JOSEPH MOORE CURRY, one of the leading business men of Union township, is a native of Allegheny county, Penn. He is a grandson of Moses Curry, who was born in eastern Maryland, and was there married to Miss Sarah Moore. Their children were Samuel, David, Moses, Robert, John, Ezekiel, Joseph and Hiram. Joseph Curry was born in 1778, in Chester county, Penn., and was educated as a physician. In 1804, in company with the progenitors of many of the old families of Washington and Allegheny counties, such as the Finleys, Campbells, Hindmans, McClellans, etc., he came to western Pennsylvania, and purchased a large tract of land near Pittsburgh, at what is now Curry Station, Baltimore & Ohio Railroad. Here for a period of sixty years Dr. Curry carried on an extensive medical practice, covering a circuit of many miles. He also conducted large farming operations, together with other industries, such as gristmills, sawmills, distilleries, etc., located on his property. Soon after coming to this place he was married to Jane, daughter of John Finley. She bore him the following children: John F., Joseph M. (mentioned below), Sarah (wife of Samuel Happer), Margaret (Mrs. Richard Storer), Mary J. (wife of Dr Johnson), Susan (married to Robert Foster), Isabelle (Mrs. Robert Hutchinson), and William E. The father voted with the Democratic party, and in religious faith was a member and elder of the Associate Reformed Church. Dr. Curry died in 1862. His wife survived him fifteen years, dying in 1875 at the age of eighty-four years.
Joseph Moore Curry, whose name introduces this biography, was born July 24, 1813, on the place in Allegheny county, Penn. He, also, was educated for the medical profession, but abandoned that career for a mercantile life. He embarked in the dry-goods business in Pittsburgh, in 1834, in company with H. B. Green, forming the house of Curry & Green, situated on Market street. In 1841 this became Chadwick & Curry, and continued for a number of years. In 1839 he established a general store and supply depot at the sign of the "Roe-Galley" (now the town of Finleyville), a post station, fourteen miles out from Pittsburgh, on the Pittsburgh and Brownsville stage road. The goods with which this famous old establishment was stocked, comprising every known commodity, were transported by canal boat and conestoga wagon direct from the East, in immense cargoes four times a year. Great quantities of country produce of every kind butter, eggs, lard, tallow, wool, fruit, vegetables, grain, cheese, beeswax, vinegar, etc., were taken in exchange for supplies, and shipped to Pittsburgh every morning by wagon. A glance over the books and records of this old establishment is a revelation of the wonderful variety and immense quantity of merchandise carried by these old country stores.
In 1845 the subject of this sketch was married to Mary J., daughter of Robert Campbell. In 1852 he purchased a tract of land one mile below Finleyville, from J. S. Gaston, and there built a large store, mansion house, a number of tenant houses and shops, thus founding the town of Curryville, which he afterward had changed to Gastonville. in honor of the original landholder. He removed to his new place in 1854, where he has since resided, continuing in active business until five years ago, when he retired from active business, being succeeded by his son George A., in 1889. He was bereaved of his beloved wife, December 14, 1870, who left the following children: Joseph Roland, William Hindman, Edward Campbell, George A., Frank Morgan, Mary J., Lilly B. and Robert Charles.
Politically Mr. Curry has always supported the Democratic party, and in religion is a member of the Presbyterian church at Mingo. He has always been a public-spirited citizen, contributing liberally toward all worthy objects.
Text taken from page 842 of:
Beers, J. H. and Co., Commemorative Biographical Record of Washington County, Pennsylvania (Chicago: J. H. Beers & Co., 1893).Transcribed March 1997 by Neil and Marilyn Morton of Oswego, IL as part of the Beers Project.
Published March 1997 on the Washington County, PA USGenWeb pages at http://www.chartiers.com/.[ [Back to Beers Table of Contents] [Back to Beers Project Page]