BIO: Some early settlers came to Kenosha by accident. Charles and Catherine Durkee were traveling on Lake Michigan from Chicago to Milwaukee when a sudden violent storm caused them to stop in Kenosha. Mrs. Durkee suffered from seasickness and was glad to be on land. They were so enchanted with this area that they stayed-on - instead of going to Milwaukee. The Durkees built a cabin on the southern end of town, which was later donated to the city of Southport (today, known as Kenosha), known as Library Park. After Mrs. Durkee's death in 1838, her husband gave the city more land for a cemetery, now known as Green Ridge Cemetery. The first grave was Mrs. Durkee's. She had asked to be buried here because she loved the "beautiful view". When Wisconsin became a state in 1848, Charles Durkee was elected as a United States Senator. After his term was up, he built a mansion near the lake for his second wife. He became ill with asthma and had to move to a better climate. When he moved, he donated the property to the Episcopal church. The church turned it into a school for girls in 1871 and called it St. Claire's School. It later became known as Kemper Hall, named after Bishop Kemper, who was the first Episcopalian bishop in this area. After it closed in 1976, it was sold to the county and is now known as Kemper Center.
SOURCE: (various) History of Kenosha, WI.
---
Marriage: 17-May-1836, Southport (Kenosha, Kenosha Co., WI.)
SOURCE: LDS Family Search
---
"Toward the close of 1838 occurred the death of Mrs. Charles Durkee. She was buried on the lovely knoll south of the town which had been a favorite resort with her when alive, and thus began the beautiful cemetery, which her husband afterwards donated to Kenosha."
SOURCE: "The City of Kenosha and Kenosha County, Wisconsin; a Record of Settlement", by Francis H. Lyman.
Source: GOOGLE Books.
---
"BIRTH RECORD"
Name: Catharine Dana
Gender: Female
Christening Date:
Christening Place:
Birth Date: 30 Jun 1813
Birthplace: CABOT TWP,WASHINGTON,VERMONT
Death Date:
Name Note:
Race:
Father's Name: John W. Dana
Father's Birthplace:
Father's Age:
Mother's Name: Susan
Mother's Birthplace:
Mother's Age:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: 7450071
System Origin: Vermont-ODM
GS Film number: unknown
Reference ID:
SOURCE: Vermont, Births and Christenings, 1765-1908.
Source [link]: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F8LH-LSC
SOURCE: (various) History of Kenosha, WI.
---
Marriage: 17-May-1836, Southport (Kenosha, Kenosha Co., WI.)
SOURCE: LDS Family Search
---
"Toward the close of 1838 occurred the death of Mrs. Charles Durkee. She was buried on the lovely knoll south of the town which had been a favorite resort with her when alive, and thus began the beautiful cemetery, which her husband afterwards donated to Kenosha."
SOURCE: "The City of Kenosha and Kenosha County, Wisconsin; a Record of Settlement", by Francis H. Lyman.
Source: GOOGLE Books.
---
"BIRTH RECORD"
Name: Catharine Dana
Gender: Female
Christening Date:
Christening Place:
Birth Date: 30 Jun 1813
Birthplace: CABOT TWP,WASHINGTON,VERMONT
Death Date:
Name Note:
Race:
Father's Name: John W. Dana
Father's Birthplace:
Father's Age:
Mother's Name: Susan
Mother's Birthplace:
Mother's Age:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: 7450071
System Origin: Vermont-ODM
GS Film number: unknown
Reference ID:
SOURCE: Vermont, Births and Christenings, 1765-1908.
Source [link]: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F8LH-LSC
BIO: Some early settlers came to Kenosha by accident. Charles and Catherine Durkee were traveling on Lake Michigan from Chicago to Milwaukee when a sudden violent storm caused them to stop in Kenosha. Mrs. Durkee suffered from seasickness and was glad to be on land. They were so enchanted with this area that they stayed-on - instead of going to Milwaukee. The Durkees built a cabin on the southern end of town, which was later donated to the city of Southport (today, known as Kenosha), known as Library Park. After Mrs. Durkee's death in 1838, her husband gave the city more land for a cemetery, now known as Green Ridge Cemetery. The first grave was Mrs. Durkee's. She had asked to be buried here because she loved the "beautiful view". When Wisconsin became a state in 1848, Charles Durkee was elected as a United States Senator. After his term was up, he built a mansion near the lake for his second wife. He became ill with asthma and had to move to a better climate. When he moved, he donated the property to the Episcopal church. The church turned it into a school for girls in 1871 and called it St. Claire's School. It later became known as Kemper Hall, named after Bishop Kemper, who was the first Episcopalian bishop in this area. After it closed in 1976, it was sold to the county and is now known as Kemper Center.
SOURCE: (various) History of Kenosha, WI.
---
Marriage: 17-May-1836, Southport (Kenosha, Kenosha Co., WI.)
SOURCE: LDS Family Search
---
"Toward the close of 1838 occurred the death of Mrs. Charles Durkee. She was buried on the lovely knoll south of the town which had been a favorite resort with her when alive, and thus began the beautiful cemetery, which her husband afterwards donated to Kenosha."
SOURCE: "The City of Kenosha and Kenosha County, Wisconsin; a Record of Settlement", by Francis H. Lyman.
Source: GOOGLE Books.
---
"BIRTH RECORD"
Name: Catharine Dana
Gender: Female
Christening Date:
Christening Place:
Birth Date: 30 Jun 1813
Birthplace: CABOT TWP,WASHINGTON,VERMONT
Death Date:
Name Note:
Race:
Father's Name: John W. Dana
Father's Birthplace:
Father's Age:
Mother's Name: Susan
Mother's Birthplace:
Mother's Age:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: 7450071
System Origin: Vermont-ODM
GS Film number: unknown
Reference ID:
SOURCE: Vermont, Births and Christenings, 1765-1908.
Source [link]: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F8LH-LSC
SOURCE: (various) History of Kenosha, WI.
---
Marriage: 17-May-1836, Southport (Kenosha, Kenosha Co., WI.)
SOURCE: LDS Family Search
---
"Toward the close of 1838 occurred the death of Mrs. Charles Durkee. She was buried on the lovely knoll south of the town which had been a favorite resort with her when alive, and thus began the beautiful cemetery, which her husband afterwards donated to Kenosha."
SOURCE: "The City of Kenosha and Kenosha County, Wisconsin; a Record of Settlement", by Francis H. Lyman.
Source: GOOGLE Books.
---
"BIRTH RECORD"
Name: Catharine Dana
Gender: Female
Christening Date:
Christening Place:
Birth Date: 30 Jun 1813
Birthplace: CABOT TWP,WASHINGTON,VERMONT
Death Date:
Name Note:
Race:
Father's Name: John W. Dana
Father's Birthplace:
Father's Age:
Mother's Name: Susan
Mother's Birthplace:
Mother's Age:
Indexing Project (Batch) Number: 7450071
System Origin: Vermont-ODM
GS Film number: unknown
Reference ID:
SOURCE: Vermont, Births and Christenings, 1765-1908.
Source [link]: https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F8LH-LSC
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