Daily capital journal. (Salem, Or.) 1896-1899, 1897-07-19

John Durbin, one Of Oregon's Oldest
pioneers and citizens, died at the
home of his grandson, Duncan Ross,
eight miles northeast Of here. Satur-
day. He would haYe been lO3 Sep
tember 13 next.
SKETCH OF DECEASED.
John Durbin was born in FayeUte
county, Pennsylvania, September ID,
1894. His birth antedated the death
of George Washington five years. He
did service as lieutenant in the war OF
1872, and lived thro' Mexican and civil
wars. He knew what Indian ware
fare was from having lived among the
Indians. In 1900, he moved from his
native state to Richard county, Ohio,
where in 1920, he married Sarah Fit
ting. On this union were born 10
children, five of whom are living.
The family moved to Hancock county,
Illinois, in 1912; thence to Clayton
county, Missouri, IN the same year.
In the spring of 1S45, the family with
body of emigrants, set out for Ore
gon, arriving in the fall of 1915. Mr..
Durbin settled in Marion county,
where he lived continuously until his
death. He lived an actiye life, CIV
ing most of his time to farming and
stockraising.
In the sos it was his custom to
drive bands of cattle into the Rogue
River valley to Craze off of natures
rich pastures. He had large band
in the valley at the time of the
threatened outbreak of the Rogue
River Indians. 1t was Mr.. Durbln's
good fortune to get along peaceably
with the Indians, even when they
were hostile toward the government
and other settlers. He treated with |
the ROgue River Indians at the start |
by promising them two head of fat |
cattle year for the privilege Of pas
turage, and he always lived up TO tie
treaty. The living children of John
Durbin are: Casper j., of Huntington,
Or, aged 70; Mrs. Fannie A. Martin,
four miles east of Salem, aged 72; Sol
Omon Durbin, 81 miles east Of Salem.
aged 81; Isaac, aged 65, nine miles
northeast of Salem; Mrs. Mary j.
Starkey, of Salem, aged 81.
HIS DESCENDANTS.
Casper j., the eldest, now nearly II
years old, dwells in Huntington, Ba-
ker county. He married Julia Draper
and they have two children, Alice b.
and John, who is married, with one
child, making four generations.
Fanny A., married to John Martin
and had seven children, Rebecca, Me
lissa, Sarah Jane, Mary Melvina,
Ruth Elizabeth, Francis Emma, Law
renee J. and Willard.
Sarah, first married to a Mr.. Stur-
gis, and later to Mr., Plowman, now
resides on Howell Prairie
Soloman, the sixth child, resides a
few miles east of Salem He married
Sophia Elgin and four children blessed
their union.
Isaac, the seventh, was married to
Olive Case and they had four children,
the eldest Of whom is now Mrs. Dun
can Ross, of Salem Prarie, at whose
nome the centenarian ended his life.
Isaac, like all the surviving members
If the family, enjoys prosperous
arm life and is resident of Howell
Prairie. II
Daniel, the twin of Isaac, lives on
Howell Prarie with his wife (nee Miss
sarah A. Smith, and they have one
hild, Frank w.
Mary j., now Mrs. A. A. Starkey, {
S the mother of six children. {
Ruth A., the tenth child, is dead.
'he married h. A. Barker, who is dead
lso, leaving four children.
Besides Ruth A., of the children Of j.
TOhn Durbin, Rebecca, the second, I
Ind John, the fourth. are now dead. I