Archie's Siblings: Ervin Currie, Part 2

I have already received the obits for Ervin Currie and his wife, Alma Margaret (Walhier) Currie, from the Saginaw Public Library system. Below are transcriptions (I have not had time to scan them yet):

"John E. Curry," obituary, Saginaw (Michigan) News, 20 Feb 1950, p. 17.

Passed away at the Saginaw County Infirmary Hospital Sunday morning. Age 63 years, Mr. Curry was born Oct. 20, 1886 in Sanilac County. On Dec. 15, 1916 he married Miss Alma Walhier in Saginaw. He is survived by his wife, two sons, and one daughter: Robert J. Curry, Eugene D. Curry, and Mrs. James Taylor, all of Saginaw. Mr. Curry may be seen after 7 o'clock this evening at the Funeral Home. Funeral will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Reitz Funeral Home. Rev. R.G. Osgood officiating. Burial in Forest Lawn Cemetery.

So it appears that Ervin went by the name John Ervin as well, and that he had two sons in addition to Alice, who appears in the 1930 U.S. Census with her maternal grandparents in Saginaw. The obit also gave me Alice's husband's name. The birth date is one year and two days different than the 18 Oct 1885 birth date on Ervin's birth record. The marriage date is also a year and 10 days different than that on the marriage record. The fact that Archie, who was still alive in 1950, is not mentioned as a surviving brother is in line with my grandmother's statement that her dad was not very close to most of his siblings and that she had never heard of Ervin.

"Mrs. Alma M. Curry," obituary, Saginaw (Michigan) News, 4 Jun 1966, p. A11.

604 McCoskry Street
Passed away 7 a.m. Friday at the Saginaw County Hospital Chronic Disease Unit after a long illness. Age 69 years, Alma Margaret Walhier was born June 11, 1896, in Saginaw, and had been a lifelong resident. She was married to John E. Curry in Saginaw in 1916. He passed away in 1952. Surviving are two sons and one daugher, Mrs. Alice Rupp, Robert J. and Donald E. Curry, all of Saginaw; seven grandchildren; her mother, Mrs. Ida Walhier, Saginaw. Funeral service will take place 1 p.m. Monday at the Reitz Funeral Home. Rev. William R. Conklin will officiate with burial in Forest Lawn Cemetery. Friends may call at the funeral home after 7 p.m. Saturday.

Now I even have an address for the family! So the Alma I found in the 1900 and 1910 U.S. Census does seem to be the same Alma here, which I figured, since Alice Curry was living with George and Ida Walhier in 1930 and listed as granddaughter. Again, the marriage is off by a year from the marriage record, and Ervin's death date is two years off from that stated in his obit of 1950. We have a new married name for Alice, and Eugene's name is now given as Donald E. So he must have been either Eugene Donald or Donald Eugene. It seemed likely from both obits that the family did not move away from Saginaw, so I went back to the 1930 Census and searched under Donald and Eugene Curry. BINGO!!

In 1930, John E. Curry and Alma M. Curry were living at 648 So. Thirteenth Street in Saginaw with children, Alice I. Curry (11), Eugene D. Curry (9), and Robert J. Curry (6). John E. was listed as age 39, age 30 at first marriage, born in Michigan, and parents' born in Canada-English. He was working as a bill peddler for a loan company. Is this a bill collector? Alma was listed as age 30 and 19 years old at first marriage, born in Michigan, and parents' born in the U.S. and Michigan. All three children were born in Michigan, with both parents born in Michigan.

1930 U.S. Census, Saginaw County, Michigan, population schedule, Saginaw (Ward 10), enumeration district (ED) 39, sheet 17B, dwelling 376, family 405, John E. Curry household; digital image, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com/search: accessed 20 Feb 2009); citing NARA microfilm publication T626, roll 1022.

I still cannot seem to find Ervin and Alma in the 1920 U.S. census. I think a detailed reading line by line may be in order, but that will have to wait until another day, especially since Saginaw is not exactly a small town.

