PETER DURKIN

Peter Durkin was born June 11, 1854 in New York City. He departed this life at Crowell Home August 23, 1936. His age was 82 years, two months and 12 days. His parents were born in Ireland, and they passed away when he was an infant.

Before reaching the teen age he came to Dundy county and settled on a homestead a few miles south of Wauneta, Nebraska. Through his industry and thrift he paid for his 160 acre farm which was a very productive piece of land located on the south divide of the Frenchman river valley. About two years ago he deeded his farm to Crowell Home, and on October 11, 1934 came to the Home as a guest.

He was converted to Christ and Christianity when a young man of about twenty five years of age, and united with the Zion Methodist Episcopal church which was located in the vicinity of his farm. Since coming to Crowell Home his church membership was transferred to the Blair Methodist Episcopal church. He was very regular in his Sunday School and church attendance, was seldom absent until the extreme heat wave of a few weeks past. Mr. Durkin was a member of the I.O.O.F. lodge No. 210 of Wauneta, Nebraska, and also a member of the Masonic order No. 217 of the same place.

Mr. Durkin has always been a hard working thrifty man. One given to much hospitality and charity. He had helped many poor needy folk in that western part of the state in the earlier days of pioneering. Like others of his class of early settlers, he was a self made and educated man. One who had devoted much of his spare time to reading and study. He was a good student of the Bible and was far above the average in his knowledge of history. Which knowledge gave him liberty to converse in a very intelligent manner on many subjects of the past and present.

The funeral services were held at Crowell Home on August 25th at 2:00 p.m. conducted by Rev. D. A. McCullough, pastor of the Blair Methodist Episcopal church. Burial was in Blair cemetery.

~~~Obituaries courtesy of the Nebraska Washington County Genealogical Society. Newspaper clippings on file in the Blair, Nebraska Public Library~~~

FindaGrave # 114364332