Willaim W. Durant is a native of Thomaston, State of Maine born May 27, 1803. Mr. Durant was married to his first wife, Miss Susanna L. Marsh, at Roxbury, Massachusetts, June 1, 1827. She died at Rock Falls, in this county, in October, 1839. In December, 1840, Mr. Durant married his second wife, Miss Emily M. Martin. The children by the first wife were, E. W., S. L., and W. W.; and by the second wife, Charles A., Helen Maria, Alfred and Augusta. E. W. Durant resides at Stillwater, Minnesota, and the rest at Albany, Illinois. All are living except Helen M., wife of Joseph S. Green who died at Albany in April, 1876.
Mr. Durant came first to Whiteside in 1838, and settled at Rock Falls, where he remained until August, 1844, when he moved to and settled in Albany, and has since resided at that place. The first few years of his residence in Whiteside was devoted to farming, and since then he has been engaged in merchandising.
He was one of the first Assessors appointed for the precincts by the County Commissioners, his district comprising Rapids precinct. He has also been Justice of the Peace, and since 1863 Postmaster at Albany.
Bent & Wilson History of Whiteside County
