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Durfee, William Franklin

engineer, was born Nov. 15, 1833, in New Bedford, Mass. In 1853 he became an engineer and architect in his native town, and for five years held the appointment of city surveyor. He was chosen as one of the representatives of New Bedford in the legislature of 1861, and, as secretary of its military committee, was active in forwarding legislation for the equipment of troops at the beginning of the civil war. He equipped at Wyandotte, Mich., the first analytical laboratory built as an adjunct to steel works in the United States.