BIO: Philip DURST, Centre County, PA Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by JO Copyright 2009. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/ http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/centre/1picts/commbios/comm-bios.htm _____________________________________________________________________ Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898. _____________________________________________________________________ PHILIP DURST is the owner of one of the best and most highly productive farms of Potter township, Centre county, to which he has given his close attention with results which can hardly fail to be satisfactory to himself, and where his labors have met with success. The highly cultivated fields and neat and thrifty appearance of the place denote the supervision of a careful, painstaking and progressive business man of sound judgment. Mr. Durst was born on March 28, 1840, a son of George and Catharine (Meyer) Durst. In the Fairfield school he began his education under the direction of James Davis, and when quite young he was brought by his parents to his present farm, after which he attended the Plum Grove school. At the age of nine years he was able to handle a plow, and has since devoted his time and attention principally to agricultural pursuits. His father being one of the best managers and successful farmers of the community, our subject, under his able direction, has also become one of the most skillful and thorough agriculturists and business men of Potter township. He uses the most advanced methods and machinery in the operation of his land, which has been an important factor in his success. Until his marriage he assisted in the labors of the home farm with the exception of one summer, when he worked as a farm hand for Henry Dale, of Harris township, Centre county. On February 28, 1864, Mr. Durst was married to Miss Sarah Schnure, who was born in 408 COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD. Hartley township, Union Co., Penn., in May, 1842, and is one of the ten children - five sons and five daughters - of Christian and Lydia (Kiester) Schnure. One brother, John Schnure, was a Union soldier during the Civil war, and died in Libby prison. Her parents died in Union county, Penn., the father at the age of eighty-two years, and the mother at the age of sixty-nine. They started out in life in limited circumstances, but through their own industrious efforts became prosperous and well-to-do citizens, owning two good farms. They were held in the highest esteem by all who knew them. Life her husband, Mrs. Durst received only a common-school education. Eight children grace their union, namely: John H., born June 11, 1866, is at home; Francis M., born November 14, 1869, died in infancy; Christian, born May 16, 1871, is living in Illinois; Ida M., born September 30, 1872, is the wife of Milton Snyder, of Centre Hall, Centre county; Minnie M., born May 25, 1874, is the wife of George W. Condo, of Centre Hall; and Charlie W., born February 28, 1878, Verna L., born February 24, 1884, and Mary B., born June 12, 1886, are all at home. After his marriage, Mr. Durst located upon the home farm, which he and his brother, Hiram, operated together until 1868, and after renting it for several years our subject purchased the same in 1879. he has made many valuable improvements upon the place, including the erection of good buildings, and, like his father before him, is a systematic, energetic farmer of progressive ideas. In his undertakings he has been uniformly successful, so that he is now numbered among the most reliable and substantial farmers of Potter township. The Democratic party has ever found in him an earnest supporter, and both himself and wife are faithful members of the Reformed Church, in which he has served as deacon. They hold a high place in the esteem and confidence of their fellow-citizens, and none are more worthy of representation in a work of this character than Mr. and Mrs. Philip Durst.