Herald and news. [volume] (West Randolph, Vt.) 1878-1943, 1908-02-20
Death Of S. c. Durham.


Samuel Charter Durham died Feb. IL
of bronchial pneumonia at the advanced
age of 81 years.
Mr.. Durham spent all his life in Beth
ell. He was born on the farm adjoining
the one where he lived the last SO years Of
his life. The farm on which he was born
was first cettled and occupied by his no
BILE ancestor, Deacon Samuel Charter
Peak, who wes an officer in the Revolu-
tionary war and for whom Mr.. Durham
was named. Mr.. Durham was the sec
ond son OF Othniel and Charlotte Peak
Durham, his father being an officer in
the War of 1912.
In 1913, Mr.. Durham married Hannah
Meserye, third daughter Of Charles ana
Mary Meserve. They lived united.
happy life together 81 years, working
hard and intelligently to accumulate C
large property end build up fine sub
stantiai home where they could spend
their days with their faithful sen, Alon-
20, who met " 18th sad accident and died
twerty-three years ago en- the same day
of the month and same hour as Mr.. Dun
ham, leaving tbs father and mother
heartbrokep.
The American ancestor of the Meserve
family was Col. Nathaniel Meserve, who
came to this country about 1850 and WIS
a noted shipbuiider in the Haynes ship
yard at Portsmouth, n. Ii. He was the
-great-grandfather Of Charles
Meserve, the father of Irs. Durham and
Augustus Marsh, and the lineal success
sion is as follows:-Col. Nathaniel Me-
serve, the shipbuilder; George Meserve,
who was interested in the Stamp Act;
William Neserve, who was sea captein
and owned many vessels; Charles Me-
serve, who was for many years promi-
nent farmer in Bethel and owned the
farm where the late Mr.. Durham died.
He also owned the brick house near the
Methodist church. Mr.. Meserve was the
contractor and manager OF the building
of the Erie canal.
Mr.. Durham was very enterprising,
Industrious man, and made farming a
success. He was a man of good judg-
ment; one who attended strictly to his
own business and was good citizen. He
loved his home and church. of which he
was deacon for many years, and the
dear old town where he insisted he must
live and die.
In his Saith year he married Arvilla
Roundy, who survives him.
OF his four children, William A., Bur-
ton Alonzo, Elbra NJ. and Mary Emma,
only two remain to mourn his loss. His
kind and loving face will be greatly
missed by those who had so tenderly adj
ministered to his needs. His daughter,
Mrs. Holmes, who has so many times
left her home and responded to every call
to come to him in times of perplexities,
will sadly miss the dear father whose life
seemed so closely interviewer with her
own.
Elbra Durham Hooper died in April,
1896. One brother survives, Horace Dun
ham of Bethel.
Those attending the funeral from out
of town were Mr.. and Mrs. j. p. Holmes,
Mary Elbra Holmes and g. ID. Hooper of
Walpole, n. H.; Arthur Holmes of Am
herst, Mass; Burton Alonzo Holmes of
Boston; Robert Sears of Springfield,
Mass, and Mrs. Elbra johnson of West
minister, VT.
He loved us while he fingered here.
We loved him-never love more sincere.
He cannot tell us-none can tell =
What waits behind the mystic veil
But time at last the answer brings
AND he past all our suns and SHOWS
At rest with peasants and with kings
Like them the wondrons secret knows.