William McCurdy, 1856-1927
MCCURDY, KLOPP
Posted By: Clay County IAGenWeb Coordinator (email)
Date: 1/24/2012 at 17:47:44
Funeral services for William McCurdy, father of A. S. McCurdy of Spencer, and a former resident of Dickens, who passed away suddenly at Marion, Iowa, Wednesday, April 27, 1927, were held Sunday, May 1, at two-thirty at the church at Dickens with Rev. W. O. Tompkins of Spencer and Rev. Rowley of Dickens in charge. Interment was made in Dickens cemetery.
William McCurdy, son of Robert and Mary McCurdy, was born at Marion, Iowa, June 27, 1856. He was the youngest of seven children. His mother died a few weeks after his birth, and an older sister was the only mother he ever knew.
In 1880 he was united in marriage with Celinda Klopp and moved to Clay county, where he located on a farm two miles east of Dickens. In 1888 he moved into Dickens where he engaged in the hardware business, establishing the second store in the newly created village. He also organized the school district, the Dickens creamery and helped lay out the cemetery. He lived in Dickens until 1908 when he moved to Two Harbors, Minnesota, where he again engaged in the hardware business with his eldest son Daniel, under the firm name of McCurdy & Son. He lived at Two Harbors until 1925 when he disposed of his business and since that time has spent the winters in Florida. He was returning from Lakeland, Florida, with his wife and son Daniel, and had stopped at Marion to visit for a few days with relatives when he died suddenly of heart trouble in the early morning hours af April 27.
At an early age Mr. McCurdy united with the Methodist church at Dickens and ever since has been a staunch Christian, a supporter of Christianity and his church. He has been active in local civic affairs wherever he has lived and has stood staunchly for high ideals in local and state government. In his daily life he exemplified a high type of true American Christian citizenship. The high esteem in which he was held was shown when after nineteen years absence the Methodist church was taxed to its capacity by the attendance of his friends.
Besides his loving helpmate of forty-six years he leaves the following sons and daughters: Daniel F. of Two Harbors, Minnesota; Maurice E., Washburn, North Dakota; Archie S. of Spencer; William A. of Chungking, Sze., China, a missionary of the Methodist church; Ralph D., Dover, Delaware; Robert M. of Duluth, Minnesota; Matthew D. of Washburn, North Dakota, Mrs. Mary Sandin of Exeland, Wisconsin; Mrs. Claire Brintnall, Omaha, Nebraska, and Mrs. Florence King of Two Harbors, Minnesota.
His youngest son, Royal, died at the age of two years, in 1909. He also leaves fourteen grandchildren and two sisters, Mrs. Mary Kennedy of Los Angeles, California, and Mrs. Theresa Davis of Saint Louis, Missouri. All the children were here for the funeral except William A. of China. The six sons living in America were the pall bearers.
Source: The News-Herald, Spencer, Clay County, Iowa; May 5, 1927.
Interment in Dickens cemetery
Clay Obituaries maintained by Kris Meyer.
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