Curd, William O.

CURD

Posted By: Karon Velau (email)
Date: 7/5/2021 at 12:09:27

History of Warren County, Iowa; Containing a History of the County, Its Cities, Towns & Etc., by Union Historical Company, 1879, p.627

CURD, WILLIAM O., farmer, White Breast Township, Sec. 4; P. O. Lacona; born Dec. 7th, 1818, in Buckingham county, Va.; his parents moved to Highland county, Ohio, in 1836; at the age of 20 he apprenticed himself to learn the carpenter's trade, at which he worked about two years; at the age of 22 he entered the Hillsboro Academy, of Ohio, where he took a regular academic course; this school he entered without a cent in his pocket, and paid his way through by working evenings and Saturdays. There was one thing however which he had in large stock: it is commonly known as "pluck," which he has ever exhibited to a great degree on every occasion of a new or difficult undertaking. He is a man of decided opinions, and always has a mind of his own and looks not to others for advice; had his inclination run in that direction he would undoubtedly have been a strong leader in the politics of his country; but it seems that he has preferred rather to adopt the role and life of the quiet farmer, where he might be free from the contaminating influences by which a public life is surrounded. He is a descendent of the Curds of France, his great grandfather coming to the United States with Broderick's army, as he has been informed by his grandfather; his father was born in Buckingham, Va., on the Big Willis creek; he began teaching at the age of 24, and has continued it more or less for a great many years; he is an educator of liberal ideas, and believes in the education of the masses as a sure guarantee to the perpetuity of our free American institutions. He owns a fine farm of 180 acres, where he now lives, and has demonstrated the fact that where there are brains there is also success in farming; he began at first by buying but 40 acres, and has by his indominable perseverence added the balance of his present estate, and can now sit in the shade of his stately trees which he planted with his own hands more than twenty years ago. He has been a member of the M. E. church since 1839, converted under the ministry of Geo. C. Crump; he has been a licentiate since 1842, and has held the offices of Steward, Recording Steward and class leader. He was married April 7th, 1846, to Miss Eliza E., daughter of the Rev. Wm. Johnson, of Green county, Ohio; they have no children; they came to this county in 1857 and settled where they now live; she is not without a claim to the success with which their efforts have been crowned since their union; they started in the world with nothing and have made it all with their own hands, she ever ready to lend a helping hand to her husband in his every undertaking, studying only how to advance their interest and happiness through life, ever exhibiting that christian grace of love to all with whom she became associated.