James Richard McCurry (1858-1926)

CLOUGH, GUNDERSON, JONES, MCCURRY, MCVICKER, NELSON

Posted By: Eileen Reed (email)
Date: 2/10/2024 at 13:07:00

July 26, 1858 --- September 1, 1926

Well Known Mail Carrier Died After Year’s Struggle With Heart Trouble.

J. R. McCurry died at his home on North Garfield avenue at 5 Wednesday afternoon. He had been suffering from heart trouble for over a year and for many months past has been unable to carry the mail on his route. He was the oldest ranking rural mail carrier.

As we go to press, no funeral arrangements have been made. Complete details of Mr. McCurry’s life will appear in our next issue.

Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
September 2, 1926

Announcement of the death of J. R. McCurry was made in last week's paper. The funeral services were held in the Methodist church with Rev. W. T. MacDonald in charge. A quartette from the Methodist choir, composed of George DeForest, Chas. Gross, Mrs. Guy Procter and Miss Helen Mitchell furnished the music. Interment was in Rose Hill cemetery where the masonic funeral service was given at the request of the deceased.

In his funeral sermon, Rev. MacDonald briefly reviewed his impressions of the deceased and voiced the sentiment of every one in his praise of Mr. McCurry, his friendliness, his faithfulness to his home, his church and his work. The sincere sympathy of all is extended the bereave relatives.

Obituary
(By Rev. W. T. MacDonald)

James Richard McCurry was born in St. Lawrence County, New York, July 26th, 1858 and died September 1st, 1926 being sixty eight years, one month and seven days on the day of his death. The family moved Fond du Lac, Wisconsin in the fall of 1865 remaining there temporarily only until the spring of the year 1866 when they moved farther west to Winneshiek County, Iowa and still forging westward in July 1866 they settled in Wright County, Iowa where his parents remained until their demise. James was united in marriage to Jennie Clough at Cresco, Iowa on August 18th, 1878 and remained with his parents until the fall of 1882 when the hardy pioneer spirit prevailed and they moved westward taking up a homestead at Revillo, South Dakota. They remained here for a period of nine years undergoing all the hardships incident to the pioneer life. Desiring to secure improved educational facilities for his children he moved to a farm south of Renwick, Iowa in the spring of 1892, remaining there until December 1896 when the family moved to Eagle Grove, Iowa where they resided until the present time. By the first union six children were born viz: Guy of Eagle Grove, Iowa; Mrs. Harriet Nelson of Grand Forks, North Dakota; Mrs. J. W. Jones of Saint Louis, Mo.; Mrs. Gunder E. Gunderson of Norfolk, Nebraska; Miss Alice of Wichita, Kansas and Ray of Chicago, Illinois, all of whom survive to mourn his death. On September 1, 1920, Mrs. McCurry succumbed to a heart attack and on September 7th, 1921, James was united in marriage to Mrs. Luella McVicker who survives to mourn his death.

He was the second son of a family of five boys and one girl viz: Henry, William and Albert residing in Renwick, Iowa and John and Nellie, deceased. He mourned the death of his father in 1892 and suffered the shock of his mothers death on April 24th of this year.

He united with the Methodist Episcopal Church in Renwick, Iowa in 1894 and in 1896 transferred to the M. E. Church here of which he was a loyal and faithful member at the time of his death.

Eagle Grove Eagle --- Eagle Grove, Iowa
September 9, 1926