Another census question: Why was Alice enumerated with her maternal grandparents in 1930 as well as with her parents? Perhaps she was visiting her grandparents the day the census taker came by? Or did they have custody of her? Court records should tell if they had custody.

I also did another search of the online Saginaw Public Library obituary index for Alice, Eugene/Donald, and Robert. See findings below:

1) Alice I. Taylor Rupp, maiden name Curry, spouses Arthur (2nd) and James (1st), born 5/11/1918, died 8/23/1994 in Saginaw, buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery

2) Donald E. Curry, spouse Bertha Meeker, born 10/15/1920 in Saginaw, died 7/12/1981 in Saginaw, buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery Soldiers Plot

3) Robert J. Curry, spouses Esther Miller (2nd) and Esther Mae Janson (1st), married 3/27/1999 (2nd) and 10/25/1944 (1st), 1st spouse died 9/8/1998, child of John and Alma M. Walheir, age 81, born 2/4/1924 in Saginaw, died 9/5/2005 in Saginaw, buried in Roselawn Cemetery, served in US Army during WWII, Baptist Church, Case Funeral Home.

I think I will be ordering their obits to see what other info I may be able to find. Maybe I can find some descendants who would be interested in sharing family info. It also looks like the two sons both served in the military, so I will be searching WWII records to see if I can find anything.

In summary:

18 Oct 1885 - Ervin is born in Maple Valley, Sanilac, Michigan, to Elexander [sic] and Mary E. Currie, both of Canada.

Jun 1900 - Ervin, age 14 (enumerated as age 16), is living with his parents and younger brother, Archie, in Flynn Township, Sanilac, Michigan.

Apr 1910 - Ervin, age 24 (enumerated as age 23), is living with Donald Campbell in Flynn Township. He is working as a farm laborer for Donald.

Jun 1917 - Ervin, age 31 (age given as 29 on record), is living at 634 N. Second in Saginaw, Saginaw, Michigan, where he registered for the WWI Draft. He is working as an ironworker at a foundry in Saginaw.

25 Dec 1917 - Ervin, age 32 (age given as 30 on record), marries Alma Walhier in Saginaw.

11 May 1918 - Daughter, Alice I. Currie, is born. Ervin is age 32.

15 Oct 1920 - Son, Donald Eugene Currie, is born in Saginaw. Ervin is age 34.

4 Feb 1924 - Son, Robert J. Currie, is born in Saginaw. Ervin is age 38.

Apr 1930 - Ervin, Alma, Alice, Donald, and Robert are living at 648 So. 13th Street in Saginaw. Alice is also enumerated with Alma's parents, George and Ida Walhier, in Saginaw.

19 Feb 1950 - Ervin dies of chronic myocarditis in Saginaw at age 64 (age given as 63 in obituary).

21 Feb 1950 - Ervin is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Saginaw, with no marker.

Archie's Siblings: Ervin Currie

Earlier, I posted here about my great-grandfather, Archie Currie, in response to an email I received from Dianne in Michigan who thought we may be related. So far, Dianne has not found a connection, but she is going to pass on the info I've given her so far to some other Currie researchers in Michigan. In the meantime, I've decided to continue posts on Archie's siblings in the hope that one day, I will find someone with a connection.

I will start with Archie's older brother, Ervin. The first thing I did when I saw Ervin on the 1900 U.S. Census with Archie and their parents, Alex and Mary, was ask my grandmother if she ever knew him. My grandmother said she did not know him, so I was left to non-family sources in order to find him.

The earliest record I have of Ervin is his birth record from the "Michigan Births 1867-1902" database at FamilySearch Labs. Ervin Currie was born 18 Oct 1885 in Maple Valley, Sanilac, Michigan, to Elexander Currie and Mary E. Currie, who were both born in Canada. Alexander was a farmer in Maple Valley.

