Durham Family

William Durham was born in Germany and came to Virginia in the late 1700's. In Virginia, he married Mary Elizabeth Jeams. In the 1820's they came to Ross County, Ohio, then to Richland Township, Defiance County, Ohio in 1827. William was killed in 1833 leaving eight children and his widow.

John Durham was born on February 27, 1827. He bought land in Adams Township, Defiance County, in 1851.

John Durham married twice. His first marriage was to Sarah Crago who was born in Washington Township (Henry County) and died in October, 1861. She was born in 1827/28. Children born to John and Sarah Crago Durham were John Wesley, Emanuel, Isaac J., Ellen and George.

John Durham married as his second wife, Martha A. Welder and they had five children.

John Wesley Durham was born on April 28, 1853. He married Clara Brubaker in February, 1874. Clara was a daughter of John and Sarah Wyandt Brubaker. John and Sarah Brubaker were residents of Wilmont, Stark County, Ohio and had Hannah, Mary, Francis, Christian, and Alfred. In 1847, the family came to Flatrock Township, Henry County, and children born in Henry County were Daniel, Clara, Jacob and Emanuel. John Brubaker died in 1892 and Sarah died in 1900. Sarah was the daughter of Henry Wyandt, Stark County.

In 1874, John Wesley and Clara Durham lived in Defiance County. From August, 1874 until 1878, they lived in Flatrock Township, Henry County, and in 1878 moved to Napoleon Township. They had nine children.

Carey married Martha Geist and had Fred, Willis, Julian, Herbert, Henry and Harold Durham.

Ernest married Bertha Bales and had Ray, Olive and Hazel Durham.

Eugene married Irva Frederick and had Cleo, La Verne and Burdette Durham.

Elsie Durham married Edwin Hammond.

Chester Durham married and his children were Robert and Arthur of Oklahoma.

Estella Durham married Robert Walter and had Luther, Margaret, Dorothy, Lucile, Wilma, Robert and Estella Marie Walter.

Laura Durham married Walter Leonhardt.

Alta Durham married E.P. Hollings- head and had Geraldine, Marian, and Bernadine.

The last child of John and Clara Durham was Roscoe Durham.

Estella Marie Walter married Hoffman and their history is in this volume.

Rachael Durham married John Karsner on March 30, 1851. It is thought her father was William and his wife, Mary Elizabeth Durham.

William was killed in 1833 while felling timber when a falling tree hit him.

Emmanuel Durham, son of John and Sarah Crago Durham, married and had at least one child. His son, Ortive E. Durham was born in Indiana on January 26, 1880. He married twice. He married first Emma May Nischwitz who was born on March 13, 1890 the daughter of Frederick and Mary Benien Nischwitz, and died in May, 1914. They had two children, Iona E. born August 1, 1909, and Albert F., born September 2, 1913. Ortive married Emma's sister, Catharine Sophia Nischwitz, in 1916. Catharine was born in July, 1886.

Isaac and Clara Coon Durham had a son, Benjamin, born in Flatrock township on August 22, 1894. He married Mathilda Yackee, daughter of F.L. Yackee. They had sons, Francis and Wilbert. Benjamin died in January, 1919, and his obituary gave his brothers as Alonzo and Stephen Durham. His parents were living in 1919.

See also the Welder history in this book.