Examination Of Elmer D.E. McCurdy’s 1917 publication “Historical Geneology [sic] of the McCurdy Family”
Michael S. Caldwell, editor, May 2003
Taken line by line, examined, refuted, or confirmed with other evidence. Red texts are the original statements of Elmer
McCurdy.
from page 75
John McCurdy was born in 1810 and died in 1893.
Birth year incorrect. John McCurdy’s tombstone gives his birth date as Sept. 12, 1809. Death year correct per obituary,
date 22 Sep 1893 in Star Valley, Cherokee County, Kansas.
He married Elizabeth Ross to whom eleven children were born as follows:
Correct. Elizabeth Ross was a daughter of John Ross, according to the following abstract:
Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, Deeds volume 31, pp. 681-682 [abstract]
John Ross to Elizabeth McCurdy.
2 May 1850: John Ross of Center County, Pennsylvania to his daughter Elizabeth, of Fairfield Township, wife of John
McCurdy, all land that John Ross bought from Robert Donaldson and Ann his wife, consisting of 137 acres, 43 perches.
According to census records and other credible evidence, John McCurdy and Elizabeth Ross did have at least eleven
children.
John P. McCurdy died in 1904.
Correct. John Patterson McCurdy died 17 Nov 1904 in Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas. Obituary in possession of
editor.
He married Margaret Updegraph and they had eight children.
Correct. Marriage record as follows:
Marriage and Death Notices From Newspapers 1808-1921 (not all inclusive) Westmoreland Co, Pa., Original Research by
Agness Campbell Tomichek, Compiled and Typed by Mary Jane Mains
p.50, McCurdy, J.P. of Nashville, Tenn and Maggie Updegraff d/o U. of Fairfield Twp. m. 12-13-1865 by Rev Williams (1227-1865 The Republican)
Margaret died in infancy;
There is no Margaret shown in any census record for John Patterson McCurdy and family. She may have been born and
died before being able to be recorded in a census.
Orville died in childhood;
The 1870 census shows a son named “John O.” which may be this Orville. There is no such child on the 1880 census.
Uri B. married Ethel Woodward but has no children.
The 1880 census shows a “Burton” which is probably this child. 1870 shows “Uri W.” In the Kansas 1910 and Missouri
1920 census enumerations, Uri B. McCurdy is listed with his wife Ethel.
Amy V. married Edward Cassity and has three children:
1910, 1920, and 1930 Oklahoma Census reports show that Galen Edward Cassity had a wife named Anna V. or Vesta.
Ruth, born in 1904,
Correct. Ruth, age 5, in 1910 census.
Glenelle, born in 1906,
Correct. Glenelle, age 4, in 1910 census.
and Georgia, born in 1908.
Correct. Georgia, age 1, in 1910 census.
They live in Okmulgee, Okla.
Correct. Okmulgee location in 1910, 1920, and 1930 census entries.
Mary C. married Dr. J.A. Stewart and has two children.
Mary C. McCurdy’s husband was actually Dr. Richard A. Stewart, according to census entries 1910, 1920, 1930 for
Hutchinson City, Reno County, Kansas.
Margaret, born in 1897
Correct. Margaret, age 13, in 1910 census.
and John, born in 1899.
Correct. John R., age 11, in 1910 census.
Hartly W. unmarried and lives in Hutchinson, Kansas;
Arletta married Alta M. Poe
and has one child, Grace Odessa.
George, born in 1882 and died 1887.
Correct. Obit below:
Hutchinson, Reno County, Kansas "Hutchinson Daily News" issue of Sunday, 11 September 1887, p. 4, col. 4
DIED.
McCURDY.--George, son of J.P. and Maggie McCurdy, at the age of 5 years and three months. The funeral will take
place tomorrow from the family residence on north Main street.
Clark McCurdy, died in 1883.
Correct. His tombstone in Star Cemetery, West Mineral, Cherokee Co. KS, gives a death date of 1883.
He married Lovah Kutze and has two children.
Marriage is correct. Her surname spelled “Kutz” on marriage record below. At least one child, Freddie, died as a child.
Tombstone at Star Cemetery, West Mineral, Cherokee Co. KS. Another child? Currently unknown.
