James Harvey DUFF

                      8726105
                  

                      Charles was the third child and the first born son of James H. and Nancy Ann Whitson McDuffee.  He was born on a late summer day, 12 September 1854, in the family log home, built by his father, in Barnhill Twp., Wayne Co., ILL.  He was raised on the family farm and while helping his father tend their own farm and tanyard, he still found time to hire out as a farm hand to other farmers in the area.  One fall day while cutting wood for the family's winters heat, a chip of wood struck him in the right eye, resulting in the loss of that eye.  Charles married in Fairfield, Ill 25 May 1879 Olive Samford, recorded in marriage book C pg 189. Olive was born in Fairfield 25 Jun 1861, the daughter of Joseph and Mary Jackson Samford Sr.  They were divorced sometime in the 1890;s and she later married Thomas Allen Wood.  From this marriage one child was born, Marie Wood, born 15 May 1902, she married 23 Jan 1923 Frank Asberry. From this marriage two children were born, Bobby and Ruth Jean.
Charles and Olive had six children:  1) Richard Lynn McDuffee, b. 19 Feb 1880, 2) James Fredrick McDuffee, b. 20 Oct 1881, 3) Margaret Myrtle McDuffee, b. 2 Aug 1883, 4) Charles Luke McDuffee, b. 29 Jul 1886, 5) Mary Marie McDuffee, b. ca 1887, died in infancy, 6) William McDuffee, b. 16 Aug 1889.  Charles came to Anderson, Ind. sometime in the late 1890;s (ca 1896).  This was the beginning of the great gas boom of Madison Co., when several new industries were moving into the county for the use of the "cheap fuel".  In 1901, I find he was living at 2812 Columbus Ave and working at the "File Works", Nicholson File Co, where he worked for a period of 17 years before he had to quit due to ill health.  In 1914 he was living at 3210 Forrest Terrace with his half sister, Elizabeth Hearl, who took care of him during his last years of life.  Charles died from stomache cancer which had troubled him for a number of years before his death.  Charles passed away 18 Sep 1917 six days after his sixty third birthday.  He was layed to rest in the East Maplewood Cemetery in Anderson, Ind., Sec 27 Grave 632, there is a headstone.  It is said he was a very easy man to like and he enjoyed life to its fullest. He was well known in the southern section of Anderson.  He had a never failing habit of taking a bucket of candy, during the Christmas season, to his "girls" at the "File Works".
                  From Ted McDuffee, ViceConvener, "The Clan Macduff Society of America."
                  

                      Died age 85 near Grandma McDuffee's.  John Calvin moved to Polk County sometime in the 1860's and Sarah was living with him when she died in 1867.