James Holiday Durney Sr.

James Holiday Durney Sr. was born April 7, 1833 in Montrose, Scotland to James and Margaret Duncan Durney. James is a Pioneer of Richmond.

History

The early history of James is unknown other than he worked in a mine.2 James was converted to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Nov 24, 1850. Soon after, he began his journey to move to the United States in 1853 boarding the Elvira Owen in Liverpool, England. They landed in New Orleans, Louisiana.1

The company that James joined is unknown, but he arrived in Utah in 1853 settling in Grantsville. While there, he helped to build a fort to protect themselves from angry Native Americans. While there, James was able to purchase land and raise sheep.1

In 1864, the Durney family moved to Richmond, first moving his second wife the same year, then his first in the summer of the same year.1 James wrote in his journal,

"Monday 20th  [1864]. We loaded up our waggons and started to the settlement North farm at it. We stoped at it at noon and examined the land and etc., but when taking our situation and that of our families into consideration, we thought it best to move to Richmond, Cache Valley and buy our famrs there, so we travelled on and camped at the twen creeks..."

"Monday 27th. I moved my waggon up by Bro. Bell's house, unloaded it and sent [George] for firewood and timber..."3

Family

On April 23, 1855, James married Sarah Ellison Sutton in the Endowment House in Salt Lake City, Utah. She was on the same ship as James when crossing the Atlantic Ocean. They had five children.1

James entered the practice of polygamy on Oct 18, 1861 when he married Jane Grant Gordon in Salt Lake City, Utah. Together they had five children with three living to adulthood. Family lore indicates that James and Jane knew each other in Scotland, as they grew up in the same area.1

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