JOHN ROSS DURAN

 The following bio was taken from page 190 of the book entitled “Rusk County History” compiled and edited

And used with permission of the Rusk County Historical Commission.

Transcribed by Shirley Koym

Submitted by Gloria Briley Mayfield, Rusk County TX Coordinator

 All the Rusk County Duran’s, or any other Duran’s known by me, are direct descendants, or have married descendants, of John Ross Duran (1840-1905), and Sarah Everett Duran (1845-1889).  John R. Duran was born in Shelby County, Alabama in 1840 and came to Texas in 1857.  He married Sarah Everett in 1858 and they lived in the Sugar Hill Community, Panola County.  He enlisted in the Confederate Army in 1862 from Panola County.  After his discharge from the army, he came back to the Sugar Hill Community, where he operated a country store as well as farmed.

 Eight children were born to this couple, four dying at an early age, ranging from about one year to thirteen years.  John R. moved to Pine Hill, Rusk County, Texas many years before his death.  He, his wife Sarah, and the four children who died at an early age are all buried in Sugar Hill Cemetery.  Four of the children reached adulthood.  These are discussed in the following accounts.  (1) Joseph Clinton (J.C.) Duran (1859-1931)  (See article about this family)  (2) James A. Duran (1868-1897) married Hattie Robinson of Pine Hill, and they had five children:  John Ross, William Homer, Bonnie Beatrice, and Bryan A.   Dr. Jim Duran was practicing medicine in Pine Hill, where he died in 1897.  He and his wife, Hattie, are buried in Pine Grove Cemetery about four miles west of Pine Hill.  Beatrice (Mrs. Luke Camp) is the only living child of Dr. Jim Duran.  She and Ada E. Duran, the wife of Homer Duran, live in Henderson, Rusk County, Texas.

 (3) Mary Duran (1876-1962) married George Henigan.  They lived in the Fairplay Community, Panola County, Texas, most of their early-married life and were engaged in the farming and livestock business.  Later they moved to Pine Hill, Rusk County and operated a general merchandise store, while continuing their farming and livestock raising.  She is buried in Pine Grove Cemetery.

 Mary and George had four children:  Jess, Bessie, Bina, and Lester.  Although all of these children except Jess formerly lived in Rusk County, only some of the children, or their descendants, of Bina (Mrs. Andrew Conway) now live here.  Other offspring of George and Mary Duran Henigan live in Panola, Angelina, Polk and other counties

 (4) Mattie Duran (1879-1964) married Dave Jenkins in Pine Hill in 1897 but settled in Fairplay, Panola County, later moving to Shelby County, Texas and then back to Panola County.  They moved to the Youngblood Community about 1915 for their permanent home.

 Twelve children were born to this couple, two dying in infancy.  The others are:  J. D. (Claude), Buelah, Fleeta, Marnie, Ivy, Vessle, Flossie, Emma Mae, Adell and Neomie.  Some of these children have lived in Rusk County in past years.  None do so at the present time.  The descendants of Dave and Mattie Duran Jenkins live in Panola, Gregg, and other counties.

There must be many descendants and other relatives of John Ross Duran (See James Ross Duran story.)

 The surname Duran may be of French or Spanish origin.  French records as far back as the fourteenth century, show the Duran name; also Duard, Durant and Du ren.  Some genealogists think that these were variations in spelling the name of a common ancestor.  Other Duran’s from Alabama say that they are of French origin.  Mississippi, particularly around the smaller towns in the Natchez area, are Durans who say that they are of French origin.  However, Spanish people named Duran might have migrated westward from Florida.  I have no information, or indications, that this branch of the Duran family came from Mexico or from the Central America area.  Probably there has been some infusion of the Indian race with Duran’s.

 Submitted by Chester Duran