USA > Ohio > Union County > The History of Union County, Ohio, containing a history of the county; its townships, towns military record; > Part 113
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1857-Salmon P. Chase, Republican, 106; H. B. Payne. Democrat, 45; P. Van Trump, Know-Nothing, 3; total, 154.
1859-William Dennison, Republican, 9S; R. P. Ranney, Democrat, 71; total, 169.
1861-David Tod, Republican, 132; H. J. Jewett, Democrat, 84; total, 216.
1863-John Brough, Republican, 204; C. L. Vallandigham, Democrat, 84; total, 288.
1865-J. D. Cox, Republican, 149; George W. Morgan, Democrat, 96; total, 243.
1867-R. B. Hayes, Republican, 176; Allen G. Thurman, Democrat, 117;
total, 293
1869 -- R. B. Hayes, Republican, 163; G. H. Pendleton, Democrat, 102; total. 265.
1871-E. F. Noyes, Republican, 153; G. W. McCook, Democrat, 94; total, 247.
1873-E. F. Noves, Republican, 106; William Allen, Democrat, 91; J. C. Collins. Liberal Republican, 2; T. Stewart, Prohibition, 9; total, 20S.
1875-R. B. Hayes, Republican, 187; William Allen, Democrat, 126; total, 313.
1877 -- William H. West, Republican, 186; R. M. Bishop, Democrat, 131; H. A. Thompson, Prohibition, 5; total, 322.
1879-Charles Foster, Republican, 207; Thomas Ewing, Democrat, 148; G. T. Stewart, Prohibitionist, 14; total, 369.
1881-Charles Foster, Republican, 163; J. W. Bookwalter, Democrat, 131; A. R. Ludlow, Prohibition, 31; total, 325.
For President, 1876, R. B. Hayes received 208 votes; Samuel J. Tilden, 139; total, 342.
In 1880, James A. Garfield received 216; W. S. Hancock, 153; and the Greenback candidate, 2; total. 37.
The original surveys which compose Jerome Township, their areas, origi- nal proprietors, surveyors and dates of survey are as follows:
No. 419, 1,200 acres, William Brown, James Galloway, Jr., March 2, 1807.
No. 1,440, 1,000 acres, James Curry, James Galloway, January 21, 1807. No. 2,365, 6663 acres, Thomas Parker, Nathaniel Massie, June 5, 1797, partly in Delaware County.
No. 2,925, 6,6633 acres, Beverly Roy, Nathaniel Massie, June 5, 1797.
No. 2,990, 666 acres, John Phillips, Nathaniel Massie, June 5, 1797, partly in Delaware County.
No. 2,991, 1,330 acres, John Phillips, Nathaniel Massie, June 5, 1797, partly in Delaware County.
No. 3,003, 174 acres, William Crogan, Joseph Kerr, December 22, 1814 partly in Delaware County.
No. 3,005, 6663 acres, Peter Talbot, Nathaniel Massie, June 3, 1797. No. 3,009, Robert Means, mostly in Franklin County.
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
No. 3,014, 199 acres, H. Gilman, Nathaniel Massie, June 3, 1797, partly in Delaware County.
No. 3,244, 200 acres, William Annis, James Galloway, Jr., November 18, 1807.
No. 3,452, 650 acres, William Barksdale, James Galloway, Jr., March 18, 1810, partly in Franklin County.
No. 3,452, 350 acres, William Barksdale, James Galloway, Jr., March 1, 1810.
No. 3,475, 410 acres, Robert Woodcock, James Galloway, Jr., December 25, 1820.
No. 3,484, 800 acres, Lucas Sullivant, Lucas Sullivant March 4, 1799.
No. 3,685, 6663 acres, Lucas Sullivant, Lucas Sullivant, September 18, 1799.
No. 3,686, 1,000 acres, Lucas Sullivant, Lucas Sullivant, September 18, 1799.
No. 3,743, 600 acres, Robert Means, Lucas Sullivant. September 17, 1799. No. 3,750, 100 acres, Thomas Snead, Lucas Sullivant, September 30, 1799.
No. 3,754, 400 acres, Charles Simms, Lucas Sullivant, Septeber 30, 1799. No. 5,126, 470 acres, Alexander Kerr, James Galloway, Jr., January 22, 1807.
No. 5,128, 80 acres, Alexander Kerr, James Galloway, Jr., January 23,
1807.
