By Muriel Bristol | December 15, 2024
Porter Joseph Durkee was born in Danvers, MA, 1901, son of George F. and Rosa I. (Gould) Durkee.
Porter J. Durkee married in Farmington, NH, April 3, 1923, Estella Ada Swinerton, both of Farmington, NH. He was a woodturner, aged twenty-one years, and she was a shoeworker, aged eighteen years. Rev. G.D. Gould performed the ceremony. She was born in Farmington, NH, April 19, 1905, daughter of Herbert B. and Esther (Blaisdell) Swinerton.
(The children of Porter J. and Estella A. (Swinerton) Durkee were: Myrtle Evelyn Durkee (1924–1986), and Donald Porter Durkee (1929–2016)).
Daughter Myrtle Evelyn Durkee was born in Salem, MA, May 20, 1924. Son Donald Porter Durkee was born in Farmington, January 18, 1929. He was the second child, and his father was a brushmaker.
Joseph Porter Durkee, a brush maker (brush factory), aged twenty-eight years (b. MA), headed a Farmington. NH, household at the time of the Fifteenth (1930) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of seven years), Estella A. [(Swinerton)] Durkee, aged twenty-five years (b. NH), his children, Myrtle E. Durkee, aged five years (b. NH), and Donald P. Durkee, aged one year (b. NH), and his sister-in-law, Evelyn D. Swinerton, aged twenty-nine years (b. NH). Joseph Porter Durkee owned their house at 5 Blaine street, which was valued at $3,000. They did not have a radio set.
Rochester, N.H. Porter Durkee, who has been a patient at the Frisbee Memorial Hospital for several weeks following the amputation of his hand as the result of a sawmill accident, has been able to return to his home in Farmington, but makes a nine-mile trip each day to Rochester for dressings and treatment (Portland Evening Express (Portland, ME), July 15, 1933).
Porter J. Durkee, a storekeeper (grocery store), aged thirty-nine years (b. MA), headed a Farmington. NH, household at the time of the Sixteenth (1940) Federal Census. His household included his wife (of seven years), Stella A. [(Swinerton)] Durkee, a clerk (grocery store), aged thirty-four years (b. NH), his children, Myrtle E. Durkee, aged sixteen years (b. MA), and Donald P. Durkee, aged eleven years (b. NH). Porter J. Durkee rented their house in the Milton Community, for $15 per month.
The Milton Selectmen of 1941 were Leroy J. Ford, Edward R. Stone, and Porter J. Durkee.
MILTON MILLS. By Alfred W. Lewis. At the Milton town meeting last week the following were chosen to serve the town: Porter H. Durkee was elected selectman for three years; Leslie O. Chase. treasurer; John E. Ham, tax collector: Charles E. Piper and Bard B. Plummer, auditors: highway commissioners, Milton. Hervey W. Dorr. Milton Mills, Clifton E. Hersom. West Milton. Arnold S. Julin; Herbert Downs, chief of police; William E. Madden, police officer for Milton Mills; John E. Horne, trustee Milton Mills Public Library. At the school district meeting Mrs. Agnes Hayes was elected to the school board, defeating Robert Page who has been a member for the past 30 years. Among the appropriations was $800 for parks and playgrounds, $200 of which is to be used in this village. The town also voted to buy a $7,000 summer and winter road machine, appropriating $1,000 for this year and the balance to be paid by town notes (Sanford Journal-Tribune (Biddeford, ME), March 20, 1941).
Porter Joseph Durkee of Main Street, Milton, registered for the WW II military draft in Milton, February 14, 1942. He had been born in Danvers, MA, October 6, 1901, aged forty years, and was employed in Milton. His next of kin was his wife, Estella Durkee of Milton. They had no telephone number. He stood 5′ 9″ tall, weighed 140 pounds, and had blue eyes, gray hair, and a light complexion. “Loss of right hand” was noted under “obvious physical characteristics.”
