Samuel Duram - update 7/12/2017

Samuel Duram was born on May 9, 1840, in Waterloo, Seneca County, New York, the son of New York natives Joseph W. Duram (1798-1857) and Minerva Higley (1798-1847) and stepson of Pennsylvanian Mary Himelberger Boone (1819-1893).

Joseph was probably living in Mentz, Cayuga County, New York in 1830 and in Waterloo, Seneca County in 1840. By 1850 Samuel was attending school and living with his father and stepmother in Waterloo, Seneca County, New York. Samuel’s family left New York and moved west, eventually settling in Polkton, Ottawa County, Michigan (Joseph is buried in Coopersville cemetery in Polkton). In 1860 Samuel was probably working for and/or living with one John Mathews, a farmer in Martin, Allegan County.

Samuel stood 5’10” with gray eyes, brown hair and a light complexion, and was 22 years old, possibly living in Polkton, Ottawa County and had been variously employed as lumberman and hostler when he enlisted in Company I on May 13, 1861 -- he was possibly related to brothers Amasa and Andrew Duram, both of Company F, and both of whom had lived in Ottawa County before the war. (Company I was made up largely of men from Ottawa County, particularly from the eastern side of the County.) Samuel was suffering from consumption on May 28, 1862, and he remained absent sick until he was discharged for consumption on March 28, 1863, at Camp Convalescent, near Alexandria, Virginia.

Following his discharge Samuel returned to Ottawa County and was living in Eastmanville when he married his first wife, New York native Sarah T. Newton, on December 26, 1863, in Grand Rapids.

He subsequently reentered the service as a Private in Battery L, 1st Michigan Light Artillery on January 4, 1864, at Grand Rapids for 3 years, crediting Holland, Ottawa County and was mustered that same day. He probably joined the battery at the Cumberland Gap where it remained on duty until June 27 when it was moved to Knoxville, Tennessee where it remained until August of 1865. On August 15 the battery was ordered to Jackson, Jackson County, Michigan. Samuel was mustered out with the battery on August 22, 1865, at Jackson.

After the war Samuel returned to western Michigan.

He married New York native Clara L. (1840-1907), on December 25, 1865 in Zeeland, Ottawa County and they had at least two children: Cora L. (1870-1951) and Roy S. (1874-1948). (It is not known what became of his first wife.)

By 1870 Samuel and his wife were living on a farm in Allendale, Ottawa County. Samuel was living in Muskegon in December of 1887 when he became a member of the Old 3rd Michigan Infantry Association, and was living in Muskegon in 1888, and 1890. He was living with his wife Clara and his son Roy in 1900 in Muskegon’s 1st Ward, and probably in Muskegon through 1911. He was residing at no. 20 Giddings and as a widower with his son Roy at no. 28 Giddings Street in Muskegon in 1910. Indeed he probably lived most of his postwar life in Muskegon.

He was living in Michigan in 1890 when he applied for and received a pension (no. 628729).

Samuel was a widower when he died of a cerebral hemorrhage January 29, 1913, in Muskegon and he was buried in Allendale cemetery.