My Genealogy Hound

CHARLES DURNING, machinist, Verona, was born in Pittsburgh, Feb. 18, 1848, a son of Robert and Mary (Alcock) Durning, of Lancashire, England. The father was called a whitesmith, that is, a fine-tool maker, and died in 1870, aged sixty-six years. His widow, now seventy-seven, resides in Pittsburgh. Charles attended the city schools until fourteen years old, and when sixteen began work in machine-shops. In 1872 he took employment in the A. V. R. R. shops, and for the past three years has had charge of the entire machine department. He became a resident of Verona when the shops were moved here in 1876, and is the owner of a house and several lots in the First ward. In 1872 he married Mary E. Gray, who was born at Blairsville, of German descent. Mrs. Durning is the mother of nine children, five of whom are living: Charles Harry, Alice, Bessie, Martha May and Thomas. Those deceased were named Alma Ida, Joseph, Maud and Bertie, who was thirteen years old. The family is connected with the Presbyterian Church. Mr. Durning is a F. & A. M. and a member of the I. O. O. F.; he is a republican, and a member of the borough council.