No. 5,132, 600 acres, James Galloway, Jr., James Galloway, Jr., Janu- ary 22, 1807.
No. 5,133, 190 acres, James Galloway, Jr., and John Goode, James Gal- loway, January 21, 1807.
No, 5,134, 5333 acres, John Pride, James Galloway, Jr., January 21, 1807.
No. 5,143, 100 acres, Terence Doren, James Galloway, Jr., January 21, 18 7. No. 5,144, 50 acres, Richard C. Anderson, James Galloway, Jr., February
28, 1807.
No. 5,144, 50 acres, Richard Jones, James Galloway, Jr., February 28, 1807.
No. 5,162, 800 acres, Robert Means, James Galloway, Jr., March 27, 1807, mostly in Delaware and Franklin Counties.
No. 5,166, 2,000 acres, Robert Means, James Galloway, Jr., March 2, 1807.
No. 5,167, 200 acres, James Galloway and others; James Galloway, Jr., February 21, 1807, partly in Madison County.
No. 5,234, 600 acres, Robert White, James Galloway, Jr., November 18, 1807.
No. 5,238, 200 acres, Lucas Sullivant, James Galloway, Jr., April 25, 1807.
No. 5,261, 4663 acres, Henry Bidinger, James Galloway, Jr., November 18, 1807.
No. 5,417, 300 acres, Nathan Lamme, James Galloway, Jr., December 21, 1807.
No. 5,611, 360 acres, Thomas Bayly, James Galloway, Jr., June 14, 1807. No. 5, 724, 295 acres, John Baird, James Galloway, Jr., February 23,1808. No. 6,310, 280 acres, William Pelham, James Galloway, Jr., September 10, 1809.
No. 6,420, 3463 acres, William Barlow, James Galloway, Jr., March 29, 1810.
e Robot Hiel
291
JEROME TOWNSHIP.
No. 6,581, 450 acres, John Galloway, James Galloway, Jr., January 12, 1810.
No. 6,595, 2773 acres, Thomas Parker, James Galloway, Jr., March 27, 1810.
No. 6,596, 2773, Thomas M. Bayly, James Galloway, Jr., March 28, 1810.
No. 6,748, 555 acres, John Anderson, James Galloway, Jr., June 7, 1810, mostly in Franklin County.
No. 6,954, 320 acres, representatives of Anthony J. Dixon, James Gal- loway, Jr., July 9, 1811, mostly in Madison County.
No. 7,058, 400 acres, James M. Galloway, James Galloway, Jr., April 23, 1811.
No. 7,073, 5263 acres, Richard I. Waters, James Galloway, Jr., April 24, 1811.
No. 7,074, 800 acres, John Crawford, James Galloway, Jr., April 29, 1811.
No. 7,181, 200 acres, Walter Dun, Walter Dun, November 17, 1811.
No. 7,029, 38 acres, Lucas Sullivant, James Galloway, Jr., May 1, 1812. No. 7,390, 45 acres, John Graham, Walter Dun, August 29, 1812.
Nos. 7,751 and 7,754, 447 acres, Walter Dun, Walter Dun, July 1, 1813. partly in Darby Township and Madison County.
Nos. 7, 758 and 7,830, 168 acres, John Graham and G. Scroggs, Walter Dun, July 21, 1813.
Nos. 9,367 and 10,614, 149 acres, James Galloway, Jr., James Galloway, Jr., January 20, 1821.
No. 9,736, 407 acres, James Galloway, Jr., Benjamin W. Ladd and James Barnett, James Galloway, Jr., November 18, 1818.
No. 10,620, 51 acres, John Messenburg, James Galloway, Jr., January 19, 1821.
No. 10,708, 94 acres, William Sullivant, Michael L. and Joseph Sulli- vant, heirs of Lucas Sullivant, Matthew Bonner, September 22, 1831.
No. 12,125, 63 acres, S. Whitehead, survey not recorded.
For much valuable assistance kindly rendered in the preparation of Jerome Township history, thanks are due to Col. W. L. Curry, Robert Mc- Crory, Lewis C. Curry and others.
BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES.
