Harold James Currier

CURRIER TAYLOR

Posted By: Connie Swearingen (email)
Date: 4/12/2010 at 22:17:26

Woodbury County History 1984

Harold James Currier
By Jewell Schade

Twins, Harold James and Adah Blanche, were born at Salix, Woodbury County, on september 7, 1888, to Ethan Brock and Martha Jane (Emmick) Currier.

Harold attended school in Salix and at Morningside Academy in Sioux City. Then he attended agricultural college at Ames, now known as Iowa State University of Science and Technology. He also attended a business college in Des Moines, and Draughon-Lehman Business College in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Harold was a handsome man, 5’ 10 ½’ tall, with deep blue eyes, thick, dark brown hair, and heavy eyebrows. He had dimples in his cheeks and straight, pearly-white teeth. He was highly intelligent, with a considerable amount of wit and charm.

His grandfather, James Carter Currier, his fatehr Ethan Brock, and uncle, James William, were engaged in farming, banking and lumber; but Harold was not interesting in these activities. He left Iowa after attending Ames College, moved to Fresno, and then to Pasadena, California. Then he moved to Tulsa, where he worked for Atlantic Petroleum Company.

The United States entered World War I in April, 1917. One year later Harold became a private in the 90th (Texas and Oklahoma) Infantry Division,m and was sent on a troop ship to France.

After landing at LeHavre, he was assigned as a clerk to a general, and served in the second line trenches (in the mud!). He was in the Saint Mihiel Drive, September 12, 1918.

After the Armistice on November 11, 1918, Harold was returned to the United States, where he was honorably discharged in January 1919. He settled in Tulsa, where he worked in a laboratory at Cosden Refinery, then changed to real estate. The Government partially subsidized his training at both places.

On June 7, 1919, Harold married Florence Jewel Taylor. In 1922, they moved to Newark, New Jersey, where he took more schooling, then returned to Tulsa, where he bought lots, built houses, and sold them.

New oil fields were being developed in the Texas Panhandle, and the family moved to Amarillo in 1926. There he bought more land, built houses and sold them.

Three of Harold’s sisters (Grace, Bernice and Marjorie) lived in Oakland, California. He and his family moved to California in 1927. They lived, successively, in Walnut Creek, Concord, San Leandro, and Yuba City. In Yuba City he bought land and developed Currier Subdivisions Numbers I, II, and III. He named Jewell avenue for his wife, and Currier Way for his family. He built houses in Yuba City and sold them.

Harold ied in 1976.

Harold and Jewell had six children: 1-Bonnie, born in Newark. 2-David Ethan, born in Tulsa. 3-Martha, born in Tampa. 4-James William, born in Amarillo (James died in 1982). 5-Carolyn born in Concord. 6-Everett Harold, born in San Leandro.

Each of the sons and daughters are graduated form a California college or university, and three have master’s degrees. Their careers include schoolteaching, engineering, music, writing, actuarial analysis, and real estate. All of the sons and sons-in-law served in the military forces. (One son-in-law is a Navy Commander and a chaplain.)

All of the children passed tests qualifying for membership in Mensa.

There are sixteen grandchildren: 1-Carole Hall Perry; 2-Michael Robert Hall; 3- David D Currier; 4-Patricia Currier Purpura; 5-Mark James Currier; 6-Rebekah Schade Ferrini; 7-Marilyn Shade Musielski; 8-Cynthia Jewell Schade; 9-Caren Currier Telford; 10-Charles B Currier; 11-Catherine Grace Currier; 12-Sarah Margaret Currier; 13-Keith Everett Currier; 14-Valerie Hastey Sherrell; 15-Bonnie Hastey Munz; and 16-Tamara Hastey.

There are ten great grandchildren.

Most family members live in or close to Yuba City. The big family gatherings ae usually held in the large home which Harold built for his family in 1939, where Jewell still lives. The conversations are never dull. You may contact any of the family though meat 710 Jewell Ave, Yuba City, California 95991. Phone (916) 673-5760.