Ephraim Durbin was a Civil War veteran and is found in census records residing 1850-1860 in Hancock County Va. Then 1870-1880 in Hancock County W.V. Online family trees have him married to Mary Prosser. Other than the online family trees can anyone link him to his son John B.? Or link son John B. Durbin b.<1846> to Ephraim's oldest daughter Harriet b. <1843>?

Ephraim Durbin married Mary Prosser on 16 Sep 1841 in Brooke Co (now Hancock Co, WV). Their marriage is recorded at the Brooke Co, WV court house in Book 2-a on page 083. They were married by the Rev. White. Ephrain was baptised on 16 Nov 1818 by Rev. George M. Scott in the Fairview Presbyterian Church. I believe that Mary Prosser was the daughter of Abraham Prosser. All are buried in the Flats Cemetery, New Manchester, Hancock Co, WV. I have not completed my research but they also had a daughter, Sarah who married Josiah Manypenny on 03 Jul 1871. Unfortunately she died on 31 Dec 1872 from comsumption. You can email me directly at emsdrake@yahoo.com if you wish.

I have concluded through various sources that the John B. Durbin that I was researching was the son of Ephraim Durbin and his wife Mary Prosser.
These sources include among others, (1)the Complete Civil War Pension file # X-C-2667-767 of Durbin, John B. who served Co. H., 157th Ohio Vol. Infantry with enlistment at Steubenville, Ohio; (2)A History of Cuyahoga County and the City of Cleveland, Volume II, Pages 121 and 122, published 1924 by Walter R. Coates; (3) interment Records for Woodland Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio; (4) various copies of marriage, death and interment records that relate to John B. Durbin; (4) U.S. FEDERAL Census enumerations for differing family members from 1810 through 1930.

JOHN B. DURBIN
1847: b. Fairview
1861: moved to Steubenville, Ohio
1864: enlisted military service
1864: mustered out military service
1869: March 11, m. Almira Wheelock at Steubenville, Ohio
1869-1876(abt): three children born to this marriage; dau., Harriet and Alice(who died early), son Harry E.
1877: separated from Almira and eloped with Amanda Roberts to Cleveland, Ohio
1878: son Albert b. 12 January to Amanda and John B. Durbin
1879: Amanda A. Durbin d.1 April; of consumption; burial Woodland Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio
1881:January 3; married Nellie A. Bruce Cuyahoga County, Ohio
1892: April 23; died at Newbough twp., Cuyahoga County, Ohio, of consumption, with burial at Woodland Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio
Burial: Woodland Cemetery, Section: 10; Lot 77; Grave 2; also in this lot is the "widow" Nellie A.

At the time of John B. Durbin's death he was survived by one sibling. A sister whose name was Harriet. She was the wife of Samuel Murray of New Cumberland, Hancock County, West Virginia. Samuel Murray signed and dated an Affidavit that was included in the Civil War Pension file that said in part: "Knew him intimately from 1865--1873--that he even lived in his home(that of Samuel Murray) part of 1866".

His daughter Harriet married Louis Rolandt at Steubenville, Ohio and lived her life out there. Son Harry moved to Cleveland, Ohio-- living his life out in that city. Son Albert (child of Amanda Roberts) was sent to an orphan asylum and retrieved by neighbors who adopted him. His name became Albert Schill. He lived his life out in Cleveland, Ohio.

The above Civil War Pension file is an interesting read as John B. Durbin failed to get a divorce from Almira(Wheelock) Durbin. This file was of "Contesting Widows" attempting to get a widows pension based on John's military service. Almira won.

I have never been able to find out who Amanda Roberts was. According to a various statements she was a widow with daughters of her own and probably from the Steubenville, Ohio area.

I am not related to the Durbins. My interest is through the widow Nellie A.(Babbitt)Bruce Durbin who was a sister to a ggrandfather. It was my hope that thoroughly researching Nellie would help me locate the date and place of death for her mother.

Willing to provide a hard copy of the Civil War Pension file to interested parties.

Thank you for all of the information. Unfortunately I do not know anything about Nellie A (Babbitt) Bruce Durbin. I was doing research for the Flats Cemetery in New Manchester, Hancock Co. WV and Ephraim & Mary Prosser Durbin are both buried there. If I do come across anything about Nellie I will let you know. Nice job on doing your research.