EDWIN G. ADAMS, deceased, was born in this township, December 26, 1841, and was a son of Ammon and Betsey (Converse) Adams. He was the second son of six children, two of whom are living. He was reared on the farm, and educated in the common schools. In May, 1864, he enlisted in Company K, One Hundred and Thirty-sixth Regiment Ohio Volunteer Cav- alry, and did duty as a wagoner. After one hundred days of service, he was discharged and returned home. January 26, 1865, he was married to Dilla U., daughter of Frederick and Per- milla Parthemore, of Virginia and Pennsylvania. Mrs. Adams was born in Union Township, this county, November 2, 1839. One child was born to Mrs. Adams, viz., Edwin G., born De- cember 15, 1875. Mr. Adams departed this life June 11, 1875. He left at his death, 1391 acres of well-improved and valuable land, on which his wife resides.
T. B. ASBURY, M. D., P.O. Jerome, was born near Syracuse, N. Y., April 10, 1824. His father, Rev. Thomas Asbury, was a native of England, where he studied and entered the ministry of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He was a self-made man and acquired through his own diligence the elements of a good scholar. In 1818, he crossed the waters to America. He was a Method- ist itinerant and traveled on his mission from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, all along the At- lantic seaboard to the Gulf, and accompanied Bishop Asbury, who was his uncle, up the Missis- sippi River to Fort Independence, Mo. Mr. Asbury, after laboring among the people of the West and suffering the dangers of a pioneer minister's life, he came to Columbus, Ohio, and in 1822, erected one of the first brick churches in that city. He retired from the ministry and died November 26, 1860, aged eighty-four years. His wife, Rachel B. Asbury, died April 10, 1825. Dr. Asbury was the only child. He was reared to manhood in Columbus, and received
292
HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
his collegiate education in Alleghany College, of Meadville, Penn. He read medicine with Dr. Elward Ellis, of Meadville, and graduated from the Berkshire Medical College of Pittsfield, Mass., in March, 1844. He entered upon his profession in Meadville, Penn., where he practiced five years, and came to Frankfort (Jerome P. O.), and remained till 1861, when he removed to Columbus. In 1872, he went to Worthington, and in 1880 came back to his old field of labor, which is now presided over by twelve physicians. March 18, 1847, he was married to Margaret Snowden, and by her had two children-Bishop F. and Harry R. Mrs. Asbury departed from this world May 2, 1871, and July 4, 1872, Mr. A. was joined in marriage with Anna, daughter of Isaac N. Wells, of Worthington, and has three children-Norman G., Oliver T. and an infant son. Mr. and Mrs. Asbury are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Mr. A. is a prom- inent member of the Masonic order. He is a member of the Central Ohio and State Medical Association. In the former he was Treasurer for several years. In politics, he is a stanch Republican.
WILLIAM BIGGER, son of Samuel and Sarah Bigger, was born June 26, 1881, in Ken- tucky, and when three years of age removed with his parents to Greene County,'Ohio. Married Nancy Bain, daughter of James and Sarah (Fleming) Bain, June 23, 1825, and unto them were born three daughters-Sarah, who died in infancy; Rebecca, wife of James II. Roney, and Mary Elizabeth, deceased wife of John T. MeCullough. Mrs. Bigger died June 14, 1834, and Mr. Bigger married his second wife, Nancy Law, April 14, 1835. In October, 1836, he moved his family to Jerome Township, Union County, where his fourth and youngest child, Joanna, was born. Mr. Bigger was a devout member of the Seceder, or United Presbyterian Church, in which he served for a number of years as Elder. In April, 1865, he moved to Springfield, Clark County, where he resided until the time of his death, July 6, 1879, having survived his second wife eight years.
LANDON BISHOP, farmer, P. O. Jerome, was born in Loudoun County, Va., April 23, 1820. When four years of age, his parents, Findley and Nancy (Jones) Bishop, who were natives of Virginia, removed to Franklin County, Ohio, and three years later to Jerome Township. Mr. Bishop purchased 116 acres of land and settled on it. He cleared and improved this land, and died February 22, 1860. Landon was reared on the homestead, and assisted his father in clear- ing it up. In 1845, he removed to Washington, Franklin County, and lived nine years. He re- turned to Jerome, and in 1855, located on the farm he now occupies. October 17, 1844, he married Miss Jane Howey, a daughter of James and Sarah Howey. Mrs. Bishop, a native of Franklin County, was born August 27, 1822. The children are as follows: McKendre, William F., Alma E. (wife of John M. Price), Charles F., Olive A. and John E. Sarah M. is deceased. Mr. Bishop owns a farm of 155 acres, and follows farming and raising thoroughbred Spanish Merino sheep.