Daughter Myrtle Evelyn Durkee married (1st) in Farmington, NH, January 1, 1943, Robert Edward Dickie, she of Main Street, Milton, and he of 6 Green Street, East Rochester, NH. She was at home, aged eighteen years, and he was an apprentice machinist at the [Portsmouth] Navy Yard, aged twenty-one years. (Her father was a Milton night watchman). Rev. Frank Hopper performed the ceremony. Dickie was born in East Rochester, NH, circa 1922, son of William T. and Eva I. (Cole) Dickie.
Rochester, N.H. Robert E. Dickie of East Rochester and Miss Myrtle Durkee of Milton were married Friday morning at the residence in Farmington of the Rev. Frank Hooper, former pastor of the East Rochester Advent Church. Mr. Dickie Is the son of Mrs. Eva Dickie and the late William Dickie of Green Street, East Rochester. He was graduated from the East Rochester School and from Spaulding High School. He played baseball, football and basketball at school and also played with a number of fast baseball teams after leaving school. He is employed at the Portsmouth Navy Yard. Mrs. Dickie is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Porter Durkee of Milton. She was graduated from the Nute High 8chool, Milton, and has been residing at home. For the present they will reside at the bride’s home in Milton (Portland Evening Express (Portland, ME), January 2, 1943).
Son-in-law Robert E. Dickie enlisted in the U.S. Navy in Manchester, NH, April 28, 1943.
Son-in-law Robert E. Dickie died in Manilla, Philippines, November 10, 1944.
Motor Machinist’s Mate Second Class Robert E. Dickie, who joined the U.S. Navy from New Hampshire, was serving aboard the Mount Hood when the ship exploded in Seeadler Harbor on November 10, 1944. His remains were not recovered. Today, Motor Machinist’s Mate Second Class Dickie is memorialized on the Walls of the Missing at the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines (DPAA, 2024).
Mother Rosa I. (Gould) Durkee died in Alton, NH, January 9, 1945, aged seventy-three years.
IN MEMORIAM. Mrs. Rosa I. Durkee. Sadness prevails among the relatives and friends of Mrs. Rosa L. Durkee, wife of George P. Durkee, who died at her home in Alton, Tuesday, January 9. Her final illness was brief, but she had been a shut-in for a long time and in very frail health for about two years. The deceased was born in Middleton, Mass., seventy-three years ago, a daughter of the late Porter I. and Eliza (Peabody) Gould. Her early life was spent in Middleton but later she came to New Hampshire and for a number of years was a resident In West Milton and in Farmington. For the last eighteen years her home had been in Alton physical handicaps restricted her to her home, she gained many friendships, and she was by no means idle, for she devoted much time to handiwork which developed many items which remain as reminders of her capabilities and industry so far as she was able. Much sympathy is expressed to the surviving members of her family who include her husband, one son, Porter J. Durkee of Milton, two daughters, Mrs. Florence A Richardson of Peabody Mass., and Mrs. Blanche George of Alton, one sister, Mrs. Grace Ogdon of Middleton, Mass., one brother Charles Gould of Middleton, Mass., and several grandchildren. Funeral services will be held at the Norman L. Otis funeral parlor in Farmington, this Friday afternoon at two o’clock, with Rev. James B. Ford officiating, and relatives and friends aro invited. The remains will be entombed in Farmington until spring, when burial will be made in Riverside cemetery in Alton (Farmington News, January 12, 1945).
Daughter Myrtle Evelyn (Durkee) Dickie married in Milton, September 11, 1948, Glenn Irving Walsh, she of St. James Avenue, Milton, and he of East Rochester, NH. She was a nurse, aged twenty-four years, and he was a truck driver, aged twenty-nine years. (Her father was a Milton realtor). Rev. Ralph V. Townsend performed the ceremony. Walsh was born in S. Lebanon, ME, circa 1919, son of John E. and Grace E. (Smith) Walsh.
