| Notes |
- SOURCE:
The following infromation was compiled from numerous sources, and much of the credit goes to Joan R. Fitch (Henry's great-grand daughter), who has traveled the country carefully researching this family.
-
1835 Birth:
Henry is the son of Anthony Durett and Margaret Myres, per a biography written about Henry's brother Lewis in: An Illustrated history of southern California : embracing the counties of San Diego, San Bernardino, Los Angeles and Orange, and the peninsula of lower California, from the earliest period of occupancy to the present time, together with glimpses of their prospects, also, full-page portraits of some of their eminent men, and biographical mention of many of their pioneers and of prominent citizens of to-day.
Chicago: Lewis Pub. Co., 1890, 934 pgs. (p. 153-154).
The following was a letter written by Henry to the pension board. In it he explains to the best of his memory, his birth record and family origins:
Soldier's Home 2/16/1910
To the Commissioner of Pensions
Dear Sir,
Your letter of ____ is at hand now in regard to family record.
All I can say is this, in regard to record I have none as my father was not an educated man, had no records of family.
The only record ever was I had a testament when I was a boy, but one of my uncles stole it, and I never got back.
When my mother died the family went to live with our grandfather to live.
Now my birth place was what was called the Lower Falls on the Big Sable River, about 3 or 4 miles from Keyesville ____ Clinton Co., NY state, was brought up in other places; Keyesville, Plattsburgh, left Plattsburgh and went to Canton, St. Lawrence Co., NY. From There went west.
Now my mother died when I was very young. All I know of my parents births:
Father was born in Para de Shin (likely "Prairie Du Chien"), Canada as near as I can remember.
Mother was born in Keyesville or Plattsburgh, NY.
The last time I saw my father alive, those are the last words I ever had with him in regard to births. He told me I was born in 1835.
There is none of our family living, only me and my brother who lives in San Jacinto, Riverside Co., Cal.
Our family was all baptised in the Catholic religion. I don't know of any record of it, all I know is my God Parents were Moses LaPorte and wife of S_____.
1860 Marriage:
Henry "Daret" (Durett) and Sarah Esget, 1860.
Book 4, Pg. 15, Ottawa Co. Michigan marriage index. (per Christopher J. Penning, Aug. 10, 2000). According to Henry's pension papers they were married by a Justice of the Peace March 3, 1860.
1860 Census:
Crockery Township, Ottawa Co., Michigan (Pg. 283, #288/248).
Henry "Dewitt" (Durett), age 22, mason, is shown living in with his wife "Polly H. Dewitt" (Sarah H. Durett) age 17. They were living with Sara's father Daniel Esget at the time.
1861, May 13:
Henry said he was 23 years old and living in Crockery, Ottawa Co., Michigan when he enlisted in Company I. (Company I was made up largely of men from Ottawa county, particularly from the eastern side of the county bordering on Kent county.) The Third Michgian was formed in Grand Rapids, Kent Co., during late April and May of 1861.
1861, June 13:
Departed from western Michigan for Washington, DC, on , arriving at their first camp in the east, near Chain Bridge, Virginia, just above Georgetown, on that following Sunday.
Duty in the Defences of Washington, D. C., till July 16, 1861.
Advance on Manassas, Va., July 16-21.
Occupation of Fairfax Court House, Va., July 17.
Action at Blackburns Ford July 18.
Battle of Bull Run July 21.
Duty in the Defences of Washington, D. C., till March, 1862.
Reconnoissance to Occoquan October 21-24, 1861.
Reconnoissance to Occoquan Village February 3, 1862.
(Cos. "H," "I"). Moved to the Virginia Peninsula March 17, 1862.
1862 March 21-23 Henry was sick and treated
Siege of Yorktown April 5-May 4.
Battle of Fair Oaks or Seven Pines May 31-June 1.
Reconnoissance beyond Seven Pines June 1-2.
Seven days before Richmond June 25-July 1.
Oak Grove June 25.
Savage Station and Peach Orchard June 29.
1862, June 30, Henry became ill again and reported to the hospital while at Yorktown, VA.
1862, August 31, Henry was transfered to another hospital at Newport, Rhode Island.
1862, September 4, Henry reports back to duty.
1862, October 1, Henry was at Upton Hill, VA. He proceded to march to Edwards Ferry, MD. where he fell ill again and was soon sent to the hospital at Leesburgh, VA. and was at the Convalecent Hospital at Alexandria, VA where he was mustered out on a Medical Discharge, Februray 26,1863.
1863, October 1:
Henry was discharged at Washington, DC, although the details are rather unclear. In any case, according to one source, he was discharged in order to be transferred to the Second Michigan Cavalry.
1863, July 9:
Living in Nunica, Ottawa Co., Michigan.
1863, December 18 or 28:
Assigned to Second Michigan Cavalry at Washington, D.C., however, no record of such an enlistment is found in the Regimental descriptive rolls or 1905 Regimental history for the Second Michigan cavalry. (According to Van Eycks Ottawa County in the Civil War, p. 6.).
