Samuel Charles Durst
Samuel Charles Durst, born about 1845, Pontypool England, died 1930, Putnam CO, FL, married Elizabeth M LNU, born 1853, NY, died 1923, Putnam CO, FL. Both buried Eden Cemetery, Crescent City, Putnam CO, FL.
The memoirs of Miss Bessie Williams of Crescent City (courtesy of Margary Neal Nelson) related the story of a very early family living on the shores of Dead Lake. Miss Bessie was born c1866 and came to Crescent City at the age of ten and wrote her recollections of the years gone by in 1938/39.
As the daughter of an Episcopal minister, she probably knew many heart rendering stories, thus became acquainted with a sad little girl who touched her heart.
She wrote of a family from, “London, England, consisting of the mother, three sons and a little daughter" coming to the wilderness shores on the east bank of Dunn’s Lake (now known as Crescent Lake), building a log bouse, a chicken house and a shed for a horse and cow. The sons cleared a few acres for an orange grove and a garden. Supplies had to be brought from Palatka by rowboat, a distance of nearly 25 miles.”
“They were educated, cultured people, one of the sons being an accomplished musician. Mystery surrounded their coming into the backwoods with their few worldly possessions. They received mail at a little postoffice at Oak Wood, this being their only contact with the outer world.”
“After a few years the mother became very ill and passed away. One of the sons had gone up north, so the two sons wrapped the mother in a blanket and took her body to Palatka in the rowboat to begin the journey to England. As the boat would not hold the third person, the little girl was left alone to tend to the live stock. The brothers returned the next morning.”
"Within a short time the brothers decided to send Cynthia to the brother up North who was married and could give her an excellent home." Miss Bessie wrote that the girl spent a week or longer with the Williams family while a seamstress prepared a few dresses for her.”
“The elder of the two brothers went to a northern city and became a part of a large piano manufacturing concern, marrying a wealthy young woman.”
“The other brother moved to Crescent City for some years, developing a very active business in well-boring, being the first one to give the town artesian wells. Later he moved to a large northern city and became the city engineer, married happily and died not many years ago.”
Two articles have come to the attention of Margary Neal Nelson, historian and genealogist of Crescent City, that show this to be the Durst family. In a booklet printed in 1882 by C.R. Griffing & Co, it is stated "J. A. & S. Durst's patent filter well building is located on block 21." (Crescent City) In the May 16, 1930 issue of the Crescent City Journal an obituary for Samuel C. Durst states, "Mr Durst was born in Pontypool, England in 1845. He came to America at the age of 18 (1863) and became a naturalized citizen during his first year here. He resided in Hoboken and Newark, N.J. six years before he moved to New York City. In 1876 he came to Florida and settled on the east side of Lake Crescent near Shell Bluff. He later returned to New York City, coming back here in 1881 and remaining until 1895."
"He then went back to New York where he resided until nine years ago. (1921) when he came back to Crescent City to live with his son, William Durst. His wife (Elizabeth M.) preceded him in death about seven years ago (1923). They celebrated their golden anniversary in 1917." Survivors listed were one brother, Jas. Durst and one sister, Mrs Martha Clark of Newark and two sons, Samuel in California and William, in Crescent City.”
“William Durst (son of Samuel C.) born in Newark moved to New York in 1895, then spent his summers in New York City and the winter months in Florida. He returned to Crescent City in 1921, engaged in the citrus business and became manager for the Crescent City Citrus Growers Association in 1928. William Durst and his wife Eva were members of Howe Memorial Methodist Church in Crescent City.
After his retirement, he grew plumosus fern next to his home south of town on Old Highway 17. He passed away November 6, 1949 and Mrs Durst on October 9, 1958. They and his parents were buried in Eden Cemetery." He is credited with being the first in Putnam County to grow leatherleaf fern. He kept his product a secret, surrounding it with a shed constructed of slats and also kept his clientele list a secret.
Thus with Bessie Williams memoirs and Margary Neal Nelson's research, one of the very early First Families of Flagler has been established. Somewhere through the years Cynthia became known as Martha, otherwise the accounts all fit together.
Issue:
1. Samuel Durst, born Sep 1869, Newark, Essex CO, NJ, married Henrietta C LNU, born Jun 1874, FL. Issue;
(1) Cristabel Durst born about 1904, PA
2. William M Durst, born 26 Jun 1871, Newark, Essex CO, NY, died 06 Nov 1949, Putnam CO, FL, married Eva Hubert, born 23 Sep 1888, GA, died 09 Oct 1958, Bullock CO, GA. Both buried Eden Cemetery, Crescent City, Putnam CO, FL
3. Thomas Durst, born Dec 1884, Putnam CO, FL
Source: The First Families of Flagler by Mary Ketus Deen Holland who cited as her sources, Published Articles and Margary Neal Nelson.
Additional sources used by the compiler were: 1880 United States Federal Census, New York (Manhattan), New York City-Greater, New York; Florida State Census, 1885, District 5, Putnam, Florida; 1900 United States Federal Census, Philadelphia Ward 26, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; 1910 United States Federal Census, Pomona, Putnam, Florida; 1920 United States Federal Census, Crescent City, Putnam, Florida; 1930 United States Federal Census, Precinct 1, Putnam, Florida; and Florida Death Index, 1877-1998.
Please send questions, corrections or additions to Sisco Deen, P.O. Box 637, Flagler Beach, FL 32136 or email him at Sisco_Deen@hotmail.com
