TERRE HAUTE — This week we have queries again, all involving Sullivan County.
n Robert and Samuel Curry bought land on the same day, June 28, 1817, next door to each other in Curry Township in Sullivan County, Indiana. Robert Curry was the son of James and Ann Curry of Mercer County, Kentucky. Samuel Curry was the son of John Curry of Busseron Township in Knox County, Indiana. Curry Township was supposedly named for a William Curry, who was one of the earliest settlers in that area. Robert was born Jan. 4, 1786, in Mercer County, Ky. He married Jane Thompson about 1830 after his first wife died. Robert died in Curry Township, Sullivan County, about 1851. His children were Mary J., Elenor R., and Robert B. from his first wife and John F. from his marriage to Jane Thompson. Samuel was born Dec. 22, 1789, in Mercer County, Ky. He married Sarah Watson on March 18, 1813. Samuel died in Curry Township, Sullivan County, on Nov. 27, 1875. Sarah died Apr. 4, 1887. Their children were James P., John S., Thomas F., William, Margaret, Andrew, Martha H., Samuel M., Elizabeth J. and Sarah A. My questions are: 1) Were Samuel and Robert related and how? I suspect they were cousins. John Curry, Samuel’s father, could have been related to either Robert’s father or mother (her maiden name was also Curry). 2) Could William Curry also be a relative? 3) Who was Robert Curry’s first wife? 4) When did she die and where? 5) When did Jane (Thompson) Curry die and where is she buried? 6) When did Robert Curry die and where is he buried? 7) Who did Mary J. Curry marry and when? 8) Who did Elenor R. Curry marry and when? 9) When did Eliza Jane (Nesbit) Curry (wife of John F. Curry) die, and where is she buried? Answers to any of these questions would be appreciated. Please contact Gene Curry, P.O. Box 261, Ione , CA 95640, e-mail gcurry40@yahoo.com.
n I am working on updating some files for Rhoda Crosley Clark of Sullivan County, Indiana. Rhoda’s second marriage, to Johnson Clark, produced quite a few children, four of whom all died within one week of each other, in January 1853. Two of the children were teenagers, two were under the age of 10. I find this information incredible and hard to imagine. Here in California in the 1880’s we had an epidemic of Diptheria. I am wondering if something similar happened in Sullivan County, Indiana in 1853. Any information on why these children all died so close together would sure be helpful. The only source I have for this particular data is an entry from WFT Vol, 13, and quite honestly, do not trust this as being accurate. Please contact Martha A. Crosley Graham at e-mail marthagra@gmail.com.
n I am looking for any information about Matthew Eaton, born 1822-1825 in Indiana. He married a Cynthia Johnson about 1838 in Indiana. I have been able to establish that they were living in Greene and Sullivan counties between census years 1850 to 1870. They appear in the 1880 St. Francois County, Missouri, census living with their daughter’s family: Johan Armin and head of household Willis G. Armin. Their son, Aron Eaton and his wife Sarah Hayes Eaton and family also moved from Indiana to Missouri and are also living in St. Francois County. The 1880 census shows that Matthew Eaton’s father and mother were both born in Indiana. I am trying to find out who Matthew’s parents were. I am aware of the courthouse fire that occurred in Sullivan County in the 1850s. I would be grateful for any information or suggestions to what appears to be a dead end. Please contact Phil Eaton at e-mail flipper167449@yahoo.com.
History
GENEALOGY: More queries — and all involve Sullivan County
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: This little-known compromise may have saved the union
When the Constitution was signed in September of 1787 and sent to the Congress that then existed under the Articles of Confederation, Congress was instructed to send that Constitution to the states to be ratified … or not. The message to the states was clear: Accept the Constitution or reject it, but don’t try to change it.
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Traveling Civil War exhibit makes history personal
Civil War history will come alive for visitors to the Sullivan County Public Library who experience “Faces of the Civil War,” a traveling exhibition created and managed by the Indiana Historical Society.
