Permelia Elathae Durfee - b. 1839

Permelia Elathae (Durfee) Clark - b. 1839
Portrait at 21

Permelia Elathae Durfee  was born¹  on 4 Dec 1839 in ,, Michigan, USA. She died on 22 Jan 1894 in ,, Michigan, USA. She was buried²  in Riverside Cemetery, Plymouth, Wayne, Michigan, USA.

Permelia Elathae (Durfee) Clark - b. 1839
Portrait at 39

Permelia attended State Normal School in 1854³ . She started teaching in St. Clair, Michigan, USA in 1860⁴ .

1. Find A Grave (http://www.findagrave.com/), 2 Jul 2012.

"Created by: Graveaddiction

Record added: Jul 25, 2004

Find A Grave Memorial# 9179440."

Permelia's mother died when she was a young child,she was raised first by her grandmother, then a

stepmother Susan Grant Durfee who died within a year of her marriage. Again the grandmother, a very

strict women, took over care of Permelia and her siblings, which now included a half sister baby Susie.

The family eventually lost their home but under the guidence of her grandmother and father she

excelled in school. At age ten she was the champion "speller" for the entire region.At fifteen she carried

a certificate of qualification to teach in schools of her town. 1854 she contracted Typhoid, and went to

live with her uncle Gideon Dufree (this move was due to overcrowing in her father's home-his 3rd wife

and her children). She recovered and attended the State Normal School fall of 1854. She started

teaching in St. Clair MI in 1860, which she taught for one year. She married Thomas Stockton Clark on

Thanksgiving Day 1863 at the Baptist parsonage in Northville.Had dinner at the Home of Dr. J.M. Swift.

They had first met at The State Normal School in 1858, Thomas, one year ahead left that year to teach

at St. Clair. Permelia was the mother of four children,three died in infancy and her daughter Grace died

while giving birth to what would have been Permelia's only grandchild. Permelia's brother Edgar Oren

Durfee, was a Gettysburg survivor and holds the record in Detroit for most terms as Probate judge 12,

four year terms.

Permelia married Thomas Stockton Clark . Thomas was born on 1 Oct 1834. He died⁵  on 8 Sep 1902 in , Wayne, Michigan, USA. He was buried⁶  in Riverside Cemetery, Plymouth, Wayne, Michigan, USA.

From the memorial book honoring his wife Permelia-

"I am writing these closing lines on Christmas Day 1894.I am alone in the house from which they were

carried to their final resting place.The dog which my daughter loved lies at my feet.The clock which Aunt

Lucy's gave my wife ticks on the shelf.The flowers they cared for so tenderly are sitting on the windows.

Much of the furniture is arrainged as they left it.Their handiwork is around me wherever I turn my eyes.

The passing holidays bring again in review all the years we spent together. I had passed my 29th

birthday when I married Permelia,I have passed my 60th now,and although it is never safe to say with

absolute certainty,if I had my life to live over again I would do this or avoid that,yet I think "yes" I feel "

sure",that if I stood again by her side as I stood the morning of my wedding day,and all my life with her

had been revealed as it lies now recored in the memories of the past,I would take her hand in mine and

join my life to hers just as gladly as I did then." "With the light of that revelation illumining my path I

Permelia Elathae (Durfee) Clark - b. 1839 - headstone

would welcome the joyous experiences as they come. With a clear understanding of the responsibilities

which that relationship involved I would strive to discharge them better than I have done." "I would

accept the pain and disappointment and sorrow as bravely as I might,but my hand should not tremble

nor my response be less clear because of that revelation,than it was then ,when all our future was

concealed"T.S. Clark 12-25-1894(Married Permelia Durfee on Thanksgiving Day 1863 at the Baptist

parsonage in Northville.Had dinner at the Home of Dr. J.M. Swift. They had first met at The State

Normal School in 1858,Thomas,one year ahead left that year to teach.)

Appendix A  -  Sources

  1.  Compiled by: Find A Grave, Find A Grave  (http://www.findagrave.com/), 2 Jul 2012, Find A Grave, PO Box 522107, Salt Lake City, UT 84152-2107."Created by: GraveaddictionRecord added: Jul 25, 2004Find A Grave Memorial# 9179440."Created by: GraveaddictionRecord added: Jul 25, 2004Find A Grave Memorial# 9179440.

  2.  Compiled by: Find A Grave, Find A Grave , 2 Jul 2012."Created by: GraveaddictionRecord added: Jul 25, 2004Find A Grave Memorial# 9179440Plot: t-04."Created by: GraveaddictionRecord added: Jul 25, 2004Find A Grave Memorial# 9179440.

  3.  Compiled by: Find A Grave, Find A Grave , 2 Jul 2012."Created by: GraveaddictionRecord added: Jul 25, 2004Find A Grave Memorial# 9179440Plot: t-04."Created by: GraveaddictionRecord added: Jul 25, 2004Find A Grave Memorial# 9179440.

  4.  Compiled by: Find A Grave, Find A Grave , 2 Jul 2012."Created by: GraveaddictionRecord added: Jul 25, 2004Find A Grave Memorial# 9179440Plot: t-04."Created by: GraveaddictionRecord added: Jul 25, 2004Find A Grave Memorial# 9179440.

  5.  Compiled by: Find A Grave, Find A Grave , 2 Jul 2012."Created by: GraveaddictionRecord added: Jul 25, 2004Find A Grave Memorial# 9179466."Created by: GraveaddictionRecord added: Jul 25, 2004Find A Grave Memorial# 9179466.

  6.  Compiled by: Find A Grave, Find A Grave , 2 Jul 2012.

"Created by: GraveaddictionRecord added: Jul 25, 2004Find A Grave Memorial# 9179466Plot: t-04."Created by: GraveaddictionRecord added: Jul 25, 2004Find A Grave Memorial# 9179466.