The Duffields

G Duffield IV was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1811 and in 1815 was ordained a Presbyterian clergyman. He held pastorates in Carlisle, Pa., Philadelphia, Pa., New York city, and Detroit, Mich. He was a regent of the University of Michigan, 1840-48. He was married to Isabella Graham Bethune, sister of Dr. George W. Bethune and granddaughter of Isabella Graham, the philanthropist. Their son, Divie Bethune, born in Carlisle, Pa., Aug. 29, 1821, studied at Dickinson and Yale, was admitted to the bar in 1843, practised in Detroit, Mich., was a member of the state board of education and inspector of the Michigan military academy, and died in Detroit in March, 1891. Doctor Duffield received the degree of D.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1841. He published: Regeneration (1832); Claims of Episcopal Bishops Examined (1842); and Travels. He died in Detroit, Mich., June 26, 1868.
This distinguished man, who has left his impress upon the people of Michigan to as marked an extent, perhaps, as any other one of its citizens, deserves a much fuller history than can be condensed into the limits of our allotted space. As a scholar, preacher, patriot, and friend, he was earnest and strong; and, as an advocate of the best interests of the people, irrespective of rank, color, or condition, it may be safely said that he had no superior in the State of Michigan. Thirty of the best years of his life were given for the building up of sound sentiment on all questions that involved the highest welfare of the people; and the seed which his brave hand sowed broadcast, not only in the city of his home, but throughout the North-west, has borne and is still bearing abundant and precious harvests. He was born in Strasburg, Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, on the 4th day of July, 1794; and the spirit of his birthday's independence seemed to have impressed his entire life. His father, for whom he was named, was the son of the celebrated Rev. George Duffield, of Revolutionary memory; who, in conjunction with Bishop White, was Chaplain of the first Congress of the United States, and, at the same time, pastor of the Pine Street Presbyterian Church, of Philadelphia. His fame as a preacher and a fearless and eloquent advocate of liberty is well known to all students of American history. The father of the subject of this sketch was at one time a prominent merchant of Philadelphia, and, for nine years, Comptroller-General of Pennsylvania under the gubernatorial administration of the distinguished statesman, Thomas Mackean. His son, George Duffield, of whom we write, early showed great aptitude for study, and graduated with honor from the University of Pennsylvania, when but sixteen years of age. In June, 1811, he took his degree; and, in the autumn of the same year, entered the Theological Seminary of New York, then under the care of the celebrated John M. Mason, D. D. There he spent four years; and, on the 20th of April, 1815, yet lacking a few months of his majority, he was licensed to preach, by the Presbytery of Philadelphia. From that day until the day of his death, full three and fifty years, he continued faithfully, vigorously, and earnestly to preach the Gospel. In the year 1817, in the city of New York, he married Isabella Graham Bethune, daughter of D. Bethune, Esq., a prominent merchant of that city, and granddaughter of the widely known Isabella Graham, whose memory is still fragrant in the churches of Scotland and America. The late George W. Bethune, D. D., the distinguished orator and lecturer of New York, was a brother of the lady whom Doctor Duffield had chosen for his wife. Doctor Duffield's first settlement was at Carlisle, Pennsylvania, over the same Presbyterian Church which had formerly enjoyed the pastoral care of his grandfather. Here he remained a settled pastor for about nineteen years, when he accepted a call to the Presbyterian Church of Philadelphia, formerly under the care of Thomas H. Skinner, D. D. His connection with this church lasted but two years, when he was called to the Broadway Tabernacle, of New York City, where he remained during the month of October, 1838. He then became settled pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Detroit, at that time a large church and the only one of that denomination in the city. Shortly after his arrival in the State, he was appointed one of the Regents of the State University, where his scholarship, experience in collegiate affairs, and earnest devotion to the cause of popular education, enabled him to do much to shape and promote the interests of this now widely known institution of learning. In those days, no one man did more effective service for our then youthful university than did Doctor Duffield, as the records of the institution amply disclose. The character of the man of whom we write was that of an untiring investigator after truth, both scientific and moral; an earnest advocate of revealed truth; a determined and obstinate friend of liberty, civil and religious; a strong ally of all engaged in the cause of education and social reforms of every kind; and a sympathizing friend of the distressed in every grade of life. A man, unostentatious in his habits, yet of the highest culture, capable of leading in the most learned circles of science, theology or general literature, and still not ashamed to yield his society to the very lowliest of the poor. With a will which expelled all fear, even in the presence of overwhelming opposition, he was still as tender-hearted and sympathetic as a woman. He was largely varied in the learning of both ancient and modern languages, reading with ease no less than ten or twelve, and speaking several. His preaching was greatly enriched by his tireless researches in the mines of ancient learning, so that he was continually bringing before his people and the public treasures both new and old. The motto of his family, which he carried upon his seal, was broad and noble: Deo, rei public, et amicis, esto fidelis,--"To God, your country, and your friends, be ever faithful." Fully did he appreciate its injunctions, and faithfully did he live up to its mandate, even to the end of his honorable career. On the 24th of June, 1868, while apparently in perfect health, and engaged in giving welcome to the delegates of the International Convention of the Young Men's Christian Association, then assembling in Detroit, and, when scarcely half through his address, his voice faltered, and, with the expression: "My head reels, I must stop," he fell into unconsciousness, in the arms of General Howard, of the United States army. He was borne to his own home, where, on the 26th of June, 1868, he died, lamented not only by the people of the West, but, to a large extent, by those of the whole country. Among those who knew him well he will long be remembered as a man of great learning; strict purity of life; high and holy purpose; conviction strong as walls of granite; and a will which, though held under the control of conscience and judgment, was of that type which we sometimes characterize as Roman; for scarcely in the palmiest days of Rome could there have been found, among patricians or plebeians, one whose firmness was greater than his. As a patriot, no one was in advance of him when the hour of danger dawned. Then his clarion voice was heard, waking and rallying the citizens to the defense of the country. When the national life was threatened, during the dark days of the civil war, he put the banner of his country into the hands of his two sons and sent them, at the head of a Michigan regiment, to the field of battle. He never, even in the darkest day, lost courage or hope; but, by speech, prayer, and personal example, inspired others with his own indomitable spirit. He was the stay and the staff of thousands of loyal hearts, for his patriotism was of no ordinary type; it was such as his country could and did rely upon; and of the same inflexible character as that of his Revolutionary ancestor. In conclusion, we may say of Doctor Duffield, that he was one of those who lived "in the age when men were men, and not ashamed of Heaven.