The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1924-02-20
REV. DURRIE.
FORMER LOCAL
PASTOR, DIES
Did Much to Build Up Pres.
byterian Church of Bis.
marck During Passionate
LIFE HISTORY TOLD

Older residents of Bismarck viii
regret to learn of the death Of Re yer
end Archibald Durric, former pastor
OF the Presbyterian church Of this
city who passed away at Leadville
Colorado on January 2lst.
Reverend Durrie was born in Madi-
son, Wisconsin, July 26, 1858. OF
Scotch ancestry, his father, Daniel
S. Durric, held for many years the
important position of libraria. of
the Wisconsin State Historical So
ciety Library and was the author Of
monographs on various historical
subjects.
After graduating with an VI. A.
Degree from the University Of Wis
cousin, Archibald Durrie spent sever
al years teaching in the public
schools of the state and in the Chi
cago Seminary. When he had defin-
itely decided upon his life work, he
entered the Mccormack Seminary
from which he was graduated in 1887
with degree of Bachelor of Divini-
ty. II is stated that he was one of
the finest students of history, Greek
and Latin graduated from that irsti-
tuition for many years.
His first charge was the First
Church of Superior, Wisconsin where
he worked diligently from 1889 TO
1898. From Superior he came TO Bis
marck in the late fall of 1898, sue
ceeding Reverend James VI. Anderso on
whose work in the development of
the Pre- sbyterian Church of this city
is so well remembered. Reverend
Durric held the pastorate for eight
years until the fall Of 1901. They
were for this city, years of trying
depression during which he gave
loyal service to the church.
Family Recalled
His family will be remembered as
consisting of Mrs. Durrie, her older
sister, Miss Cunningham, both wo-
men of serene and gracious charac-
ter and his son, Paul, who was a child
of three when his father came to
Bismarck in 1893, and little Bruce
who was born here in 1896 but passed
away after three short years of life
Mrs. Durrie's health failed while in
Bismarck and after a pastorate in
Hastings, Minnesota, where Miss
Cunningham died. the family sought
health first in Idaho and later in Cal
ifornia where Mrs. Durrie died after
years of suffering in 1915. Paul de-
veloped into Il brilliant young man OF
high scholarship, Princeton Stu
dent, and successfully contended fol
Rhodes Scholarship but his health
also gave way. and life of promise
was cut short by Il tragic death no
yet fully explained while doing rcli
gious work in Massachusetts in l9l
In 1918, Reverend Durrie retu, nee
to Superior. the scene of his frs
passionate. A we'll known business
man of Superior has written recertl!
to an acquaintance in Bismarck. III,
has been through all the years
staunch friend to me and mine ant
to so many others here and his worl
in the early days of his ministry
together with the three years ending
with 1921, which he spent with w. a
temporary supply we've most fruit
full
From Superior he went to Lead
vile. Colorado, where he met Will
marked success in his pastorate worl
and also took prominent par. il
the Masonic Bodies of the city
Lodge, Chapter, Commandery ant
Council, and in the activities Of on
of the Luncheon Clubs.
In a lengthy sketch Of his life anc
of his work at Leadville, The Herald
Democrat of that city says in par
of his death:
although very sudden, death wher
it came was not entirely unexpected
by those closest to him, it is lea med
as he had been complaining of pair
in the region Of the heart early Sun
day morning. His physician, DR.. =
B. Lynch, explained that Mr.. Durrie'.
pulse was very low and that he was
suffering from some stomach trou
BILE as we'll, but after administering ;
heart stimulant his condition wa.
much improved.
DR.. Lynch added that he strongl,
advised Mr.. Durrie not to attempt
the conducting of the church service:
that morning, but the pastor made
light of his physical condition; say
ing that he felt we'll enough and thi.
his work must be done regardless o.
sell.
Died At LabOrs
Rev. Mr.. Durrie died as he had liv
cd, in the harness. Judge R. y. Nc
Leod, one Of his close friends, calm,
at the manse about noon on Monday
found him seated naturally in j.;
chair drawn before the heating stow,
in the front room, in which few
live Goals were still burning. Life
it was found had been extinct TO-
several hours. Rising at an unusual
ly early hour, according to a neigh
Dor who saw him about 6 Monda,
morning, Mr.. Durrie had been occu
pied with the simple duties of hi