James Henry Duryee (or Duryea) was born on April 30, 1843 in Florida (now Jefferson) Township, Hillsdale County, Michigan, the first child of George W. and Julia (Howell) Duryee.

In the summer of 1851, when James was just eight years old, his father went to the gold fields of California, where he remained for two and a half years, returning in November 1853.

On February 9, 1864, at the age of twenty, James enlisted as a Private in Company A, 4th Michigan Infantry. His father, George, and brother, William, enlisted on the same day in the same company.

Throughout 1864 the 4th Michigan Infantry was very active, being engaged in Virginia at The Wilderness (May 5-7); Laurel Hill (May 8); Po River (May 10); Spotsylvania (May 12); Ny River (May 21); North Anna (May 23); Jericho Mills (May 24); Noel’s Turn (May 26); Totopotomoy Creek (May 30); Magnolia Swamp (June 1); Bethesda Church (June 2); Petersburg (June 18), and Weldon Run (August 21).

The regiment then went back to Michigan via Washington, D.C., reorganized with additional recruits, and was sent to the western theater. There they were engaged in Alabama at Decatur (Oct. 28-30) and New Market (Nov. 19-20), and in Tennessee at Murfreesboro (Nov. 30-Dec. 20).

In June 1865 the 4th Michigan Infantry was transferred to Texas, via New Orleans. While in Texas they were subjected to long and severe marches in the hot climate, including a 175-mile march to San Antonio. The regiment remained on provost duty in Texas until discharged.

James Duryee was mustered out at Houston, Texas on May 26, 1866, having served for 2 years, 3 months.

James’ father had died of disease while in the service at Nashville, Tennessee on May 3, 1865 at the age of 45. After returning to civilian life, James went back to farming and took up residency with his widowed mother in Hillsdale County, Michigan.

He maintained a patriotic spirit, as evidenced by the following from the Hillsdale Standard of May 31, 1898: “James Duryea[sic], one of the soldier boys of ’61, has his patriotism so roused that he has erected a liberty pole 18 feet high from which floats the stars and stripes in beauty and grandeur.”

James probably remained in Michigan until after his mother died on March 7, 1899. By June 15, 1900 he had moved to Santa Barbara, California, where he was enumerated in the census of that year with his sister, Sarah A. (Duryee) Patton, and his niece, Susan V. (Carpenter) Bennett. Less than a year later, on April 26, 1901, he was admitted to the Pacific Branch, National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers at Sawtelle in Malibu Township, Los Angeles County. He remained a resident of the Soldiers Home for over nine years, until his death on July 10, 1910 at the age of 67.

James was never married and is buried in Los Angeles National Cemetery.

His niece, Susan V. Bennett, was an active member of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War and served as Department Treasurer of California in the 1920s.