The Corner

My father’s family is traced back to West Virginia, which was still Virginia when my great-great and great-grandfather lived there before moving west. There are Curry/Currey family reunions in West Virginia to this day. I was told by a cousin there that all people with our name in WV are related. ‘Currey’ and ‘Curry’ were used interchangeably, there at that time. I researched this part of the family the last few years using Ancestry.com and other sources. It is postulated that the family may have come from Northeast England to America, but this is lost to us. There are two publications on the genealogy of the family written in West Virginia.

I found that my family, along with the Wyatt Earp family, lived in the same area both in Iowa and Missouri. Two of Wyatt Earps older brothers fought in the Civil War for the Union but with forces from Indiana, and Ohio where they had come from. Their family originated further east as well. They were on their way to California with a large group and one family member got sick and they stayed in Iowa for some time. They farmed about eight miles northwest of where my great grandfather started working as a potter. Wyatt Earp was too young to fight and helped take care of the farm. His father was a recruiter for the Union forces in Iowa. The story carries South to Missouri. Wyatt was a sheriff in Lamar, his father the Justice of the Peace. My great grandfather was a potter in the area. Wyatt and brother moved to Kansas then finally to Arizona where he earned his fame in a shootout. Wyatt may have been forced from the Lamar area after some dealings.

My great grandfather fought for the 33rd Iowa Infantry in the Civil War. Orange County Virginia, where he was born is still Virginia. Farmington, West Virginia where his father was born became West Virginia after they moved west. Great Grandfather Robert had a wife and several small children when he volunteered for service. How much he ‘volunteered’ is in dispute. One older brother moved from Iowa to Missouri prior to the war to farm, (but not Lamar) he served in the state militia in MO during the conflict for the Union.

This is an American story of the migration from the east to the west. Thousands did this, this is just one example. That is my primary reason for writing this and sending it out. I actually sent this similar poem to Phillipi, West Virginia, Oskaloosa, Iowa and Lamar, Missouri newspapers. If they will print - I don’t know. These are all small town America. A part of America which is unique and vital for the country.

My Great Grandfather - Robert W. B. Currey (Curry)

An American Movement

Robert was born Virginia - County Orange,

In eighteen thirty three - then they all moved,

East of Philippi - for farm and forage,

Father John - Farmington born - farm improved.

Teter Creek acres - their large family,

Robert grew up there - in this green hollar,

With Morland’s - as a potter - capably,

His sister’s husband - to make a dollar.

There was this kin group - who wished to the west,

They pulled up stakes - sold out - and off they went,

Eight hundred miles - must been a hard quest,

American move - better life intent.

Iowa was their goal - don’t know - all why,

Prairie ahead - must have been - long goodbyes.

And the Earps moved west - gradual as well,

To become in the end - part of this tale.

My great grandfather moved to Iowa,

In eighteen fifty five - from Virginia,

Near New Sharon - he did acquire a,

Parcel of sod to break - to continue,

A life as in the east - on Teters Creek,

His Ma and Paw nearby - two brothers too,

In this township - the family - to seek,

A deep soils harvest - wealth to accrue.

The man with wife and with kids then moved to,

Peoria - to work as a potter,

His sister’s husband - from - to take his queue,

This - his chosen path with wife and daughters.

Here he worked hard - until the cannons called,

Thirty-third was his unit - how she bawled.

Eight miles west - the Earp’s family farmed,

This a curious fact - one with charm.

Family word is - he was forced to fight,

Oskaloosa camp - then a riverboat,

South to Arkansas - and a rainy night,

A thigh wound put him down - then a gray coat,

Captured Robert - on to a prison camp,

East Texas - and once tried hard to escape,

But he did find his way back his home lamp,

To his wife and kids - in civil war shape,

Soon they moved to Lamar- the next state south,

As a potter he worked - grandpa was born,

Wyatt Earp's clan moved there too - word of mouth,

Or only coincidence - this my yarn.

Robert died early - from his wound in thigh,

Grandpa to Montana - to the big sky.

Carter County homestead - my Dad was born,

Ekalaka - my birth place - one spring morn.

Erwin Curry