The family of William T. Curry was featured in last week’s column, and additional research allows an update with additional genealogy. There is a correction needed to clarify that there is no documentation of William T. having been a medical doctor. This error was made from blending material from two different families. Also, it is not clear if he moved to Texas with his parents. He probably remained behind when the move was made between 1840 and 1860.

William T. Curry appears to have rendered service during the War Between the States. There is a record of his widow having made an application for benefits and listed his service to have been in Company E, First Florida Cavalry, which was of the Union. This needs further research, but it suggests he most likely remained in the area of South Alabama when his parents moved to Texas.

New information has been uncovered that reveals more about William T. Curry’s immediate family. There is a family legend that he may have been married three times, but only the names of two wives have been identified. He was married first circa 1858 to Harriett Hanks. According to Ancestry.com, they had the following five children: John J., b. 1860; Joseph, b. 1866; McDaniel “Mack,” b. 1868, d. 1925, m. Emma E. Curry; Martha, b. 1872; and Buna, b. 1874. Some other records suggest Martha and Buna may have been by a different wife.

William T. Curry was married in 1978 to Emma Eliza Spears. Records suggest they had the following four sons: Andrew Jackson, b. 1882, d. 1954, m. Georgiann Sturgis; Orrie (male), b. ca 1883; Ira Hobson Sr., m. Martha Ann Sturgis; and Oscar Clinton, b. ca 1887, d. 1967, m. Eula Worley.

No families for the two oldest sons, John J. and Joseph Curry, have been identified at this time. The third son, McDaniel “Mack” Curry, was married to Emma E. Curry, who was born in 1873. It is not clear regarding Emma’s maiden name, but she had died by 1820 when Mack’s family was enumerated in the census of that year. They were residing in the Shirley Precinct. At the time he had the following children in his household: Joe T., b. 1906; Lucy L., b. 1907; and Mary M., b. 1909. Other records show the couple had these additional children: Dawson, b. 1893, d. 1969, m. Susie Lee Burleson; Judge H., b. 1896; Emma, b. 1898; and Donnie R., b. 1901. They had apparently moved out on their own by 1920.

Also, no families have been found for the next three children: Martha, Buna and Orrie. The next son, Andrew Jackson Curry, born in 1882, was married to Georgiann Sturgis who had a sister, Beulah Sturgis, who married a Worley and another, Martha Ann, who married Andrew ‘s brother, Ira. Andrew and Georgiann reared the following children: Beaury Wilton, b. 1904, d. 1985, m. Gurtis Corrine Kervin (1911-1990); Clinton, m. (1) Grey Chesser (1911-1985); Ed, b. 1911, d. 1982, m. Loyette Noland; Lois, m. John Lawson Josey: Agnes who died in infancy; Lettie, m. (1) William Albert “Button” Jernigan (2) James Crawford Jernigan; and Lloyd, m. while in service, but she never came home with him. Andrew and Georgiann Curry and their infant daughter were buried in the Fairmount Cemetery in Red Level.

The next son, Ira Hobson Curry Sr., was married to Martha Ann “Sis” Sturgis, who was a sister to Andrew Jackson Curry’s wife. Ira and Martha Ann reared the following children: Alva, m. Minnie Lee South; Ira Hobson, Jr. “Hob,” m. Epsey Taylor; Austin “Monk,” shot after a fight; m. Lessie Noland; Harvey Lee, b. 1912, d. 1965, m. Mary Green; and Inez, d. at nine months from diphtheria.

The youngest son, Oscar Clinton Curry, was married to Eula Belle Worley, and they reared the following children: Jesse Ray “Skinner,” b. 1911, d. 1991, m. Lillie Audrey Worley; Minnie Lee, m. (1) Wade Rigsby (2) ? Whittle; Fletcher, m. ?; Lottie Adell, b. 1920, d. 1988, m. Lewis Worthington; Otis Clinton “Bo,” b. 1923, d. 1987, m. Mary Sue Tindal; and Lomax “Mac,” b. 1925, d. 1989, m. Mattie Emma Jackson.

Oscar Clinton’s grandchildren included the following: Jesse Ray and Lillie had three children: Robert Earl, m. Patricia Ann McCurley; Jesse Lanelle “Nell or “Sue,” m. (1) Gordon Stokes (2) James Smith; and Donald Ray, single and killed at 20 years of age in accident. Minnie Lee Curry and her husband, Wade Rigsby, had the following children: Ben, Gail, Bill and twins, Johnny and Judy. Otis Clinton “Bo” Curry had two sons, Clinton Jeron Owens, a resident of Covington County, and another, Robert, who was born to a lady in the Philippines. The youngest son, Lomax “Mac” Curry, and his wife Mattie Emma Jackson reared the following children: Mattie had a daughter, Barbara Truitt, by her first marriage. She and Mac had Ronald Lomax; Kenneth Wayne, m. Sharon Dianne Griffin; and Otis Randall “Randy.”

Andrew Jackson and Georgiann Curry’s grandchildren included the following: Beaury Wilton had Eloise Morris, m. Eugene House; Mildred Erma Nell, m. Eli J. Josey; and Lamar Wilton, m. Jewel House. Clinton and Grey Curry had Halcotte D.; and Joe Glynn, b. 1932, d. 1938, killed from a horse injury. Ed and Loyette Curry had two sons, Larry and Donald. Lois Curry and husband, John Lawson Josey, had four sons: James Hubert, m. (1) Willene ?; (2) Rosa ?; (3) ? (4) Diane ?; Foster Ray, m. Joan M. Bourk; Cecil Wayne, d. at young age in 1948; and Andrew Earl, m. Betty Robinson. Lettie Curry and William Albert Jernigan had one daughter, Frances Ann, m. Earl Ray King, and Lettie and James Crawford Jernigan had one son, James Crawford Jr. “Sonny.”

Ira Hobson Sr. and Martha Ann Curry had the following grandchildren: Alva and Minnie Lee Curry had Cecil, d. young; Yvonne, m. Lomax “Mack” Josey; Mary Joyce “Doye,” m. Floyd Josey; Audrey; and Paul, m. (1) Bobbie Gantt. Ira Hobson Jr. and Epsey Curry had Lewis, m. Jacqueline Smith; Caudie Fay, m. Thomas Castleberry; and Ira Hobson III “Junior,” m. Midian Chesser. Harvey Lee and Mary Curry had James Donald, killed in car wreck; Roy Lee, m. Jean Grice; Edna, m. (1) ? (2) Eugene Nall; Juanita “Anita,” m. (1) Ben Petty (2) Johnny Jeffcoat (3) Ab Powell; and Ronald “Ronnie,” m. Jackie Lynn Beck.

Addition research is needed on this family to complete a descendency chart. There are many Curry descendants in the next generation and some who may have been missed in the above writing. The sources for today’s history include Ancestry.com, and interviews with several Curry descendants.

Anyone who might see any errors in the above or who has additional information on the Curry family is requested to contact this writer, Curtis Thomasson, at 20357 Blake Pruitt Road, Andalusia, AL 36420; 334-222-6467; or email: cthomasson@centurytel.net.

HISTORICAL MEETING: The Covington Rifles Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans will meet at 6:30 p.m. on Thurs., April 5, in the Dixon Memorial Room of the Andalusia Public Library. Guests are welcome.