IIENRY BROBECK, retired, P. O. Plain City was born in Shenandoah County, Va., July 5, 1808. He is a son of Jacob and Catharine (Cooper) Brobeek, who were natives of the same county. His father was a soldier in the Norfolk war, and died in Virginia at an advanced age. Mr. Brobeck is the second of nine children. He was reared to manhood in his native place, and married July 20, 1830, in Frederick County, Va., to Mahala Hottle, a native of Shenandoah County, Va., and a daughter of David Hottle. She was born March 12, 1810. Eleven children were born to this union ; of these eight are living-Israel, married Jane Wooley; Susan, wife of George Arnold : Mary, wife of John Arnold ; Elizabeth, wife of Isaac Frederick ; Rebecca, wife of John Mitchell : Sarah A., wife of Hamilton Bishop ; Abraham and John H. Mrs. Brobeck died in Steubenville, Ohio, and June 17, 1847, Mr. B. was joined in marriage to Julia A. Morrey, who bore him five children. The three living arc-Joseph : Etherlinda, wife of Samnel Nunemaker, and Amanda, wife of James Wagner. Mr. Brobeck removed to Ohio in 1843, and settled near Steubenville. In 1854, he came to Jerome Township; followed farming till 1876, when he removed to Plain City, and retired. lIe is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and in politics is Demo- cratic. Mrs. Brobeck departed this life October 2, 1880.
JOSEPH BROBECK. of the firm of Brobeck & Fox, merchants, P. O. Jerome was born in Jefferson County, Ohio, March 16, 1848, and is a son of Henry and Julia A. Brobeck. When six years of age, his parents settled in this township. His early life was passed upon the farm, and in the district schools he received a practical education. He followed the avocation of farming until he engaged in his present business, which was established in December, 1877. In 1879, he took in as partner, Mr. Chester Fox. They carry a well-selected stock of general merchandise, aggregating in value about $2,000, and do an annual trade of $8,000. Mr. Bro- beck was married September 4, 1873, to Miss Clorinda, daughter of Henry and Sarah Fox. She was born in Jerome Township July 20, 1854. Two children have been born to them-Ivan. born February 9, 1879, and Elva Wita, July 24, 1880. Mr. Brobeck is a worthy member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows; was appointed Postmaster at Jerome Post Office in 1877. Politically, he is of Democratic proclivities.
SAMUEL CARSON, farmer, P. O. New California, was born in Guernsey County, Ohio, August 1, 1843; is a son of James and Jane (Lorimer) Carson, of Ross County, Ohio. His father was born in 1813, and his mother in 1807. They were married in Muskingum County, Ohio, in 1839, and lived in that and Guernsey County till 1859, at which time they located in
293
JEROME TOWNSHIP.
Union County. In 1864, they removed to Mahaska County, Iowa, and now live in Madison County, same State. Our subject is the third child of a family of five children, three of whom are living. He enlisted May 1, 1862, in Company C, subsequently of the One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Regiment. He also did garrison duty on Johnson's Island, and June 6, 1865, was discharged and returned to his home, and afterward journeyed West through the Terri- tories, returning in 1868, and settled, where he now resides, February 11, 1868, he was mar- ried to Jennie A., daughter of William and Eliza Taylor. She was born in Champaign County, Ohio, in 1843. They have had four children, viz., Lulu, Walker, Celia and Mary. He and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church, in which he has been an Elder ten years. He owns seventy-three acres of land, and has been a member of the School Board five years.
RICHARD CLARK, farmer, P. O. Plain City, was born in County Armagh, Ireland, January 8, 1806, and is a son of Henry and Nancy (O'Neil) Clark, natives of Scotland and County Down, Ireland, respectively. His paternal grandparents removed to Ireland on account of religions troubles, and were Presbyterians in belief. Henry Clark died when our subject was six years old, and in 1829 or 1830, his mother removed to Manchester, England. She was preceded in 1823 by her son Richard, who found employment in the cotton factories, in which he worked twenty-three years. In June, 1849, he came to America, and bought fifty-five acres of land in this township, on which he settled and lived thereon till 1872, when he located in Plain City. He was married in Manchester, England, in December, 1836, to Eliza Gilmore, daughter of Ross and Sarah (White) Gilmore. The former was born in England, the latter in Ireland, and removed to England with her parents when a child. They have three living children-Elizabeth, Margaret and Susan. James, a deceased son, enlisted November 26, 1861, in Company K, Fifty-fourth Ohio Volunteer Infantry. He served under General Sherman, and fought at Pittsburg Landing, Corinth, and upon other fields of no lesser note. September 1, 1863, he was promoted to Sergeant Major, and served until he veteranized, January 4, 18€4. Exposure brought on sickness, and after enjoying a short furlough at home, he returned to his regiment and suffered a relapse, from which he died February 25, 1864. He was a brave and valiant soldier, and died from sickness caused by exposure while fighting for the perpetuity of his country. He was commissioned Captain of a company that had been recruited by Col. Smith, but it was not received until the day of his burial. The other children died as follows : John, died February 22, 1871 ; Saralı, July 9, 1848; Sarah (second), December 22, 1853. Mr. and Mrs. Clark are very exemplary members of the Presbyterian Church.
