James W. Duffee
It is with marked satisfaction that the biographer adverts to the life of one who has attained success in any vocation requiring definiteness of purpose and determined action. Such a life, whether it be one of calm, consecutive endeavor or of sudden meteoric accomplishments, must abound in both lesson and incentive and prove a guide to young men whose fortunes and destinies are still matters for the future to determine. James W. Duffee is distinctively one of the representative business men of Washington C. H., where for forty-five years he has been recognized as a merchant whose dealings were ever "on the square" and who has ahvays enjoyed to a notable degree the respect and confidence of all who have had dealings with him.
James W. Duffee was born in Hocking county, Ohio, on January 17, 1845. His parents were Charles and Lucinda (Tumbleson) Duffee, natives, respectively, of Meigs county, Ohio, and Virginia. They were the parents of one child besides the subject, George W., who came to his death by murder in 1913. Charles Duffee was the son of Daniel and Margaret (Donahoe) Duffee, who were natives of Pennsylvania and early settlers in Meigs county, Ohio, their deaths occurring in Hocking Valley when about sixty-four years old. They had eight children, Barney. Jackson, Edward, Leander, Wesley, Charles, Margaret and Mary. Charles Duffee followed the vocation of farming until thirty-two years of age, when he engaged in the shoe business at Washington C. H.. and a few years later retired from that line and engaged in the grocery business, which commanded his attention until his death, which occurred in 1805. when about seventy-three years of age. His wife had died at the early age of twenty-five years. They were Methodists in their religious belief and were God-fearing and earnest people. Charles Duffee was a veteran of the Civil War, having enlisted early in the conflict in the First Regiment Ohio Cavalry, with which he served about seventeen months. !t was he who. as orderly for General Smith, carried the order to General Porter to move his troops from the second battle field of Bull Run. He was marshal of Washington C. H. for two or three terms when it was a village. The subject's maternal grandparents, William and Lucinda (Campbell) Tumbleson, were natives of Virginia. They became early settlers in Hocking county, Ohio, and died there. Their children were six in number, John. Thomas, Lucinda, Maria, Lucretia, Mary.
James W. Duffee was brought by his parents to Washington C. H. when but thirteen years of age and in the public schools of this city he secured a good practical education. At the outbreak of the Civil War, though he was not yet sixteen years of age, he enlisted as a member of Company C, Sixtieth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Infantry, under Capt. George B. Gardner. After serving about one year, he was captured at Harper's Ferry, but was soon paroled and was later discharged from the service at Chicago. Mr. Duffee then returned to Washington C. H. and applied himself to the trade of shoemaking, which vocation he followed about ten years. He then entered into a partnership with his father and opened a shoe store, which they ran for about seven years, but at the end of that time they disposed of the shoe business and engaged in the grocery business. This enterprise met with success from the start and Mr. Duffee has continued uninterruptedly to the present time, having conducted business in one room for thirty-eight years. He has during all this time enjoyed his full share of the local patronage, due to his courteous treatment of his customers and his earnest efforts to please all who enter his store. He is a good manager, thoroughly understands the demands of his trade and caters carefully thereto, with the result that be is numbered among the most successful of Washington's business men.
On the 16th day of May, 1868, Mr. Duffee was married to Frances Wendle, a native of Columbus, Ohio, and the daughter of Daniel and Margaret (Rupright) Wendle. To this union have been born three children. Gracie. Margaretta and a son who died in infancy. Mrs. Duffee's parents were natives of Bavaria, Germany, who emigrated to the United States and became early settlers of Columbus, Ohio, though later they moved to Washington C H., where they both died. They had seven children, Frances. Peter, William, Daniel, Theodore. Allie and Clara.
In their religious belief, Mr. and Mrs. Duffee are members of the Presbyterian church. Fraternally, he belongs to Fayette Lodge No. 107. Free and Accepted Masons; to Fayette Chapter No. 103; Royal Arch Masons, and to John M. Bell Post, Grand Army of the Republic. Politically, he is a Democrat and has taken an active part in public affairs, having served for nine years as a member of the school board and doing much effective work in the cause of education. He is also a trustee of the Memorial Hall and was for some years a member of the board of tax commissioners and one of the sinking fund trustees. He has at all times had the welfare of the community at heart and has given his support to many movements for the general uplift. He has also helped in a material way and is a heavy stockholder in the Fayette Canning Company, of which he is president.
Next to the oldest merchant in Washington C. H.. in point of continuous service, Mr. Duffee has, by an active, public-spirited and progressive attitude, long been numbered among the influential men of his community and he is eminently deserving of the high standing which he enjoys. A wide reader and keen observer of men and events, he is keenly alive to the great issues of the day and his opinions and advice are held in high regard by those who are close to him. Of genial and kindly disposition he has won a host of warm and loyal friends.
From History of Fayette County Ohio - Her People, Industries and Institutions by Frank M. Allen (1914, R. F. Bowen & Company, Inc.)