Thomas C. McCurdy

     Thomas was born on Tuesday, 17 March 1818 at Path Valley, Metal Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of James McCurdy I and Elizabeth Taylor. The 1840 U.S. Federal Census enumerates the family of Thomas McCurdy Cooke [00002:0001]. Listed below Thomas was a Jabez Cooke. [page 138] Thomas married Susan Vassar in 1844 at Ohio. Thomas, at about 4 years, moved from Path Valley, Pennsylvania to be raised on a farm in Liberty Township, Crawford County, Ohio. He and Susan got married in Ohio and about 1850, removed their family to settle in Fulton County, Illinois. Prior to 1860, the family moved to Henderson County, Illinois. In 1883, the family moved to Williamsburg, Franklin County, Kansas. Thomas & Susan had twelve children. They had one adopted daughter Ella who was born in 1876. Thomas lived without his hearing for many years. 12 November 1850, Thomas and his wife, Susan, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census at Buckhart Township, Fulton County, Illinois. Enumerated in this household were Thomas McCurdy [32 Pennsylvania], Susan [22 Missouri], John W. [5 Ohio], James Z. [3 Ohio], Peter F. [1 Ohio].¹ 5 June 1860, Thomas and his wife, Susan, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census at Henderson County, Illinois. Enumerated in this household were Thos. C. McCurdy [42 Pennsylvania], Susan [32 Kentucky], John W. [15 Ohio], James T. [13 Ohio], Phillip F. [11 Ohio], Mary [9 Illinois], George [3 Illinois], Henry Boughman [23 Illinois - farm hand].² 7 June 1870, Thomas and his wife, Susan, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census at Henderson County, Illinois. Enumerated in this household were Thomas C. McCurdy [52 Pennsylvania], Susan [32 Kentucky], John [24 Ohio], James [23 Ohio], Franklin [21 Ohio], George [13 Illinois], Margaret [3 Illinois], Newborn [male] [1 month Illinois].³ 1 June 1880, Thomas and his wife, Susan, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census at Keithburg, Mercer County, Illinois. Enumerated in this household were Thos. McCurdy [62 Pennsylvania], Susan [52 Kentucky], George [23 Illinois], Maggie [13 Illinois], Robert [10 Illinois].⁴ 1 March 1885, Thomas and his wife, [ROF:Kansas State] were listed on the Kansas State Census. Enumerated in this household were Thos. C. McCurdy [67 Pennsylvania], Susan [57 Kentucky], Magie [18 Illinois], Ela [9 Illinois], Rob [15 Illinois]. Thomas departed this life on Sunday, 4 July 1897 at Williamsburg, Franklin County, Kansas., at age 79 years, 3 months and 17 days.

Obituary: Thomas C. McCurdy was born in Franklin County, PA March 17, 1818. While yet a boy he moved with his parents to Crawford Co., Ohio, living there a few years they thence came to Fulton Co., Illinois, then moved to Henderson Co., Illinois where he resided for some twenty years. Some ---teen years ago, he came to Kansas and lived in Williamsburg until death on the 4th of July 1897, our nations birthday, closed his earthly career.
For about forty years, has been a faithful Christian. He was married in 1844 to Susan Vassar, who died November 2, 1891. They were the parents of twelve children, five of whom still survive, three sons two daughters, and while the death of their devoted father is to them a great loss, they must remember it is all gain to him.
The deceased had been deprived of his hearing for a number of years and while his affliction debarred him from much of the pleasure of conversation and music, both of which was much admired by him, yet he uncomplainingly endured the privation.
As a father, he was highly tender hearted and affectionate - in quality of character not so common as the wants of childhood nature deserves. As a citizen, he was benevolent, cheerful, and obliging. His congenial spirit was to those who knew it best like a refreshing rain, or the dawning of a cloudless daybreak after a stormy night. These happy endowments by nature and strengthened by grace, were to him pillars of support during his failing health and intense suffering. His knowledge and love of the bible and his promises were to him "a pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night". Hence, he could say "These light afflictions which endure but for a moment as compared to eternity shall work out for me a few more exceeding an eternal wait of glory"... - Williamsburg Star, 9 July 1897]

Thomas was laid to rest in the Mount Hope Cemetery, Williamsburg, Franklin County, Kansas, in the northwest section, row 4.⁵