WI BIO - Dane Co - DURRIE, Daniel Steele
Biographical Review of Dane County, WI. Chicago: Biographical Review Pub. Co. 
1893, Vol II, pp 573-575

Seldom has the death of anyone been felt as deeply as has been that of the 
distinguished subject of this sketch. For nearly 37 years he faithfully 
discharged his duties as Librarian of the State Historical Society, although 
for the last few months of his life he was obliged to cease his labors in 
that capacity on account of failing health, which was pronounced heart 
trouble by his physician. For some time he was confined to his bed and all 
hope of recovery was abandoned, but he finally rallied and after a short time 
was able to move about the house and sit upon the porch. Two weeks before 
his death, however, his strength failed again, and the day before the final 
end he began to sink rapidly, passing away very peacefully, surrounded by 
loving friends and relatives.

Daniel Steele DURRIE was born in Albany [Albany County], NY, 02 Jan 1819, son 
of Horace DURRIE, a native of Hartford, [County], CT, and a grandson of John 
DURRIE, of Stony Stratford, Buckingham County, England, who came to America 
in 1781. The mother of our subject was Johanna STEELE, daughter of Daniel 
STEELE, a bookseller and stationer of Albany, NY, to which place his father 
removed about 1817. From both parents he was descended from John STEELE, the 
first secretary of the colony of CT, and William BRADFORD, Governor of the 
Plymouth Colony.

Daniel Steele DURRIE was educated at the Albany Academy, and a select school 
at South Hadley, MA, after which he entered the store of his uncle and 
learned the bookselling business, succeeding him in the same in 1844. Four 
years later he lost his property in the great fire that occurred that year at 
Albany [Albany County, NY], and in 1850 Daniel Steele DURRIE removed to 
Madison, Dane County, WI, in which city he continued to reside until his 
death. He continued in the same occupation from 1854 to 1857, when he 
withdrew from mercantile business and accepted a position in the office of 
Hon. L. C. DRAPER, then State Superintendent of Public Instruction, which he 
held for two years. [p 574] He was elected a member of the State Historical 
Society in 1855, and librarian in 1856, which office he retained until his 
death, a period of 36 years and 9 months.

In 1859 he published his first work, "A Genealogical History of John and 
George STEELE, Settlers of Hartford, CT, 1635-1636, and their Descendants," a 
second and enlarged edition of which he issued in 1862, containing 161 pages. 
In 1864 he followed this with "A Genealogical History of the HOLT family in 
the U. S., more particularly the descendants of Nicholas HOLT of Andover, MA, 
1634, and of William HOLT, of New Haven, CT, 1644." In 1868 he published his 
"Bibliographia Genealogica Americana; an Alphabetical Index to Pedigrees and 
Genealogies Contained in State, County, and Town Histories, Printed 
Genealogies and Kindred Works," a volume of nearly 300 pages. This work was 
subsequently enlarged and revised and published in 1878, and has proved a 
most useful book to all students. A third edition was issued in 1886. In 
1869 he prepared and published in the Historical Magazine a "Bibliography of 
the State of WI," giving the title and reference to all publications that 
have been issued on the State, a volume of great service to all persons 
interested in WI, its history and resources. Other works by him included 
historical papers on "Early Outposts of WI," "Green Bay for 200 Years," 
"Annals of Prairie du Chien," an article on "Captain CARVER," an early 
traveler in WI. In 1874 his "History of Madison and the Four Lakes Country 
of WI" appeared. In 1875 he assisted C. R. TUTTLE in his preparation of the 
histories of WI and IA, and the following year he prepared an historical 
address for the 25th anniversary of the organization of the Presbyterian 
Church at Madison, which was published that year in pamphlet form. Of this 
church Daniel Steele DURRIE and his wife were members at its organization, 
and always retained their connection with it. In the same year he was 
associated with W. B. DAVIS in writing a history of MO, which was prepared in 
St. Louis. In 1877 he prepared a paper on the "Public Domain of WI," for 
Snyder & Van Vechten's Historical Atlas of WI. He was a member of the CT, 
NH, RI, PA, MN, Buffalo, Chicago, and Western Reserve Historical Societies; 
of the New England Historical and Genealogical Society, and Genealogical and 
Biographical Society of NY; the Pilgrim Society, and the Philadelphia 
Numismatic and Antiquarian Society.

Daniel Steele DURRIE was married 15 Oct 1844 to Miss Anna HOLT, at Albany, 
Albany County, NY, who preceded him to the great beyond, 02 Jul 1891. To 
them were born six children, five of whom are living, Miss Isabelle having 
died at her home in Madison, Dane County, WI, in Oct 1889. The surviving 
children are: George B. DURRIE, of Leon [Monroe County], WI; Rev. Archibald 
DURRIE, Pastor of the Presbyterian Church at West Superior [Douglas County], 
WI; Fred A. DURRIE, station agent at Papillion [Sarpy County], NE; Mrs. Henry 
A. ARNOLD, of Helena [Lewis and Clark County], MT; and Miss Anna DURRIE, who 
resided with her father. Rev. Archibald DURRIE, Mrs. ARNOLD, and Miss DURRIE 
were at home at the time of their father's death.

Daniel Steele DURRIE was a familiar figure in Madison, a man for whom the 
people entertained the profoundest feelings of respect, veneration and warm 
regard. In his death not only did the city lose a value, trusted, and [p 
575] respected citizen, but the State Historical Society was deprived of one 
whose counsels have been wise, his judgments abundant to meet the 
requirements of his position and whose work for the upbuilding of the 
society's interests partook of the most earnest devotion. As a Christian he 
was faithful and conscientious, living a pure life which the greatest 
troubles never swerved from the straightforward path of duty and obedience.

Submitted by Cathy Kubly