Clay Co., KS AHGP-Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties-James McCurdy
Portrait and Biographical Album of Washington, Clay and Riley Counties Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1890
JAMES C. McCURDY, Notary Public, and for seven years Justice of the Peace in Goshen Township, and filling the same position four years in Clay Center, is one of the oldest settlers of Clay County, having come to this region in March, 1869. In fact he assisted in the organization of the township and gave to it its present name. There were then only seven families within its limits, bearing the names, respectively, of Surrier, Frazier, Schaubel, Hemerich, Gray, Pickett and Wolcott.
Mr. McCurdy took up a tract of new land on sections 4 and 6, where he proceeded to open up a farm. He was at once recognized as a valued addition to the community, in which has made himself useful, assisting in the organization of the first school district, No. 20, and laid off another from it, No. 24. He was the first Clerk of the 1st and 2d districts, and circulated the petition for the new township, named Goshen. In 1870 he was appointed Postmaster at Carter Creek, and was the first man occupying this position on the mail route after it was established between Clay Centre and Waterville. In 1875 he was elected Justice of the Peace, and he held both of these offices until his removal to Clay Center in 1882. This removal was made in order to give his children a better education than they could receive in the country.
Mr. McCurdy made the usual improvements on his farm, setting out fruit and forest trees and erecting the buildings required for the comfort of his family, likewise those necessary for the successful prosecution of agriculture. After his removal to Clay Center he was elected Justice of the Peace, and in the discharge of the duties of this office acquitted himself with great credit, and gave generaI satisfaction to the people. In addition to this he engaged in the real estate and loan business, but at the present time is gradually retiring from the active labors of life. He was a member of the Board of Education two terms and represented the Fourth Ward in the City Council. The fact that he is uniformly well spoken of by his fellow townsmen is sufficient indication of his true character. He has taken a warm interest in the prosperity of Clay Center, and has been the encourager of the enterprises calculated for its advancement. He was regularly installed as a member of the I. O. O. F. Nov. 10.,1849, at York, Pa., and has since then continued his connection with the order a period of forty years. He also belongs to the G. A. R. and the Knights of Maccabee.
A native of Lancaster, Pa., Mr. McCurdy was born Feb. 14, 1827, and lived there until a lad of eleven years. He removed then with his parents to York, Pa., where he attained to a worthy manhood and acquired a practical education in the common school. At the age of twenty-three years he was married Dec. 2, 1850, to Miss Mary Kauffman, and they remained residents of York until the following year when they removed to Goshen, Ind. Mr. McCurdy, at the age of seventeen years, commenced learning the trade of a tanner and currier, which he followed until after the outbreak of the Civil War.
On the 22d of August, 1862, Mr. McCurdy entered the Union army as a member of Company B, 29th Indiana Infantry, which was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. He soon saw the smoke of battle and participated in the following important engagements: Lavergne, Liberty Gap, Chickamauga, Missionary Ridge, the siege of Nashville, and minor engagements and skirmishes. Some time after the expiration of his term of enlistment, and after the close of the war, he was mustered out at Marietta. Ga., Dec. 2, 1865. In the meantime his bravery and fidelity to duty had caused his promotion to the rank of First Lieutenant and Regimental Quartermaster. His excellent constitution carried him through without a day's illness, and he was neither captured nor wounded. He looks with pardonable pride upon his army experience and feels that satisfaction only experienced by the true patriot in knowing that he assisted in the preservation of the Union.
After the close of the war Mr. McCurdy returned to Goshen, Ind., and, in partnership with Samuel O. Gregory, the Colonel of his old regiment, embarked in the lumber business, and was thus occupied until 1868. The following year found him upon the soil of Kansas, where he has since remained. To him and his estimable wife there have been born seven children, five of whom are living. namely: Jennie, James C., Byron E., Horace A. and Frances V. The eldest son accompanied Gen. Grant around the world. He is now officiating as clerk in the Philadelphia Post-office and drawing a liberal salary; Byron is a resident of Goshen Township, Clay County; Horace is in the Philadelphia post-office with his brother. The two daughters acquired a liberal education and occupy themselves as teachers.
Daniel McCurdy. the father of our subject, was likewise a native of Lancaster County. Pa., where he spent his youthful years and was married and reared his children. In 1838 he removed to York County, where he spent his last days, dying in 1881, at the advanced age of eighty-seven. His wife, who in her girlhood was Miss Margaret Curran,
was a native of the city of New Orleans, and when quite young removed with her parents to Philadelphia, Pa., living there and in Lancaster County until her marriage. She passed away prior to the decease of her husband, dying in 1872, at the age of seventy-two years. The parental family included three children only, of whom James C., our subject, was the eldest born; John died in Pennsylvania when about seventeen years old; Sarah, Mrs. Fry, died in Wrightville, Pa.
Mrs. Mary (Kauffman) McCurdy was born at Windsor, York Co., Pa., Jan. 29, 1827, and is the daughter of Jacob and Elizabeth Kauffman, who for many years lived on a farm in York County.