Cherokee County, Kansas Marriage Record
MARRIAGE LICENSE
Columbus, Kansas, Sept. 20" A.D. 1881
To Any Person Authorized By Law to Solemnize Marriage:
You are hereby authorized to join in marriage C.M. McCurdy of Cherokee County, State of Kansas, aged 24 years, and
Lovah E. Kutz of Cherokee County, State of Kansas, aged 17 years, and of such marriage you will make due return to my
office within thirty days from date thereof.
Bruce Miller, Probate Judge
--------------------------------Record of Certificate of Marriage
The State of Kansas, County of Cherokee, SS:
To the Probate Judge of Said County:--This is to certify that on the 22nd day of September 1881, I united C.M. McCurdy
and Lova E. Kutz in marriage in accordance with the laws of this State, and by authority of License No. 1522 issued by
you.
W.H. Sapp, Minister of the Gospel
Winfield S. McCurdy died in 1887.
Incorrect. He was declared insane and was an inmate in an asylum in Osawatomie, Miami County, Kansas as late as
1900. He appears to have died before 1910, when his wife Leah was listed as a widow with a son named Paul in the 1910
Kansas census.
He married Leah M. Potette
His widow was listed as Leah on several census records, and in the probate materials of Winfield’s parents, but I haven’t
yet confirmed her maiden name.
and had three children, who live in Ossatawamie, Kansas.
As of 1900, 1910, 1920 census enumerations of Osawatomie, Kansas, it appears that Leah and Winfield had only one
child that survived infancy, whose name was Paul.
William McCurdy died in 1880.
His only child, Mary, married ____ Jackson
and has two sons, Francis and Arthur.
Robert McCurdy died in 1894.
He married Katherine Bacon,
and they had two daughters, Margaret and Elizabeth.
James McCurdy was born in 1846; died in 1901.
He married Ada Emery,
Correct. Marriage record as follows:
Floyd County, Indiana
Index to Marriage Records 1845 - 1920 Inclusive Volume I Letters A - L Inclusive
W.P.A. Book Number Indicates Location of Record C County Clerk's Office New Albany Complied by Indiana Works
Progress Administrations 1939
County: Floyd
Name: Ada Emory
Spouse: James McCurdy
Marriage Date: 9 Nov 1870
Book: 6
Original Source Page: 618
and they had three children:
Francis, born in 1872, is unmarried and lives in New Albany, Ind.
[from page 76]
Emery J., born in 1874 is unmarried and is President of the McCurdy Mfg. Co., in Louisville, Ky.
Carter S., born in 1881; died in 1882.
Francis M. McCurdy was born in 1850 and died in 1906.
He married Mary E. Miller, daughter of Jacob E. and Lucy (Stiner) Miller,
and grand-daughter of Abraham and America Stines.
They had four children.
Myrtle is unmarried and lives in New Albany, Ind.
She married W.D. Glasscock and lives in San Rafael, Calif.
J. Erwin and U.B. both unmarried and live in Bloomington, Indiana.
David Austin, the living son of John McCurdy, married Florence Furgeson,
Correct. Death certificate of their son Clinton C. McCurdy confirms her maiden name.
has two sons, Clinton and Ralph, all living in Bedford, Indiana.
Correct. Editor has death certificates for both Clinton and Ralph McCurdy. After Elmer D.E. McCurdy’s compilation, this
whole family moved to the state of Oregon.
Laura McCurdy died in 1883.
Correct. Her tombstone in Star Cemetery, West Mineral, Cherokee Co. KS, gives a death date of 25 Nov 1883.
She married Newton Williams and has three children, Charles, Francis and Maud.
Her tombstone inscription calls her the wife of “T.N. Williams”. The family’s 1880 census enumeration is headed by “Nute”
Williams.
Susan McCurdy married Thomas Andrews
There was a daughter named Susan[nah], born about 1852, but I have been unable to locate any marriage information for
her.
and had a daughter, Grace.
Unknown.
She died in 1880.
Does he mean Susan or Grace?
Mary McCurdy married Hugh McCreery
Correct. Mary remained in Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania with her husband and family. Editor has details on this
family.
and has six children: Margaret, Curtis, Eva, James, William and Annie.