Hines, H. K. "An Illustrated History of the State of Oregon." Chicago: Lewis
Pub. Co. 1893.

ALBERT ALONZO DURHAM

	Hon. Albert Alonzo Durham, an Oregon pioneer of 1847 and one of Washington
county's most respected citizens, was born in the State of New York, March 15,
1814. His ancestors came to New England long previous to the Revolution and
three of the brothers fought in the Continental army, one of these being
Grandfather Josiah Durham. Three others of the Durhams remained loyal to the
King and fought on the English side, showing that at least they had the courage
to follow their convictions of right.
	The father of our subject, Silas Durham, was born in 1792 in New York, and
he married Miss Laura Morse, a native of Massachusetts, a lady but a few months
younger than himself. They were blessed with a family of five daughters and five
sons, but three of the daughters and one of the sons have died. In 1825 they
removed to the State of Ohio and settled in Ashtabula county, where our subject,
who was the second child, was reared to manhood. Mr. Durham was in Flat Rock,
New York, when the first canal boat came through with General La Fayette on
board, on her first trip, with other prominent men, and Mr. Durham remembers
seeing the distinguished visitors. 
	Our subject was married November 6, 1836, to Miss Marianda Almira White, who
was born in New York, December 6, 1814, and was a daughter of John G. White.
After the marriage our subject was engaged in the milling business, both saw and
flour milling, and also engaged in farming. Five children were born to Mr. and
Mrs. Durham, but two of them died. April 15, 1847, our subject decided to make
the start to Oregon, across the plains, with his wife and one child. They
continued with a company for a time, but Mr. Durham became displeased with the
delays that were being made continually and at last he hitched up his own team,
climbed into his own wagon and said, "I started for Oregon, and I am going;" and
there were several others who followed his example. He had three yoke of oxen, a
wagon, provisions and a splendid gun, which he knew well how to use.
Our subject was obliged to ford all of the rivers but two, but came through
safely, arriving October 1, and made his first location in Clackamas county,
just below Oregon City. Here he worked at mill building and owned one-fourth of
it. In 1848 gold was discovered in California and then excitement ran high and
naturally our subject felt the fever. He went overland to California and dug for
gold on all of the forks of the American river, being very successful, making an
average of $300 for every day he worked and on his best days he took out $800,
and took out $3,600 in twelve days. He then returned home to fix up his
business, purchased the whole of the mill and ran it from March to September,
when he sold it for $19,000. Then he removed to Oswego and built another mill
and remained there from 1850 until 1863. During this time he did a very large
business and was one of the leading and most enterprising men on the river, but
through the loss of a large steamboat which he had built and other causes, he
met with reverses and sold out and came to his present locality.
	At the present place Mr. Durham has 320 acres with a saw and flour mill and
since he has been here he has rebuilt both of these and has done a prosperous
business. His son, George H., who crossed the plains with him and two other sons
born since reaching Oregon, R.L. and S.A., are living and are men of character.
Mrs. Durham is still spared to her husband and children, and both she and her
husband have been members of the Methodist Church for forty-two years.  They are
both in their seventy-eighth year and are among the most worthy and most
respected of the pioneers of 1847. Mr. Durham has been a very active man in his
life and has possessed an invincible courage, which no adversity could conquer,
and nothwithstanding that he has retired from active business, still he is ever
at work and would not be well or satisfied without something to do. He has a
fine constitution and looks much younger than he is. In politics he has always
been a Republican and is thoroughly informed on all affairs of the whole
country, and in 1860 he was nominated for Representative to the State
Legislature. He was elected by an overwhelming majority, running far ahead of
his ticket, and his services in the Legislature were distinguished by manly
integrity, good judgment and commons sense.

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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in July 2009 by Jennifer Dorner.
Jennifer has additional information on this family and is happy to share  Please
email her at: dorner -at- comcast.net