The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1870-01-27

KEE, which fact was announced in on
last issue, Kenosha loses one of her oldes
? and most esteemed citizens; one who ha
e been to great extent identified in inter
: est with our city from its foundation.
Mr.. Durkee was born in Royalton, il
3 the State of Vermont, in the year 1902
9 land was consequently sixty-seven year
5 old at the time of his death. He was frs
: engaged in commercial pursuits in his ma
! tive State, but in the year 1885 removed
with his family to Kenosha, which was
then the village of Southport. Some hall
dozen families were already located
here, having preceded Mr.. Durkee by few
months in the time of their arrival. Mr.
Durkee soon became conspicuous for his
energy and public spirit, erecting his pri-
vate residence near the lake shore, being
the house now occupied by Mr.. O'Neil,
the Durkee House, and the block of build
ings now occupied by F. Robinson, P.
English, P. Sauber and F. w. Lyman.
At the time of their erection the stores
were by far the finest in the city, and the
Durkee House for many years was the
best hotel west of Bufalo,-far surprising
any hotel in Chicago or Milwaukee The
hotel, although never profitable invest
ment in itself, was one of the best adver-
tisements for the youthful city, and aided
much in inviting settlers to Kenosha
county.
Mr.. Durkee was also the proprietor of
eighty acres of land in what is now the
most beautiful part of the city, contain
ing the principal part of our Park, the
pride of the city, and the residences on
Kenosha street or Park avenue. The
beauty of this portion of our city is large
ly due to the foresight of Mr.. Durkee,
who gave to the city the land for the
Park, and who, in selling his land, divid-
ed it into lots containing from half an
acre to two acres each, instead of the u.s.
ual size of lots, four rods by eight. Mr..
Durkee also donated to the city at an
early day the beautiful tract of land oc-
cupied as a cemetery, and upon which,
in his will, he expressed a desire to be
buried.
From the first, Mr.. Durkee was one of
the most earnest laborers in the cause of
education in our city, having largely aid
ed in the Inauguration of the system of
| free schools for all. That his interest in
this behalf never ceased is evidenced by
the fact, as we are informed, that by his
will, now offered for probate, he has do
mated the sum of five thousand dollars for
the purchase of a telescope for the use of
the Kenosha schools, thus associating his
name permanently with the cause Of edu-
cation in our city.
The first session of the Legislature of
the Territory of Wisconsin was held at
Burlington, now in the state of Iowa, but
which was then IN the Territory of Wis
consin. Mr.. Durkee was chosen mem
in which Kenosha Co. was then included
Der of this Assembly from Racine county
his first appearance in public life. He
was also chosen a member for the follow
ing session Of the same body. Almost i'm
mediately after the admission of Wiscon-
sin as State, in 1848, Mr. Durkee-be-
ing chosen by the citizens for that pur-
pose-proceeded as their agent to Wash
ington, and was principally instrumental
in procuring the first appropriation from
the general government for the opening
and improvement Of the Kenosha harbor
In 1850 Mr.. Durkee was selected as the
candidate of the Liberty and anti-Slavery
party for Member of Congress for our dis
trict, and almost solely on the ground Of
personal popularity was elected by hand
some majority. He was again elected tt
the same Office in 1862, and in 1855 was
, elected one of our United States Senators
which position he held until 1861 II
. 1850 he visited Europe as one of the dele
!; gates to- the Worlds Peace Convention.
f During his ten years service in the Ma
tional Legislature, Mr. Durkee was evel
one of the most advanced and radica
e members of the anti-Slavery party. Up
: on his first election to Congress, ther'
V were but six or seven members in sympa
thy with him in his views-Giddings
: Hale and Wilmot, the author of the Will