Operations about Dandridge and Mossy Creek December 24-28.
Dandridge, Tenn., December 24.
Talbot's Station, Mossy Creek, December 29.
Operations about Dandridge January 16-17, 1864.
Bend of Chucky Road, near Dandridge, January 16.
Dandridge January 17.
Operations about Dandridge January 26-28.
McNutt's Bridge January 27.
Fair Garden January 27-28.
Swann's Island January 28.
Regiment re-enlisted March 28, 1864.
On Veteran furlough April to June.
Atlanta Campaign May 1-June 29 (Non-Veterans).
Varneli's Station May 7.
Demonstrations on Dalton May 9-13.
Tilton May 13.
Battle of Resaca May 14-15.
Near Cassville May 19.
Stilesboro May 23.
Burnt Hickory May 24.
About Dallas May 25-June 5.
Burned Church May 30-June 1.
Operations about Marietta and against Kenesaw June 10-29.
Lost Mountain June 15-17.
Moved to Franklin, Tenn., June 29.
Duty Railroad Defences of the District of Nashville till August 29.
1864, August 30 - December 30:
Hospitalized in Franklin, Tennessee.
1865, September:
Discharged at Macon, Georgia.
Pension File Details:
Henry stood 5'-6", had hazel eyes and brown hair.
Enlistment records indicated Henry and brother Lewis were plasterers by trade.
1868-1870: Moved family to Louisville Precinct, Cass Co., Nebraska.
1870 Census: Louisville Precinct, Cass Co., Nebraska (Pg.141).
Henry, 22, farm laborer, real estate=$100, is shown with his wife Sarah, 27, and 4 children;
Margaret Polly age 9,
Laurie Henrietta age 6,
Harry Anthony age 4,
Catherine "Corianna" age 2.
Also in the house was Henry's brother Lewis Durett and 2 other laborers, Samuel J. Geddis and William Bradley.
Sources at York's GAR ( Grand Army of the Republic ) Post No. 32, of Nebraska state that he was the brother of Lewis Durett. Both men were born in New York and joined Michigan units during the Civil War.
1879-1880:
Henry was treated for heart disease, spine problems, contracted figers on left hand, bladder and kidney problems. The medical record goes on to state Henry could perform manual labor only about half the time, due to his condition. He was treated by Haymond J. Powers, MD at Ogden, Utah.
1880 Census:
Ogden, Weber Co., Utah.
Henry age 43, a brick mason, is shown with his wife
Sarah age 37 and 3 children;
Laurie age 16,
Catherine age 12, and
Gertrude age 4.
Son Harry, age 13, was shown living in the house of a lawyer, Duane Hillshaw as a servant.
Oldest daughter Margaret was nearby with her husband Joseph W. Dorn age 27 and son George age 1.
1883-1887:
Henry is believed to have lived in Dakota Territory (Burleigh Co.) based on the following recorded land grant :
Name: Durett, Henry
Meredian: 05
Township-Range: 138 N 076 W
Section: 008
Acreage: 160
Type: 251101
Case Type: PA
Document ID: 214
Date: 11/05/1887
Henry also went to the County seat to obtain patent medicine, as he couldn't afford a doctor. Henry was apparently widowed in Dakota Territory. He was also treated with "Mustard Plasters" by Mrs. Wagner.
November 27, 1888:
The Bismark Daily Tribune reported that "Henry Durett, a Sterling merchant, was in town yesterday."
1888-1890:
Henry Durett is shown in Los Angeles City Directories.
1891:
Henry was located in the Tacoma, Washington directory as a plasterer from the city of Puyallup.
1895:
Henry is reported age 58, living at the Pacific Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soliders.
1898, March 15:
Henry Durett is shown in Los Angeles City Directory at 337 Commercial Street, (Could be Soldier's Home address).
1900 Census:
"National House for Disabled Voluteer Soldiers" in Pacific Branch, Santa Monica Township, Los Angeles Co., California (Enumeration District 131, Sheet 2, taken June 11, 1900).
In the census Henry stated he was 65 and was born in January, 1835.
1910 Census:
(Malibu Township, Los Angeles Co., California, Roll 85 Book 3, Page 117b)
Pacific Branch of the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers.
Durett Henry, Inmate(Patient), Male, White, 74, Widowed, b. NY, fa. b. Canada, mo. b. NY, can read / can write.
1912, March 31, Cemetery:
Durett, Henry, CO I 3 MICH INF, Plot: 21 D/12, Los Angeles National Cemetery, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, California
Sources:
1. Joan R. Fitch, (great-grandaughter of Henry).
Portland, Oregon.
2. Mr. Steve Soper of the "Old Third Michigan Infantry Project" (http://www.oldthirdmichigan.org) and pension records.
|
Davis Uriah I | Born 1707
1835 - 1912 (77 years)