CHARLES S. COMSTOCK, farmer, P. O. New California, is a son of Ruggles and Eliza- beth (Gilson) Comstock. His father was born in Connecticut February 18, 1807, and his mother in Massachusetts, February 9, 1809. They were married in the latter State, October 1, 1834, and in 1836 settled in Franklin County, Ohio, where they lived till 1863, when they came to this township, in which they bought 103 acres of land. Ilis grandfather, David Comstock, was born in Connecticut, where he died ; his grandmother, Nancy (Sessions) Comstock, was born in Massachusetts. His father, when a young man, worked in a factory twenty years. Since coming here he has followed farming exclusively. He is the father of three children, two of whom are living, viz., Jennie and Charles S. Our subject enlisted June 27, 1861, in Company E, Forty-sixth Ohio Volunteer Infantry, and served in the Fifteenth Army Corps under Gen. Sherman, and was in the battle of Shiloh. The exposure of army life impaired his health and he came home on furlough, and not recovering sufficiently he was honorably discharged. Feb- ruary 13, 1873, he was married to Amanda F. daughter of John and Margaret (Tate) Mc- Campbell, who was born in Jerome Township June 29, 1839. Four children have been born to them, three of whom are living, viz. Fay E., Emma T. and Edith S .; an infant son, deceased. He owns 25 acres and has charge of 129 acres of well-improved land.
NELSON CONE, farmer, P. O. New California, was born in Jefferson County, N. Y., April 30, 1808. His parents, Daniel and Ruth (Richi) Cone, were natives of Middlesex County, Conn. The former was born in March, 1768, and the latter in March, 1771. They were married in 1790, and removed to New York in 1806, thence to Susquehanna County, Penn., in 1812, and four years later (1816) to Union Township, Union County, where they resided till 1824, and removed to Madison County. Mr. Cone died in November, 1847, aged eighty years. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and his father, Elisha Cone, and eldest son, enlisted at the beginning of the Revolutionary war, and served as private till its close. In 1837, Mr. Cone, the father of our subject, moved and settled in Whitley County, Ind., where he died. Mrs. Cone's death took place in May, 1849. They had ten children, four of whom are living, viz .: Martha, widow of Chester Dodge, uow of Oswego, N. Y., aged ninety; Thomas R., of Yellow Springs, Ohio, aged eighty-five; Nelson, the subject of this sketch, and Alma, widow of David Hayden, now of Whit- ley County, Ind. Nelson grew to manhood on a farm. At the age of twenty, he took up the sad- dlery and harness-making trade, in Westville, Champaign County, and has followed it, more or less, up to the present time. In 1831, he came to Jerome Township, and, in April of the suc- ceeding year, located on the farm where he now resides. November 22. 1831, he was married to Miss Louisa Curry, a daughter of Col. James Curry, and a native of Highland County, Ohio, where she was born July 25, 1807. Of nine children by this union, six are now living, as fol- lows: James C., Stephenson B., Daniel R., Albert H., Thomas and Louisa. Stephenson B.,
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HISTORY OF UNION COUNTY.
Otway B. and Robert S. are deceased. Mr. Cone served on the Board of County Commissioners six years. He was the first commissioned Commissioner of Union County. He also acted in the capacity of Justice of the Peace nine years, and as Township Trustee four years. Mr. Cone owns 176 acres of land, most of which he cleared and improved.
