Edgar Oren Durfee

Edgar Oren Durfee was born on a 180 acre farm in Livonia Township on October 28, 1842. He had little formal schooling in anything other than farm work. Reportedly, however, his father was a subscriber to Horace Greeley's Weekly Tribune, and it exposed the young boy to the outside world. When Edgar was 14 the family moved to nearby Plymouth, where Edgar continued to help with the family farm.

Edgar enlisted in Company C on August 8, 1862 at Plymouth. He was 19. His older brother Charles enlisted in Company C on the following day. Company C was mustered into service on August 15, 1862. By all accounts Edgar and Charles were both excellent soldiers. Edgar was quickly promoted to Sergeant.

Edgar's service with the Regiment came to an end at Gettysburg on July 1, 1863. He was on detached duty that morning, along with John Ryder and two other members of the Regiment. All four hurried forward so as not to miss the battle. John Ryder was killed, while Edgar lost is arm. Edgar's right arm was struck by a mine ball, and as he stumbled to the rear, he was struck a second time in the leg. A surgeon removed his arm at the shoulder, and the leg wound eventually healed. Edgar would never again be able to carry a rifle with the rest of his comrades. He was discharged because of his wounds on December 28, 1863.

There is some controversy as to what Edgar did next. In his book Father Abraham's Children, Frank Woodford (p. 270) said: "After he had recovered, he was given employment in a government office in Washington. He remained there until 1870". There is no supporting citation. Since this is in conflict with other documented evidence, we must conclude that it is not entirely correct. It may well be that Durfee did work in Washington for a time; disabled veterans were often given government positions to help supplement their meager pensions.

Eventually, Edgar returned home and taught school in Wayne for one term, and probably did his best to help out around the family farm. He attended Ypsilanti Normal School (now known as Eastern Michigan University) in 1867 and 1868. He worked for a time in the Detroit Abstract Office, and briefly in the Corporation Council Offices. In 1873 he became the registrar of the Probate Court. After four years he decided to run for a position on the court. he was elected Probate Judge in 1877, and would be re-elected to this position for 13 consecutive terms; all together he served on the bench for over 50 years. He continued on the bench until his death in 1927.

For many years judge Durfee was the acknowledged head of the Republican Party in Wayne County and as such he enjoyed the bitter enmity of his Democratic counterpart, Major George Penniman, also a Civil War veteran. With advancing age, Penniman's mind began to fail and it became necessary for his family to have him declared incompetent. The petition had to be approved by Judge Durfee, who was thus placed in an extremely embarrassing position, and apologized in court to Penniman for doing what the law required of him. Penniman quietly asked, when the order was signed, if he was thereby adjudged insane.

"That is correct," replied Durfee, sadly.

"And as an insane person, I can't be held responsible for anything I do?" Penniman asked.

"That's right," Durfee stated.
"Then, you old so-and-so," shouted Penniman, "I'm going to tell you exactly what I think of you." And he proceeded to do so, in purple language, while the unhappy Durfee squirmed on the bench, with no choice but to sit and listen.

According to an article in the Detroit News (December 28, 1947), he once commented, "People speak of the good old days. But there are no more things wrong with the body politic today than there ever were. It is simply that the evils are more quickly known and better understood, because of the newspapers. There are more poor in the statistical tables, but that is because we have more agencies for relieving the poor."

He was also a respected authority on election laws. He headed the Wayne County Board of Canvassers and the Wayne County Election Commission for many years. He had a reputation as being a man of great integrity.

In the early 1880's he was one of the men who obtained a franchise in the National League for the Detroit Base Ball Club, and saw it win the championship in 1887.

For many years he was a one-armed duck hunter at the North Channel Club at the Flats, but when old age crept up on him he was convinced to give it up for flower raising. No doctor ever divorced him from his big black cigars, however.

Woodford (p. 271) does relate one interesting anecdote:

Edgar O. Durfee died on April 28, 1927 in his eighty-fifth year. At the time of his death, he was still in office.

Edgar Oren Durfee

Much of the information for this biography is courtesy of the Wayne Historical Museum. Used with permission.

Additional Information is from Father Abraham's Children, pages 270 & 271.