W. E. Durham, of section 26, Carson Township, came to this county in 1881, where he has since resided. He was born in Hart County, Kentucky, January 10, 1826, the son of John and Mourning (Burris) Durham. The father was a native of Albemarle County, Virginia, and was a son of David Durham, of Virginia, and was a soldier in the War of 1812. The mother was born in Albemarle County, Virginia, of a good family. Our subject was but two years old when the family moved to Sangamon County, Illinois, where they lived a short time, and then removed to Bureau County, Illinois, when the Sac and Fox Indians inhabited that region. Here the parents lived until their death. They raised sic children, of which our subject was the youngest.

W. E. Durham, the subject of this sketch, resided in Bureau County, near Malden, until 1881, when he sold the old farm and came to Pottawattamie County, and bought his present place, consisting of 580 acres, which is one of the most valuable farms in the county. Grove Farm is a beautiful home; the residence was erected in 1882, and is in the shape of three L's, two stories high, and cost $8,000. The farm contains about twenty acres of forest and grove trees.

He was married March 27, 1856, in Bureau County, Illinois, to Miss Rebecca Sherman, a woman of intelligence and of a good family. She was born in Lucas County, Ohio, the daughter of John Sherman, who was born on the ocean, of German parents, who were on their way to America. They afterward settled at Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Durham's mother was Catherine (Keel) Sherman, who was born in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania. Mrs. Durham was only fourteen years old when her parents removed from Stark County, Ohio, to Bureau County, Illinois. Her father died at the latter place in 1861, and her mother died in Missouri in 1875.

Mr. and Mrs. Durham have eight children, viz.: Flora V., wife of David White, of Carson Township; Ethelinda, wife of Felix Setz, of Washington Township; Mary W., wife of Rob Steele, of Center Township; Rhoda, wife of J. C. Elswicks, of Carson Township; Ira E., one of Pottawattamie's successful teachers; John Sherman, at home; William Arthur, of Carson Township; and Charlie K., at home.

Mr. and Mrs. Durham, two sons and their youngest daughters are members of the Presbyterian and Baptist churches. Politically Mr. Durham is a Democrat, and works for the best interest of his party.