C. B. Curley

CURLEY, PLACE, CONDON, CUNNINGHAM, HARRISON, SANKEY, MATSON

Posted By: Peter Gausmann (email)
Date: 1/22/2010 at 05:03:18

C. B. CURLEY

C. B. Curley, now living on section 28, King township, Winnebago county, is one of Iowa's native sons, his birth occurring in Buchanan county on the 16th of July, 1855. His parents, Leonard and Elizabeth (Place) Curley, were born in Pennsylvania and at a very early day came to Iowa, locating in Buchanan county when this state was still on the frontier. The family endured all of the hardships and privations incident to pioneer life and the father helped to pick out the townsite for Independence. He purchased a tract of railroad land, which was wild and unimproved, and converted it into a good farm, making his home thereon throughout the remainder of his life. He died in 1904 and his wife passed away the following year.

Amid pioneer scenes C. B. Curley grew to manhood upon the home farm in Buchanan county and he is indebted to the district schools for the early educational advantages he enjoyed. He remained under the parental roof until he attained his majority, although he worked for others several years previous to that time. He then purchased ten acres of land, on which he located, but his buildings were afterward destroyed by fire and he sold the place and operated rented land for several years. Subsequently Mr. Curley took up a homestead in Nebraska, on which he lived for two years but the grasshoppers destroyed his crops and his buildings were struck by lightning. He then returned to Iowa and engaged in farming on rented land for four years. Later he followed farming in Chickasaw county, this state, for a time, and subsequently conducted a butcher shop at Sumner. On leaving there he came to Winnebago county and purchased eighty acres of land on section 28, King township, which he improved and cultivated for a few years. He was next engaged in the butcher business in Thompson for two years and later conducted a general store at that place for ten years, but on the 1st of March, 1916, he sold out and returned to his farm, though he still owns his store building in Thompson. He has a well improved farm and thoroughly understands the occupation which he follows.

In April, 1876, occurred the marriage of Mr. Curley and Miss May Condon, and to them were born three children: Leo; Mabel, the wife of J. E. Cunningham, of Lester, Iowa, and Izola, now the wife of D. R. Harrison, Rosedale, Oklahoma. Mr. Curley was again married in November, 1890, his second wife being Misi Sarah Sankey, by whom he has two children: Cora, now Mrs. P. B. Matson, of Webster City, Iowa; and Ethan, who is attending school.

In religious faith Mr. Curley is a Methodist, and in politics he is an ardent republican, taking a deep and commendable interest in public affairs. He is a stockholder in the Fanners Elevator Company, the Farmers Telephone Company, and the Cooperative Creamery Company of Thompson, and although he has met with reverses in his business career he is now in comfortable circumstances for he has overcome all difficulties and obstacles in his way to success. For forty years lie has given considerable attention to thoroughbred horses and he helped to train Axtel and Allerton, two famous racers, at Independence, Iowa. He is a man of recognized ability and is widely and favorably known.

Source: History of Winnebago County and Hancock County, Iowa: A Record of Settlement, Organization, Progress and Achievement, Vol. II. Pioneer Publishing Company (Chicago), 1917. pp. 499-500.