united in marriage with Miss Martha Walker,
who was born and reared in Yarmouth and had been a friend of his youth. Of
their union ten children were born, but they have been deeply bereaved by the
death of seven of the number. Three daughters are now living. The two oldest,
Annie Estella and Lillian A., are engaged in teaching school, and Mabel V.
remains with her parents. The family occupy a high
position in social circles, and both parents and daughters are welcome guests
in the best homes in the locality where they reside. No one appreciates the
value of an education more than does Mr. Durkee, and
during the long period of his residence in the county he has been a warm friend
of the public-school system. For two terms he officiated as school director of
Warm Springs district, in which position he accomplished much in the interests
of the school. Thoroughly loyal to the welfare of his adopted country, a
believer in Republican principles, a contributor to movements for the benefit
of Alameda county, he is one of those citizens whose
settlement in this locality has been a factor in the development of the
material resources of the county.
Transcribed by: Cecelia M. Setty.
ญญญญSource: History
of the State of California & Biographical Record of Coast Counties,
California by Prof. J. M. Guinn, A. M., Pages 623-624. The Chapman
Publishing Co., Chicago, 1904.
ฉ 2015 Cecelia M. Setty.
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