Michigan Department of Vital Records, Birth Registrations, 1885, Sanilac County, p. 161, no. 255, Ervin Currie; digital image, "Michigan Births 1867-1902," FamilySearch Labs (http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch : accessed 11 Feb 2009).

Ervin was living with Alex and Mary and younger brother, Archie, in Flynn Township, Sanilac, Michigan, in 1900, as mentioned earlier. His age was given as 16 years old and his birth date as Oct 1883, two years earlier than what his birth record stated. His birth place is correctly given as Michigan. Like his birth record, his parents' birthplaces are given as Canada.

In 1910, Ervin was living in the household of Donald Campbell in Flynn Township. According to older brother Archie's WWI draft registration, he also worked for Donald Campbell in 1917. Donald is also living two doors down from Archie and Jennie in 1930. Ervin's relationship to Donald is listed as hired man. Ervin is 23 (b. abt 1886-87), single, and a farm laborer. Ervin's birthplace is given as Michigan, and his parents' birthplaces are given as Scotland, though all other census records and his birth record gives his parents' birthplace as Canada.

1910 U.S. census, Sanilac County, Michigan, population schedule, township of Flynn, enumeration district (ED) 139, sheet 2B, dwelling 31, family 32, Donald Campbell household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com/search : accessed 9 Feb 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T624, roll 674.

By June 1917, Ervin had moved to Saginaw, Saginaw, Michigan, about 90 miles northwest of Flynn Township. On his WWI draft registration card, his age is listed as 29 and his birthdate and place as 20 Oct 1887 in Maple Valley. This is a two year difference from is birth record. He lived at 634 No. Second in Saginaw and worked for the ironworks foundry there. The name of his supervisor is hard to make out. The card states that his mother was dependent on him, which is what Archie's card stated as well.

"World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918," database and images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com/search : accessed 10 Feb 2009), Ervin Currie, Draft Board 1, Saginaw, Saginaw County, Michigan; citing World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918, NARA microfilm publication M1509, roll 1682808.

Six months later, Ervin married Elma Walhier in Saginaw. They married on Christmas Day in 1917. Ervin's age is given as 30 (b. abt 1887), again a two year difference from his birth record. The marriage record lists him as a laborer residing in Saginaw. His birthplace is given as Michigan, and his parents as Alexander Currie and Mary Raymond. Elma was listed as age 21 (b. abt 1896), born and residing in Saginaw, and the daughter of John and Sarah Walhier.

Michigan Department of Vital Records, Marriage Registrations, 1917, 5: 71, no. 24600, Currie-Walhier; digital image, "Michigan Marriages 1868-1925," FamilySearch Labs(http://search.labs.familysearch.org/recordsearch : accessed 10 Feb 2009).

For the 1920 and 1930 U.S. census, Ervin and Elma seem to drop off the planet, like many of our ancestors did. Therefore, I decided to do some more research on Elma in the 1900 and 1910 U.S. census records. In 1900, at 219 Sixth Street in Saginaw, we find George (age 29) and Ida Walhier (age 25), with children Clarence, Alma, and Elta. Alma is age 4, born on 11 Jun 1895 in Michigan. Both George and Ida were born in Germany and immigrated in 1880. George's occupation is given as barkeeper. Clarence is age 5 and Elta is age 2. The parents' names do not match those given on the marriage record for Ervin and Elma, but everything else seems to match. In fact, it seems like whoever gave the info for the marriage record was not very knowledgeable about Elma's parents, as he/she gave no maiden name for Elma's mother. There appear to be no other Elma or Alma Walhier's born around 1896 living in Saginaw in 1900.

1900 U.S. census, Saginaw County, Michigan, population schedule, Saginaw (Ward 4), enumeration district (ED) 49, sheet 14B, dwelling 308, family 312, George Walhier household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com/search : accessed 12 Feb 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T623, roll 739.

