Stephen Durfee, son of Isaac Durfee and Patty Warner, was born on August 6, 1818 in Palmyra, New York. He was a farmer, Quaker, Republican, surveyor, and member of the Mount Moriah Masonic Lodge in Palmyra.[1] Between 1805 and 1827, Stephen served the community of Palmyra as an overseer of highways (1805, 1811, 1817-1818, 1821, 1824, and 1827) and as a surveyor.
Stephen Durfee wrote of his time in Palmyra, “The first curse that came upon us was whiskey distilleries . . . This was not only habitual every day drinking but much into intoxication.”[2]
On July 17, 1839, it was noted that “Stephen goes to mill & takes the stocking wool to get it carded.”[3] A few days later on July 22, 1839, “Stephen not well, he has gone to the Mill.”[4]
From September 1840 to May 1850, Stephen kept a journal. His journal was found in the middle of the journal belonging to his wife, Mary B. Durfee. His journal was about Mary’s sickness, weather, and political meetings. After his wife Mary died in August 1841, Stephen summarized monthly events from February 1842 to May 1846, sometimes skipping several months. He wrote again in May 1850, his last entry.
On March 4, 1841, the following was noted in reference to Stephen: “Stephen has a bad cough & is very unwell.”[5] Stephen was listed in the 1850 and 1860 US Federal Census as a resident of Macedon, New York. By 1860, his estimated real wealth was $12,000 and his personal wealth was $5,000. By 1870, his estimated real wealth was $23,400 and his personal wealth was $8,000.[6]
Reminiscences of Stephen Durfee were printed in Orsamus Turner’s, History of the Pioneer Settlement of the Phelps and Gorham’s Purchase. In the reminiscences, Stephen told of the early settling of the Durfee family in Palmyra. He also recalled Nathan Harris, the father of Martin Harris, being an early settler.[7] Stephen died on December 19, 1880 in Macedon.
Child of Stephen and Mary Durfee
1. Burton Stephen Durfee (April 2, 1845–October 20, 1911). He was born in Macedon, Wayne County, New York. He married Elizabeth Jane Eves (1851-1925) on November 29, 1871. He died in Macedon.
[1] Cook, Palmyra and Vicinity, p. 55.
[2] Verna Hurlbut, “A Small Branch of the Hurlbut Family Tree.”
[3] Mary Durfee Diary.
[4] Mary Durfee Diary.
[5] Mary Durfee Diary.
[6] US Federal Census, 1850 to 1870.
[7] Orsamus Turner, History of the Pioneer Settlement of the Phelps and Gorham’s Purchase, p. 383.