This is series of biographies is for my Durham/Derham line. My ancestry is as follows:

My dad

Earl Ethan Durham – Grace E. Rose

Charles Henry Derham – Mary Ann Burbridge

Henry Derham – Martha Jewell

William Derham – Elizabeth “Betty” Bowyer

Henry Derham – Ann Brownsford

RichardDerham – Joan Smith

Earl Ethan Durham

Heather’s great grandfather

When Earl Ethan Durham was born on February 16, 1886, in Corunna, Michigan, his father, Charles, was 40 and his mother, Mary, was 37. He married Grace E Rose on August 9, 1910, in his hometown. They had two children during their marriage. He died on January 31, 1942, in Lakeland, Florida, at the age of 55.

Earl was of the first generation to adopt the spelling “Durham” instead of “Derham”, though during his lifetime he did use the old “Derham” spelling occasionally. Earl’s brother Ray was the only sibling who steadfastly held on to the “e”. All of Earl’s other siblings ended up using “Durham” as well.

We have a “delayed” birth certificate showing his birth date, birth place, and parents’ names. This birth certificate was issued in 1965, well after his death, and is taken from data given in 1935, near the end of his life.

The above photo is said to be Earl and Ray Derham. Since Ray is the younger brother by 2 years, then Earl is on the left, maybe 4 or 5 years old.

Since the 1890 census was lost, the first time we see him in the census is in 1900, when he is 14 years old. He lives with his parents Charles and Mary, as well as 5 siblings and one servant, at 400 Frager St in Corunna, Michigan. This address doesn’t seem to exist anymore, according to Google Earth.

This census reports Earl’s birth date as Feb 1886, so that helps us to validate his delayed birth certificate.

I think this photo would have been taken around his high school graduation.

Ten years later, in May of 1910, we can see Earl in the 1910 census. He’s still living with his parents (though he will be married in a couple of months), and he is working as a salesman in a drugstore. This is interesting to see, because Earl will remain in the pharmacy and drugstore career for the rest of his working life. The address is now listed as West Fraser St in Corunna. I am guessing that is the new (or correct) spelling of Frager St. But still no luck on Google Earth.

On August 9, 1910, Earl marries Grace E. Rose. This transcript shows the bride’s and groom’s parents’ names and witnesses’ names. Earl and Grace are the 2^nd couple listed…skip the first couple. Earl’s parents’ names match those on the delayed birth certificate. His witness is his brother Ray. The marriage license was issued on August 8, with the actual marriage taking place in Corunna the next day.

I believe this to be his wedding photo. He is 24 years old.

The wedding made front page news of the Corunna Journal.

On 17 Feb 1912, his daughter Martha Lucile Durham is born. Here she is with mother Grace, when she’s 3 months old.

In June 1913, Earl purchases a drugstore business, though it doesn’t indicate that he bought the drugstore building itself – perhaps it is rented.

On 5 July 1914, a 2^nd daughter is born. My grandmother Jean Rose Durham.

In April 1916, Earl is elected mayor of Corunna. He’s now 30 years old.

He is re-elected in April 1917.

On 12 September 1918, Earl registers for the draft, due to the onset of World War I.

We can see his signature. Also we now know he is “self-employed” as a “druggist”.

He is further described by the Registrar as “short”, with blue eyes and light brown hair.

Here is the family in the 1920 census. Earl is now 35 years old. They live at 214 State St in Corunna. He is the “employer” and “retail merchant” at a drugstore. He also reports that he owns his home at 214 State St., free and clear.

We now have better luck on Google Earth, but it shows both a 214 West State St and a 214 East State St, very close to each other. Referring back to the 1920 census I can see that just a few homes earlier, the census-taker did visit a 214 West State St already. Therefore I conclude that the Durham family lived at 214 East State St. The home is 2 blocks south of the drugstore they operated at 301 N. Shiawassee St.

The closest address I can find on Zillow is 212 East State St., which was built in 1945. It seems that 214 does not exist any more.

On 16 August 1921, Martha dies at age 9. It seems she had taken ill on August 11^th. Her residence on the death certificate is listed as 301 N. Shiawassee, which is the drugstore. Martha’s death notice in the paper confirms that the family is living over the drugstore.

Here is a photo of Earl with the girls before Martha died. The gentleman on the left is unknown to me, probably a grandfather.

Earl was president of the school board for the school year 1929-1930. This card that I found doesn’t indicate which school board, so I assume it was Corunna.

In the 1930 census, the family of 3 is living at 302 West State St. in Corunna, and Earl clearly is shown as owning the drugstore at this point. It also says that he owns the home, as opposed to renting, but doesn’t indicate whether he has a mortgage or not. The home is valued at $8000.

In December 1930, the newly-elected governor of Michigan appoints Earl to the State Board of Pharmacy.

In December 1931, the newspapers report that Earl, whose title is “Supervisor”, “has put into effect a new kind of welfare relief plan. The supervisor is buying produce at the farms at low prices with the farmers delivering to the homes of the needy.” This is all that is mentioned, so I am only guessing that Supervisor is a state title and that he is using state funds for this effort.

The Derham and Rose families were known to “winter” in Florida.

This photo is of Grace and Earl, and I believe Grace’s father Elbert Rose, on the right. In Grace’s handwriting, it says “Bok Tower” which is located in Florida. I believe this was taken January 1932.

In 1936, we can see Earl in the Corunna Directory. And we also know that he drives a Pontiac. There is his older brother William, as well.

The 1940 census is barely legible, so I didn’t show it here, but in 1940 he and Grace are still living in the same house. Grace’s father is living with them as well. The 1940 census recorded the highest level of education for each person. Earl reports that he had 4 years of high school. (Grace had 3 years and her father had 1 year.)

On 31 January 1942, Earl died in Florida.

Here is his death notice in the local Michigan paper. It is reported that he’d had a stroke.

I do have his death certificate as well, though it’s difficult to read, so I didn’t reprint it here. He was 56 years old. The death certificate says he had hypertension, arteriosclerosis, and diabetes. Grace reports that their usual address is 302 W. 8^th Street in Corunna. Is that formerly 302 W. State Street? Still no address match today.

He was buried in Pinetree Cemetery in Corunna.