In 1910, we find George A. (age 39) and Ida (age 36) Walhier living at 112 North 10th Street in Saginaw. They still have three children, Clarence (age 15), Elma (age 13 - b. abt. 1896-97 in Michigan), and Elsie (age 11). George is a waiter in a restaurant.

1910 U.S. census, Saginaw County, Michigan, population schedule, Saginaw (Ward 5), enumeration district (ED) 53, sheet 4A, dwelling 55, family 56, George A. Walhier household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com/search : accessed 12 Feb 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T624, roll 672.

In 1920, George A. (age 49) and Ida J. (age 45) Walhier were living at 424 10th Street in Saginaw. Children Clarence J. (age 25) and Elta L. (age 21) were living with them. Alma was not there, probably because she was living with Ervin, though I can't seem to find them. George was a fireman at the heating plant and Clarence was a machinist in a factory.

1920 U.S. census, Saginaw County, Michigan, population schedule, Saginaw (Ward 5), enumeration district (ED) 181, sheet 5B, dwelling 119, family 126, George A. Walhier household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com/search : accessed 12 Feb 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T625, roll 793.

In 1930, George (age 58) and Ida (age 56) Walhier were still living at 424 10th Street in Saginaw with son, Clarence J. (age 35). This time, there was a granddaughter, Alice Curry, living with them! This must be Ervin and Alma's daughter. She was age 11, suggesting a birth date of 1918-19. She was born in Michigan, as were both of her parents. Again, where in the world were Ervin and Alma?

1930 U.S. census, Saginaw County, Michigan, population schedule, Saginaw (Ward 6), enumeration district (ED) 32, sheet 19A, dwelling 448, family 481, George Walhier household; digital images, Ancestry.com (http://www.ancestry.com/search : accessed 12 Feb 2009); citing National Archives and Records Administration microfilm T626, roll 1022.

At this point, I thought that maybe Ervin and Alma had died prior to 1930, since Alice was living with Alma's parents. However, the Saginaw Public Libraries has a wonderful obituary and cemetery database at their website. In the obituary index, I found an entry for John E. Curry, married to Alma Walhier, born 20 Oct 1886 in Sanilac County, and died 19 Feb 1950 in Saginaw County. I also found Alma Margaret (Walhier) Curry, married to John E., born 11 Jun 1896 in Saginaw, and died 3 Jun 1966 in Saginaw. They were both buried at Forest Lawn Cemetery, though the cemetery database said there was no marker for either of them. The library offers a free obituary lookup service, so now I am waiting for their obituaries. Perhaps their obituaries will provide clues to other children and where they lived in 1920 and 1930.

In summary:

18 Oct 1885 - Ervin is born in Maple Valley, Sanilac, Michigan, to Alexander and Mary E. Currie, both of Canada.

Jun 1900 - Ervin, age 14, is living with his parents and younger brother, Archie, in Flynn Township, Sanilac, Michigan.

Apr 1910 - Ervin, age 24, is living with Donald Campbell in Flynn Township. He is working as a farm laborer for Donald.

Jun 1917 - Ervin, age 31, is living at 634 N. Second in Saginaw, Saginaw, Michigan, where he registered for the WWI Draft. He is working as an ironworker at a foundry in Saginaw.

25 Dec 1917 - Ervin, age 32, marries Alma Walhier in Saginaw.

1918-1919 - Daughter, Alice Currie, is born.

Apr 1930 - Ervin's daughter, Alice, is living with Alma's parents, George and Ida Walhier, in Saginaw.

19 Feb 1950 - Ervin dies of chronic myocarditis in Saginaw County.

21 Feb 1950 - Ervin is buried in Forest Lawn Cemetery in Saginaw, with no marker.

TO-DO LIST FOR ERVIN:

1. Analyze obituaries of Ervin and Alma, as well as her parents, for clues about other children and relatives, as well as other places lived.

2. Order death records for Ervin and Alma from the Saginaw County Clerk.

3. Continue to search for Ervin and Alma in the 1920 and 1930 U.S. Census.