Ursula Curtis

Brief Life History of Ursula

Abraham & Ursula Curtis Durfee, Abraham, the eleventh child of Edmund and Lana Durfee, was born 14 Nov 1826, in Amboy, Oswego County, New York. Ursula, the 12th child of Enos and Ruth Curtis, was born 14 Dec 1926, in Sullivan, Tioga, PA. He was 4 and she probably about the same age when their parents were baptized, so they grew up in the Church, albeit during the extremely volatile early years of the Church. He was apparently baptized in 1839, at the age of 13, and they were sealed 5 May 1853, at the age of 27. I have yet to find record of her baptism. Temple ordinances were performed for them by proxy. In the________ temple, he was baptized 12 May 1934, endowed 22 Feb 1935, and sealed to his parents 31 May 1952. On 4 Jan 1882, at the age of 55, she was sealed to her parents in the St. George Temple. In the Salt Lake Temple, she was baptized and endowed 11 June 1931 by proxy. Abraham and Ursula were married in 1846 in Carterville, Pottawattamie, Iowa. They were both 19 at the time the Saints left Nauvoo. Abraham is shown to have had two additional wives, Mary Langley Turner and Alsa Langley. They had six children. Their first, Clestia Ann, was born 21 Sep 1847, in Carterville, Pottowattomie, IA (Winter Quarters), but died 6 Jul 1850 just after their second, Mahala Ruth, was born 17 May 1850, in Carterville, Pottowattomie, IA. Abraham's excommunication, their divorce, cancellation of sealing, and Ursula's marriage and sealing to Samuel Kendall Gifford, need documentation. Ursula died 20 Jun 1902, at the age of 75, in Springdale, Washington County, UT. Their third, Abraham Augustus Durfee, was born 8 Dec 1852 in Springville, UT, and died 14 Oct 1916, in Gridley, Butte, CA. His wife was Polly Vilate Lemmon. Their fourth, John Franklin Durfee, died at 13 months of age in Springville, UT, born 4 March 1855, died 3 April 1956. Their fifth, Ursula Jane Durfee, was born 23 Feb 1857, in Springville, UT, and died 26 Oct 1933, in Provo, UT. Her husband was Franklin Pierce Hadlock. Their sixth and youngest, Enos Curtis Durfee, was born 16 Oct 1859 in Springville, UT, and died Dec 1890. His wife was Susanah Deaton. Other descendants of Abraham and Ursula Curtis Durfee may have more information, especially those descending from their younger children who lived longer lives. by Scott Hepworth

Photos and Memories (42)

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Family Time Line

Abraham Durfee
1826–1905
Ursula Curtis
1826–1902
Marriage: about 1846
Celestia Ann Durfee
1847–1850
Mahala Ruth Durfee
1850–1875
Abraham Augustus Durfee
1852–1916
John Franklin Durfee
1855–1856
Ursula Jane Durfee
1857–1933
Enos Curtis Durfee
1859–1890

Sources (28)

  • Ursula Durfee in household of Abraham Durfee, "United States Census, 1850"
  • 1826 Pennsylvania Family Data Collection Birth of Ursula Curtis daughter Enos Curtis & Ruth Franklin
  • 1871 Utah Salt Lake Endowment House Marriage of Samuel Kendall Gifford & Ursula Durfee Curtis

World Events (8)

1827

Historical Boundaries: 1827: Hancock, Illinois, United States

1830 · The Second Great Awakening

Being a second spiritual and religious awakening, like the First Great Awakening, many Churches began to spring up from other denominations. Many people began to rapidly join the Baptist and Methodist congregations. Many converts to these religions believed that the Awakening was the precursor of a new millennial age.

1846

U.S. acquires vast tracts of Mexican territory in wake of Mexican War including California and New Mexico.

Name Meaning

English: nickname for a refined person, sometimes perhaps given ironically, from Middle English, Old French courteis, courtois, curtis ‘courtly, refined, urbane’ (derivative of Old French court; see Court 1).

Dictionary of American Family Names © Patrick Hanks 2003, 2006.

Possible Related Names

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