History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

122 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
Mr. Edwards makes his home iu the house in which he was born,
this being about fifty-five years old.
Mr. Edwards is a democrat in his jDolitical beliefs and served
for one term as marshal of Amboy. No public or private trust reposed
in him has ever been neglected and his fidelity to honorable
and uijright priucijoles has ever won hun the good-will and friend-
ship of those with whom he has been brought in contact.
CONRAD DURKES.
The specific and distinctive office of biography is not to give
voice to a man's modest estimate of himself and his accomplish-
ments, but rather to leave the perj)etual record establishing his
character by the consensus of opinion on the part of his fellowmen.
Throughout Lee county Coni'ad Durkes was spoken of in
terms of admiration and respect. As the architect of his own
fortunes he builded wisely and well and while promoting indi-
vidual success, he at the same time promoted public prosperity.
He was one of the founders and upbuilders of the town of Franklin
Grove, which in its commercial and financial development
lai'gely stands as a monmnent to his enterprise and pi'ogressiveness.
He was equally active in support of projects for tlie moral
progress of the commimity and thus it was that he left the impress
of his individuality for good upon the community in which he
long lived. He was a native of the grand duchy of Hesse-Darmstadt,
German}^ born June 19, 1829, in the village of Blodensheim.
His parents were Philip and Apjiolonie (Kilger) Durkes who in
the year 1842 left the fatherland and sailed for New Orleans
whence they made their way np the Mississippi liver to St. Louis,
Missouri. Thci'e the father worked at the carpenter's trade, which
he had previously learned and in 1845 he removed to Chicago,
where his death occurred in 1858.
Conrad Durkes started iu the business world as a clei'k in a
store in Chicago, where his salary was but ten dollars 7"ier month.
He was thus employed until 1852. but in the meantime had worked
his way steadily upward, advancement bringing him added duties
and responsibilities, but also larger wages. Tn 1852, when twentythi*ee
years of age, he went to Oregon, Illinois, where he took
charge of a store, successfully conducting it for his employer for
about a year and then purchasing it. He carried on the business