The Detroit times., 1916-01-15
Veteran Jurist Will Be
Guest At Big Ban
quet Tonight
HAS SERVED
FORTY YEARS
Probate Court Has
Handled 53,415 Cases
Under His Regime

Away back in August. 1881 as tBe
musty records show. the first parce.
OF an estate went through the ad
ministrative hands Of probate In The
Wayne county court Eighty years
passed, and during the so years the
same court, with a long succession
Of judges passed Ipon s,2S5 estates
Then Judge Edgar O. Durtee 5
regime began, and that regime con.
tinues, with the veteran jurlsl Ia his
seventy-fourth year OF age and mis-
fortieth year OF service on the pro
bate bench.
Judge Durfee's 40 years admin
istration in the Wayne county pro
bate court has handled 10 date JUST
45.lS0 more estates than were ad.
Mustered during the 50 years OF the
court preceding his assumption OF
Office on Jan. I. 1877. IN other words,
the Durfee regime has handled 3d.
AIS cases. and there is a good pros
pect that II will handle many thou
sands more.
Members OF the Wayne county
bar, under auspices OF the Lawyers
club. OF Detroit. will pay tribute to
Judge Durfee at a banquet tonight,
IN the Statler hotel Judges and
lawyers OF distinction, not only from
Detroit but from over the state, VIII
be on hand to show the venerable
jurist the respect and esteem they
have for him. Speeches VIII be-
made, and these speeches will bear
the note OF praise IN its fun
strength and sincerity.
Treats us as though ne was our
father" is the way the clerks and
deputies of the probate court speak
OF Judge Durfee "He doesn't say
much, he doesn't waste much time
with unnecessary words, and he
means what he says when he says
A., but always IL is with paternal
Kindness and genial consideration.
Punctuality IS his point of strength,
ard that word goes IN court and in
everything that has TO do with this
ONCE. When a case Is set for 10
O'Clock. II means 10 o'clock, and IL
it's set for 1914. Il means 1O:l4;
no sooner, no later"
And Il is pretty much the same
way outside OF court with Judge
Durfee punctuality, regularity.
Closely as he applies himself TO
court duties, however, the judge in
sists upon his recreation. and one
OF his hobbies in this connection is
walking He walks much, winter as
well as summer rain as well as
shine, and the morning has 10 be
decidedly inclement when he does
not walk from his home. No. 70
Warren-ave. east. to the county
court house. and decidedly inclem.
ent must be the evening when he
does not walk back home.
Not an anti" so far as winter IS
concerned, but philosophical in ac-
ceptance OF what the seasons and
elements dictate, yet Judge Durfee's
seasons of greatest JOY are spring
and summer, for In the spring he
may satisfy what is perhaps his
greatest hobby, the annual hunt IN
swamplands and waysides for John
ny-Jump-Ups and all the other wild
flowers OF springtime, and In sum
mer he may spend many Joyous
hours hoeing in the garden OF nj,
sonin-law. Hobart B. Hoyt, in Gross,
Pointe.
Judge Durfee is a Detroit native
simon pure. lie was born here oct
IS. 1912 He went 10 school here
prepared for teaching by a course II
the Michigan State Normal, and y
came lawyer by his studies in the
Detroit College OF Law. In 1862 he
enlisted in the Twenty-fourth Mich
igan Volunteer infantry, and fought
in the battle OF Gettysburg. He was
seriously wounded. and the loss OF
his right arm was the price he paid
His election as Judge OF probate was
in the fall OF 1876. the same year ne
was admitted to the bar.