HENRY CROTINGER, farmer, P. O. New California, a native of the Keystone State, and a son of Peter and Margaret (Rhodes) Crotinger, was born February 27, 1820. His father, a na- tive of Maryland, was born January 8, 1780; and his mother, of Pennsylvania, April 30, 1786. They married, and, in 1827, migrated and settled in Lieking County, Ohio, thence to Knox County in 1829. Three years later Mr. C. and family came to Union County, and located a farm near Frankfort, where he died in October, 1861. Mrs. C.'s death took place January 29, 1873. They had born to them thirteen children, six of whom are now living. The subject of this sketch is the eldest son. He passed his early life on the farm, and, for an education, enjoyed only the advantages of the common schools. In 1845, he went to Mason County, Ill., but re- mained only a short time, and returned. May 15, 1846, he was married to Miss Catharine, daughter of John and Sarah McKittrick, and a native of Licking County, where she was born November 15, 1830. This marriage was blessed with ten children; of these, nine are now living -Sarah E., wife of Luther Hutchinson ; Chester, Martha V., Albert O., Diadama, wife of William Ellison ; Olive J., William H. and John E. Mary E. is deceased. Mr. Crotinger bought a small farm of sixty acres, on which he resided till 1867, when he made the purchase of his present farm of 140 acres. He has improved most of this farm since he took possession of it. Mr. Cro- tinger is a good farmer and respected citizen.
JAMES CURRY.
JAMES CURRY, the subject of this biographie sketch, was born near Belfast, Ireland, January 29, 1752. He was the first born child of James Curry, a prosperous Irish farmer of County Antrim. His mother's maiden name was Warwick, showing an English origin on her side of the family. Her relatives were promiuent in England, during Cromwell's time, siding with the great commoner, and one of them, a Capt. Warwick, was among the number shot to death after the restoration. Very little is known, however, of the far-off lady, not even her given name. We only know that she was a Warwick ; that she was of Protestant stock ; that she was married to James Curry, near Belfast, about the year 1750 ; that before leaving Ireland she bore her husband five children, two sons and three daughters ; that after reaching America and settling with her husband in Virginia, she bore him four additional children, three daughters and one son ; that at the close of the Revolutionary war, she removed with her husband to the neighborhood of Paris, Ky., and there, some years after, died at the age of ninety-three. The Protestants of the North of Ireland were and are to this day an educated people, cultivated, prosperous, tolerant, and the inference (which is supported by tradition) is that her family was a superior one. Certainly she inherited from it sterling virtues, and received a liberal educa- tion, which were in turn bestowed upon her own children.
Of James Curry, her husband, the father of the subject of this sketch, we know about as little. It has been claimed that his ancestors entered Britain with the Normans, at the time of the conquest, but an excellent authority asserts that the Currys are of pure Celtic stock, and owe their origin solely to the Irish of pre-historic days. The Scotch and Welsh are of the same race, and so were the ancient Britons. Ireland is honey-combed with Currys, and while they are generally of the middle-class, plain, well to-do citizens, there are in the Counties Cavan and Fermanah, castles or their remains which were once the abode of nobles of the name, Lords Belmone and Lowry Curry, and Lord Clon Curry. Many towns bear the name, such as Tuber- curry, Ratheurry, etc. From time immemorial almost. these families have had large landed possessions in the counties named, and in faet all over Ireland the name, either spelled with a u, or an o, is as plentiful as Smith in this country.
The immediate family of this James Curry, were Irish Presbyterians, thrifty, doubtless, and intelligent, for they had so educated their son that he, in turn, had before quitting Ireland be- gan to prepare his son (the subject of this sketch ) for the ministry. It is well known, indeed, that Col. James Curry had been in early childhood marked for the holy calling, had begun his studies to that end, and had had, according to a custom of that place and day, his hair cropped and his head adorned with a wig, in token of the life he had been ordained to lead. But a far different career was in store for the young novitiate. When but ten years of age, his father's thoughts were turned to the New World, then as now the Land of Promise for struggling Irish- men. The family accordingly embarked at Belfast for America, on board the ship " Good Re- turn," some time in 1762. A large colony accompanied, including several brothers with their families and other relatives. The ship was a stanch and fast sailer, which had once made the voyage in five weeks' time, but this trip she had been overloaded, so that what with head winds and counter-currents, her passage across the Atlantic was prolonged to fifteen weeks. Disease, starvation and death meanwhile made sad havoc among the passengers and crew. The greater part died and were buried at sea, among them the four youngest children of James Curry. The ship finally made Philadelphia, and the James Curry family stepped ashore with but three, where seven should have been in number. The family seems then to have at once started with other
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