Chasing Ancestors

“Harriet A. Darby wife of Peter Darby and mother of Mrs. Thomas Duffy and Thomas Darby, died May 9, 1891. Survivors , husband, son and daughter.” So reads a small article from a long ago newspaper from Crescent City.

As far as I can figure out Thomas Duffy was employed by his brother, James, whose listed as the proprietor of the Palace Saloon. He also worked with another brother named John.

Thomas is also listed in the 1880 census for Del Norte as a Justice of the Peace along with a Dougald S. Sartwell. I’m also unable at this time to find out what Thomas’s wife name happens to be.

This seems peculiar as Peter Darby, who was one of the original founders of Crescent City also owned a saloon. It was known as Darby and Donovan.

A fourth brother, Owen was a foreman with Hobbs, Wall and Company. I found this information in an 1885 county directory.

The business of Hobbs, Wall & Co. employed two hundred men. Their property included the mill, a shingle and box factory, four and a half miles of railroad, a large general store and a controlling interest in the principal wharf and steamship business. In 1883 their mill turned out 8,250,000 feet of lumber and 8,000,000 is about the average output.

According to an article from either the Crescent City News, Argus or the Del Norte Record, “Mrs. Darby had been sick for some weeks during which time she suffered greatly. Her complaint was general debility and from the first but slight expectation of her recovery were entertained.”

By the way, this is how the Del Norte Triplicate gained its name. In 1909 John Child’s owner of the Crescent City News sold the publication to Tommy Thompson, who eventually consolidated it with Argus and Del Norte Record.

As for Mrs. Darby, the article adds, she was born in New Hampshire and was 63 years old. “She was an old resident of this place, having come here in the early days with her husband,” it finishes.

So far I cannot locate any information on Thomas Darby, Peter and Harriet’s son. Also there appears to be no photographic record of any of the founding Darby family in existence.