My Genealogy Hound

Frederick Durrant, who has been a resident of Amy, Pontiac township, Oakland County, for, a period of more than 38 years, has conducted the only village blacksmith shop during that time, and is also proprietor of the only general store, which is conducted by his son, Charles F. Durrant.

Mr. Durrant was born in Bradford County, Pennsylvania, August 12, 1848, and is a son of Gabriel B. and Mary Durrant. His father, who was of English-French parentage, was born in Ovenshire, England, in 1803, and was married there. After the birth of their first child, our subjects parents came to America, and Gabriel B. Durrant engaged in general farming and teaming, having been a horseman prior to his coming to the United States. They became the parents of the following children: William, a blacksmith of Athens, Pennsylvania; Samuel, a farmer of Troy township, Oakland County; Maria (Sergeant), who died in Ontario County, New York; Orlando, who died in Philadelphia at the age of 24 years; Elizabeth, who died in Ontario County, New York; Charles, a tinsmith of Chenango County, New York, who died at the age of 25 years; Mary Ann, who came west with our subject, and died in Michigan at the age of 23 years, her remains being sent back to the old family home in Pennsylvania for burial; George W., a tinsmith by trade, who is now an extensive farmer and orange grower, of Durrant, Florida, which village was named after him; and Frederick.

Frederick Durrant was five years old when his mother died, and he was left an orphan at the age of nine years. He lived at the home of his oldest brother until he was 12 years old, then lived with a farmer for one year, and subsequently was in the home of a merchant for one year. His sister, Maria, having married and moved to Ontario County, New York, our subject went to live with her. He continued to live there until her death, two and a half years later, and then went to live with Mumford Hays, a carriage manufacturer, for whom he drove a team. On September 23, 1865, he accompanied his brother, Samuel Durrant, to Amy, Pontiac township, Oakland County, Michigan, where the latter opened a blacksmith shop. Frederick learned the trade under his brother, with whom he continued for about 20 years. He then purchased the business, and has since conducted it with uninterrupted success, having the only shop in the village. He also embarked in the mercantile business, and under the firm name of Durrant & Son conducts the only general store in Amy. He has been very successful in a business way, and has worked his way to the front among the business men of the community solely through his own untiring efforts. Mr. Durrant was united in marriage with Sarah A. Quatermass, a native of Amy, and a daughter of Robert Quatermass. Her, father and uncle both reside in Amy, and are 88 and 84 years old, respectively. Two children have blessed this union: Charles Frederick, who conducts the general store at Amy, and is a member of the firm of Durrant & Son; and Leon Augustus, who lives with his father, and is employed in the store at Amy. Charles F. Durrant married Kate Perry, a native of Oxford County, and a daughter of Gleason Perry, the banker of Oxford. They have a daughter, Josephine. Charles F. Durrant is a Republican, and was the second ever elected in the township, serving two terms as township clerk. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Frederick Durrant is a Republican in politics, and for 12 years has served as postmaster of Amy. He has also been a school director. For a period of 25 years he has been a faithful member of the Free Methodist Church.