Son Donald Porter Durkee married in Milton February 11, 1950, Loraine Mae (Benton) Campbell, he of Durham, NH, and she of Milton. He was a student, aged twenty-one years, and she was a shoe shop worker, aged twenty years. Rev. Ralph V. Townsend performed the ceremony. She was born in Hinsdale, NH, circa 1930, daughter of Edward M. and Lucilla May (Skillings) Benton.
Porter J. Durkee, an overseer (greenhouse), aged forty-eight years (b. MA), headed a Durham, NH, household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Estella [(Swinerton)] Durkee, aged forty-four years (b. NH). They resided “2½ miles left” on the Newmarket Parker Falls Road.
Glenn L. Walsh, a chemical laboratory assistant (fibreboard mill), aged thirty-one years (b. ME), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Myrtle E. [((Durkee) Dickie)] Walsh, a registered nurse (hospital), aged twenty-five years (b. MA).
E. Maynard Benton, assistant superintendent (fibreboard mill), aged forty-six years (b. NH), headed a Milton household at the time of the Seventeenth (1950) Federal Census. His household included his wife, Lucilla M. [(Skillings)] Benton, aged forty-three years (b. NH), his son-in-law, Donald P. Durkee, aged twenty-one years (b. NH), his daughter, Lorraine M. [((Benton) Campbell)] Durkee, a hand cementer (shoe factory), aged twenty years (b. NH), and his grandniece, Donna J. Campbell, aged one year (b. NH).
Mrs. Swinerton to Mark Birth with Open House. NEWMARKET – Mrs. Henrietta Hepworth Swinerton will observe her 90th birthday anniversary with an open house, Thursday from 2 to 5 p.m. in the home of her niece and niece’s husband, Mr. and Mrs. Porter J. Durkee, 2 North St. Mrs. Swinerton was a resident of Portsmouth for more than 35 years while her husband, the late Charles R. Swinerton, conducted a cobbler shop in the rear of the old Bragdon shoe store there. They made their home at 306 Hanover St. A subscriber of The Portsmouth Herald for over 50 years, Mrs. Swinerton has recently made her home with a cousin at Hillcrest Parkway, Winchester, Mass., but has visited relatives in New Hampshire every summer (Portsmouth Herald (Portsmouth, NH), May 29, 1954).
Mother-in-law Esther M. (Blaisdell) Swinerton of Milton died of a massive pulmonary embolism in Frisbie Hospital in Rochester, NH, May 16, 1956, aged seventy-four years. She was a married housewife. Robert E. Lord, M.D., signed the death certificate.
DEATHS. Mrs. Harley Swinerton. Funeral is scheduled Friday at 2 in Nute chapel for Mrs. Esther Swinerton, 75, who died early Wednesday morning at Frisbie hospital. Burial will take place in Farmington cemetery. Mrs. Swinerton was born in Farmington, daughter of the late Orrin and Ada Blaisdell. Mrs. Blalsdell, who recently observed her 96th birthday, is Farmington’s oldest resident. She leaves her husband, Harley; two daughters, Mrs. Adelbert Varney of West Milton and Mrs. Porter Durkee of Newmarket; a brother, Ernest of Farmington; a sister, Mrs. William Card of Farmington; two grandchildren and 6 great grandchildren. Mrs. Swinerton was active in church, and community and grange affairs (Farmington News, May 17, 1956).
Purple Heart Geranium Created. DURHAM NH AP) – University of New Hampshire announced today that Purple Heart geranium – a living tribute to New Hampshire war dead – will be introduced Memorial Day – The bright purple single-flowered plant will be planted publicly for the first time at the base of the new Marine Memorial Statue at Hampton Beach. The flower holds a special meaning for its originator – UNH greenhouse foreman Porter J. Durkee. His son-in-law, Robert Dickey of East Rochester, was killed in the Pacific while on duty with the Navy in World War II (Portland Evening Express (Portland, ME), May 28, 1957).
