The Oskaloosa herald., 1904-06-30
THE TOWN OF DURFEE.
And the Busy Career Of the Man
For Whom it Was Named.


Bussey Press: Before the McNeilps
and Zeke Clark and Samuel j. Kirk
wood were active at Muchakinock and
Coalfeld, w. A. Durfee, general man
ager at Durfee, located but few FUR
longs east Of Bussey, embarked in
coal mining in Rock Island county.
Illinois, in 1871 He was an active
business man looking out for new
worlds to conquer, when his eye
caught the black DIAMONDS that lay
imbedded in the hills of that locality.
He soon became infatuated with the
business and found out that to pro
duce best results ne must give his
personal attention to the mines. This
he did and remained at the head Of
the rapids till 1873, having developed
a prosperous work. In that year he
came to Oskaloosa, the then center
Of the coal operations Of Iowa, and
took chances with other Oskaloosa
men in developing the Excelsior
mines. 1t opened up very quick and
soon attracted the attention of capi.
talists connected with the Milwaukee
road. They sought an interest and
some sold, later others and last Of all
Mr.. Durfee let go what he knew was
a splendid coal property.
He could not keep away from coal
operations, and why should he, when
he knew the business so well. and
there was such need to develop these
great wealth deposits?
He Immediately set stakes for the
Standard mine, a property located
just northwest of Oskaloosa college
1t proved bonanza Several Uska
loosa men, Seibel, Esgen, Howard
Downing and others were with him
and important, profitable contracts
were established and the work again
| attracted the eye Of magnates, this
time Alfred Sulley and others of the
Iowa Central. He sold at a handsome
figure and sought a brief rest, but
soon found himself tied up in con.
tract to manage the Oskaloosa Water
Works, mammoth property worth
/
New York capitalists. This "rest'
continued for year when Mr.. Durfee
became allied with other gentlemen
in a vast gold and silver mining pro-
ject in Colorado. He went into the
Rock Mountains and spent three
years in that great country, enjoying
the ups and downs of fortune and un.
dulation. Half million dollars in
the hands of many men are not more
than smaller sum in the hands Of a
few, and in January, 1891, Mr.. Durfee
came back to Iowa and cast about for
new coal field
Tom Sewers had already drilled
and sunk shaft on the VIM. Rhine
hart farm northeast of Rose Hill, and
this property. which afterwards prov
ed to be fine plant, was purchased
by the Durfees (the son Clarence
Durfee, now having become actively
Identified in the enterprise). This
new work must have name and Mai.
John F. Lacey (who with his father
plastered the old Rousseau house
near Hamilton half a century ago and
took a horse for their pay, but who
in the Rebellion was gallant soldier
and has for several terms been in
congress from the SIKH district) gave
1t the name Wappeluka, an Indian
word meaning "a goodly land by the
glad waters"
1t was busy camp for six years
| and they prospered till the coal was
gone. They then bought the Sose
man farm west Of What Cheer and in
1897 opened Hildegarde mines Ga fam.
lily name borne by the daughter OF
Mr.. and Mrs. Clarence Durfee and
suggested and urged by a friend),
When this field, like other what
Cheer properties, had been worked
out, the Durfees, with their associates
looked for a new field and found 1t on
the county line one mile east of Bus.
sey. They took great care in drill
ing, prospecting, putting in four miles
OF track and sinking shaft which took
two years time and an enormous in.
vestment, but these things do not
count against, but in favor of, SO big
an enterprise as this.
When the child was born it needed
name, and while the old prospector
and operator, Mr., Durfee, was busy
moving his sixty-ive houses, company
store and mine equipment to the
new field of operations, the Tri-Coun.
ty Press gave name to the youngster
and called it Durfee. The Oskaloosa
Herald backed us up and gave as a
reason Mr.. Durfees long and useful
career in locating and developing
Iowa coal properties. 1nere was no
way to cange it and no need, so it
stands Durfee. There are 400 acres
Of choice coal lands with four miles
of permananet track with fine bridges
and road bed and a grade of only liz
per cent, which means that the North.
western is never interested in any
halfway business. This road takes
all the lump coal from Durfee as fast
as their aighty.fiva nninera ran hro.