Rutgers University - Scarlet Letter Yearbook (Newark, NJ)

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REV. WILLIAM R. DURYEE, D. D. ILLIAM RANKIN DURYEE, whose portrait we present to our readers, was born in Newark, New Jersey, in 1838. He was the oldest of a family of nine children. all ot' whom are now living. His father Peter S. Duryee, by virtue ot' his descent from Huguenot and Holland ancestors, was warmly interested in the Reformed Dutch t'hurch, and, in his lat-er days, was an eldef in the North Reformed Church ot' Newark, in conjunction with his neighbors and friends, Frederick T. Ifrelingliuysen and Joseph T. liradlcy. In 1s5f2 Mr. Duryee was elected a Trustee of Rutgers, and held this ofiice until his death in 1877. During these years all five of his sons were educated in our college, the youngest being graduated in 1876. Professor Duryee was prepared in private schools and, in 1853, was admitted to llutgers as a Sophomore. After his graduation in 1856 he determined to study law, and entered the otliee of Frederick T. I+'relingl1uysen. A year later, however, his plans of lite were changed. Ile became a member of the North Reformed Church under the pastorate ol' the lleverend Iboetor Abraham Polhemus, and thus was led to enter the Theological Seminary at New llrunswiek. In 1.858 he went abroad, and for nearly a year and a hall' travelled in Iflurope, Iigypt. and Syria. He was graduated from the Seminary in 18131, and l'or a year refused any settlement. although constantly sought for. In the spring ol' l8ti2 he was ordained as t'haplain, and in that capacity entered the First Kentucky Int'ant'ry. Ilis experiences were educational. interesting. but brief, as he was seized by severe camp-fever and resigned. recovering his health only after three months most careful attendance at home. In 1363 he took charge ot' at mission at Itlast XYilliamsburgli, Long Island. and in IHISI was called as the Iirst pastor ol' a Reformed Church started in the city ol' llergen, New Jersey. 'l'he section was soon annexed to .Iersey City and was known as I.at'ayette. llere for twenty-seven years he worked with success, receiving the heartiest love ol' his growing congregation. During this time he was called to many other lields ol' labor, but preferred In dwell among his own peo- ple. Une call was to the I'rot'essorship ot' Ilistory and l'olitieal Iieonoiny in Rutgers t'ollege. In 1876 he received from Rutgers the degree ot' lloetor ot' Iliyinity. and. upon his l'ather's death, in 1877, was elected to till the latter's place on the lloard ol' Trustees. In ISHN his only 5011, George V. XV, Duryee, was graduated from his l'ather's Alina Nlater. During his pastorate, Ilr. lluryee wrote much for the religious newspapers. .X song ul' his on -v I . ,.. .Z..4... 1.64. ' 13187814733