Barrington. Mr. and Mrs. Porter Durkee and Mrs. Roger Jennison, Mrs. Dexter Caldwell and Violet Ellison have their homes decorated with outdoor Christmas lighting (Concord Monitor, December 17, 1959).
Barrington. Herbert Swinerton of Milton is visiting at his daughters, Mrs. Porter Durkee, for a while. Mr. Swinerton has been quire ill with a cold (Concord Monitor, January 5, 1960).
Barrington. Herbert Swinerton and his daughter, Mrs. Porter Durkee, are both recovering from the virus (Concord Monitor, January 20, 1960).
Barrington. Porter Durkee is improving satisfactorily from his recent attack and is at Frisbee Memorial hospital in Rochester. Mrs. Durkee is visiting at their daughter’s, Mr. and Mrs. Leroy Walsh at North Rochester (Concord Monitor, February 6, 1960).
Barrington Items. Porter Durkee has returned to his work at the University of New Hampshire after being absent for a few weeks (Concord Monitor, April 12, 1960).
Barrington Items. Herbert Swinerton of Milton is at the home of his daughter, Mrs. Porter Durkee, for a few days (Concord Monitor, October 5, 1960).
Father George F. Durkee died in Alton, NH, April 24, 1961, aged eighty-five years.
Deaths. GEORGE FREDERICK DURKEE. ALTON, April 27 – George Frederick Durkee, 85, died Monday afternoon at the Fifield House on Main street. He had been in failing health for some time. Mr. Durkee came to Alton from Farmington in 1927 and had lived here ever since. Survivors include one son, Porter J. Durkee of Rochester; two daughters, Mrs. Florence Richardson of Salem, Mass., and Mrs. Blanche George of Alton; 14 grandchildren, 34 great-grandchildren, one great great-granddaughter; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services were held this afternoon at the Otis Funeral home in Farmington, with the Rev. Charles Lynn Smith of the Advent Christian church at Alton officiating. Burial was in Riverside cemetery, Alton (Concord Monitor, April 27, 1961).
Glass Bottle Garden. Pink oak ivy and a tiny holly fern are included in this glass bottle garden created by Porter J. Durkee, right, greenhouse foreman at the University of New Hampshire. He’s showing it to Prof. Radcliffe B. Pike, UNH landscape specialist, who is a native of Lubec. Bottling plants is easier than putting a model ship in a bottle, the horticulturists say. Stems of plants are pliable. Rooting is easy, because of high humidity. Large-mouthed gallon jars are good terrarium containers (Portland Press Herald (Portland, ME), November 21, 1965).
Father-in-law Herbert B. “Harley” Swinerton died in Farmington, NH, in June 1972.
Porter J. Durkee died in Rochester, NH, October 15, 1979.
Son-in-law Glenn I. Walsh died March 20, 1983. Daughter Myrtle E. (Durkee) Walsh died July 14, 1986.
Estella A. (Swinerton) Durkee died in Milton, March 20, 1998.
Son Donald P. Durkee died in Tilton, NH, November 12, 2016.
References:
DPAA. (2024). MOMM2 ROBERT E DICKIE. Retrieved from dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt0000000XefeEAC
Find a Grave. (2010, August 8). Robert E. Dickie. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/56787767/robert_e_dickie
Find a Grave. (2020, December 28). Donald Porter “Don” Durkee. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/220325906/donald_porter-durkee
Find a Grave. (2016, July 22). George F. Durkee. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/167277742/george_f_durkee
Find a Grave. (2016, September 28). Porter Joseph Durkee. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/170660888/porter-joseph-durkee
Find a Grave. (2021, August 21). Herbert Buchanan “Harley” Swinerton. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/231053516/herbert-buchanan-swinerton
Find a Grave. (2016, September 14). Glenn Irving Walsh. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/169917638/glenn_irving_walsh
Find a Grave. (2020, May 10). Myrtle Evelyn Durkee Walsh. Retrieved from www.findagrave.com/memorial/209949928/myrtle_evelyn_walsh
Milton Observer 