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GENEALOGY: Virginia Historical Society takes on ambitious project
Over the past few months, the Virginia Historical Society has launched an ambitious project to scrutinize more than 8 million 17th, 18th, and 19th century documents in order to identify the enslaved population of those times.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: The Legacy of ‘The Old Silkworm House’
In 1837, and for several years thereafter, a gray sandstone obelisk was installed next to a one-story frame residence at the northwest corner of Sixth and Eagle streets.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: A blast from valentines past
Valentine’s Day — it brings to mind simple paper valentines and the elaborate, fancy store-bought cards with multiple verses and glittery covers.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Flu outbreak forces Schulte closed
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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Original copy of 13th Amendment at Lincoln Library & Museum
A fully signed and recently restored copy of the Congressional resolution for a 13th Amendment to the Constitution, the official act that would abolish slavery in the United States, will be on display in the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library & Museum’s Treasures Gallery.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Freedom of religion — beliefs and actions
Because religious faith is, arguably, the quintessential example of our right to privacy, to say nothing of its prominent place in our First Amendment, throughout our history court cases involving the free exercise of religion have been handled with great trepidation and with particular care. One of the milestone “free exercise” religion cases, Davis v. Beason, was decided by the Supreme Court this week (Feb. 3) in 1890.
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GENEALOGY: SoCal Genealogical Jamboree coming up in June
The Southern California Genealogical Society announces its 43rd Annual Jamboree, to be staged for three days on June 8-10, at the Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport Hotel in Burbank, Calif.
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LOOKING BACK: 2002: Disco Ernie featured on Maury
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Flashing the mayor's badge
This mayoral badge was presented to the Vigo County Historical Society by Elizabeth K. Schultz, the granddaughter of Samuel E. Beecher Sr., who served as mayor of Terre Haute from 1936 to 1940.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Deadly tornado devastates York in 1907
John T. Staff loved water and, particularly, the Wabash River.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Notorious Western desperado Ellsworth Wyatt captured in Clay County
In October 1892, Terre Haute police received a circular from the State of Kansas containing a description of Ellsworth Wyatt and offering a $1,200 reward for his capture.
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LOOKING BACK: 2002: ISU students honor Martin Luther King Jr.
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: News letter filled with wonderful local news
We recently received five bound volumes of copies of the “Terre Haute Onizette,” the Owen-Illinois Glass Company news letter for the Terre Haute Plant.
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GENEALOGY: Peyton, Downey, Fifer queries and a plea for help from Scotland
This week, we have several queries.
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Extension plans seminar on land use
The Purdue Extension Land Use Team is hosting a video seminar titled “Welcome to the Plan Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals” from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Kennedy, Camelot, and other myths
This week (Jan. 20) in 1961, John F. Kennedy was inaugurated as our 35th president, and his tragic death by assassination notwithstanding, his was a mediocre presidency that, undeservedly, became the stuff of legend — in part because of his assassination.
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Actor to portray Lincoln at dinner for historical society
A special program, “And Lincoln Wrote,” is coming to Harlan Hall in Marshall, Ill., with a featured presentation by Dick Benach as Abraham Lincoln and Chuck Hand as the publisher of the Prairie Beacon.
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GENEALOGY: Celebrate MLK Day with the Indiana Historical Society
On Monday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Indiana Historical Society will offer free admission to celebrate Martin Luther King Day.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Light Guards savor military and social experiences
Never during the Civil War was there a time when the City of Terre Haute was in danger of hosting an armed conflict involving one or more armies.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: 87 high school hoops teams compete in 47th annual Wabash Valley Tournament
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: A bottle of clove oil at the pharmacy
The Historical Treasure for today is a bottle of Clove Oil.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: St. Mary’s Parish congregation celebrates 150th anniversary
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Fire up the jukebox for a great night
The jukebox existed long before Glenn Miller’s “Juke Box Saturday Night” swing version.
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GENEALOGY: 1752 is one memorable year for genealogists
The year 1752 is one to remember if you have ancestors who lived in areas controlled by Great Britain; and this includes the American colonies.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Terre Haute teenager arrested in Cincinnati brothel
A newspaper headline in the Terre Haute Gazette on Jan. 3, 1895, grabbed your attention: “A Terre Haute Girl Goes to Cincinnati to Lead a Life of Shame.”
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Ford’s five dollar days increase productivity
This week (Jan. 5) in 1914, Henry Ford, the head of the Ford Motor Company, stunned the business world by announcing that, henceforth, Ford employees would not only share in the car company’s profits, they also would be paid the unheard of sum of $5 a day. That doubled their previous wage.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Some events not given adequate attention
On May 25, 2011, a large white oak tree — one of the 2,000 or so numbered trees on 324 platted lots in “Edgewood Grove Beautiful” subdivision — fell on our residence.
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LOOKING BACK: Carty, Skelly, Oxford celebrate with first baby of the year in 1962, 1987, 2002
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: This little-known compromise may have saved the union








