Favorite Photo 2/52

 The second prompt for the 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge is "Favorite Photo".  Below is one of my favorite photos.  It is of my younger sister, Amanda Jolene Curran, my great-grandmother Troy Waller Bussey, and myself.  I love how we are all smiling.  

I love that I had the chance to be with my great-grandmother when I was a child, I know that everyone is not afforded that opportunity.  I remember spending the night with her and her taking me on the bus in Atlanta.  I remember the smell of bacon and eggs cooking and biscuits baking in the morning when I stayed with her. I remember her telling me stories about people in our family.  I remember her hugging me and letting me sit in the chair with her.  I'm so blessed to have these wonderful memories.  

#28 of 52...Lewis Wade Curran

My great grandfather's name was Lewis Wade Curran, SR.  I did not have the chance to meet him but I've seen many photos of him.

Lewis Wade Curran was born 12 November 1903, Walker, Wood County, West Virginia to John and Elizabeth (Martin) Curran.  His other siblings were:

1). John W. Curran (1886-1962)
2). Clara Ellen Curran (1888-1954)
3). Margaret Curran (1889-     )
4). Charles Terence Curran (1891-1918)
5). Laura Esther Curran (1893-1975)
6). Thomas James Curran (1896-1934)
7). Nora Victoria Curran (1898-1976)
8). Cora May Curran (1900-1969)
9). Miner O Curran (1901-1992)
10). Lewis Wade Curran SR (1903-1972) **my great grandfather
11). Alice Florence Curran (1906-1999)
12). Letha I. Curran (1908-1983)
13). Ralph E. Curran (1911-1930)

Lewis Wade married Letha Hazel Marlow, daughter of George Monroe and Bertha May (Day) Marlow 12 August 1922 in Parkersburg, Wood County, West Virginia.  Lewis and Letha had the following children.

1). Leonard Leroy Curran (1922-1922)
2). Paul Edward Curran (1924-2002)
3). Homer Carl Curran (1925-2001)
4). Lewis Wade Curran JR "June" (living)
5). Russell C Curran (1930-2005)
6). Donald Vearl Curran (living) **my Papaw
7). Hazel Marie Curran (1936-2013)

Lewis and Letha were married for just short of 50 years.  He was a farmer and also worked as a Flagman for the State Road Commission.

Lewis and Letha Curran
Copy of snapshot in possession of Donald V. Curran

#23 of 52...John Curran

John Curran was my great great grandfather.  He was born 8 Sep 1856 in Athens, Ohio.  We are not sure why his family was in Ohio at that time, but it is assumed they were there for work.  His parents were Terrence Curran and Margaret McManus.  Terrence and Margaret had the following children:

1). Ellen "Nelie" Curran (1852-1932)
2). Mary A. Curran (1854-abt 1935)
3). John M. Curran (1856-1921) ***my great great grandfather
4). Catherine Curran (1858-1942)
5). Thomas Jacob (1860-)
6). Hugh Francis Curran (1862-1864)
7). William S. Curran (1864-1940)
8). Edward Curran (1866-1939)

John M. Curran
photo taken of large framed photo owned by Donald V. Curran, my grandfather.

John M. Curran (I wonder if his middle initial was for McManus?  I've only ever seen the M and I'm not even sure where I saw that) married Elizabeth Ella Martin 13 Dec 1886 in Wood County, West Virginia.
They had the following known children.

1). John W. Curran (1886-1962)
2). Clara "Clarie" Ellen Curran (1888-1954)
3). Margaret "Maggie" Curran (1889-unknown)
4). Charles Terence Curran (1891-1918)
5). Laura "Laurie" Esther Curran (1893-1975)
6). Thomas James Curran (1896-1934)
7). Nora "Norie" Victoria Curran (1898-1976)
8). Cora "Cory" May Curan (1900-1969)
19).  Miner O. Curran (1901-1992)
10). Lewis Wade Curran SR (1903-1972) **my great grandfather
11). Alice Florence Curran (1906-1999)
12). Letha I. Curran (1908-1983)
13). Ralph E. Curran (1911-1990)

John M. Curran was a farmer and a father.  As you can see, he and Ella, as she was called, had 13 children.  He passed away at the age of 65.  His obit speaks of kidney problems, but his death certificate indicates that he died of prostate cancer.

#15 of 52...Letha Hazel Marlow

Letha Hazel Marlow is my great grandmother.  She is my Papaw on my paternal side's mother.
I've always liked the name Letha and if we were to have another daughter I would have championed for her name to include Letha; alas though there will be no more babies for me.

Letha Hazel Marlow was born 1 April 1905 in Walker, Wood County, West Virginia to George Monroe Marlow and Bertha May Day. Her known siblings are:

1). Carl Edward Marlow (1906-1976)
2). Cecil Hardwick Marlow (1909-1984)
3). Infant son Marlow (1912-1912)
4). Justine Marlow (1918-1961)

Letha married Lewis Wade Curran 12 Aug 1922 in Parkersburg, Wood County, West Virginia. Lewis had a sister named Letha Curran and she married Letha Marlow's brother Carl Marlow!  So Letha Marlow became Letha Curran and Letha Curran became Letha Marlow and each couples children became double first cousins!

Letha Hazel Marlow and Lewis Wade Curran had the following known children:

1). Leonard Leroy Curran (1922-1922) stillborn
2). Paul Edward Curran (1924-2002)
3). Homer Carl Curran (1925-2001)
4). Lewis Wade Curran JR (still living)
5). Russell C. Curran (1930-2005)
6). Donald Vearl Curran (still living) **this is my Papaw
7). Hazel Marie Curran (1936-2013)

As you can see Letha was a strong woman!  She was the mother to five living boys and one daughter.  Can you imagine all those boys running about?  And then that baby girl?

Grandma Curran, as she is called by our family, had the opportunity to see me when I was but a wee little one.  I do not recall her at all, but they said they took me up to see her in West Virginia.  She passed away 29 Sep 1979; I had just turned 2 years old 11 days prior.  She was 74 years old.  I wish I would have had a chance to get to know her.

#1 of 52: Terence Curran

Ancestor #1  Terence Curran

Terence Curran is the reason I started doing genealogy in the first place (well of course after the fact that my teacher asked us to make a small family tree).  Terence is one of my immigrant ancestors as well as one of my brick walls. I was fascinated by this man that passed down the Curran name that was my maiden last name.  I felt a connection to Ireland because of the knowledge that he was born there.  Below is what I  know about my 3rd Great Grandfather.

Terence Curran was born about 1828 in Ireland.  He married Margaret McManus daughter of John and Mary McManus.  Margaret was born in either Maryland or Pennsylvania July 1827.  Her parents, John and Mary were from Ireland.

Terence and Margaret's first known child Ellen (Nellie) was born 1852 in Ritchie County, Virginia.  I have not located Terence's immigration information.  The earliest I have reliably found him in the United States is 1851-1852 based on his daughter's birth.  I have not been able to determine when or where he and Margaret were married or how they managed to meet one another.  He is in the 1860 Census with Margaret and the children.  I have found a Terence Curran living in Cairo, IL in 1850 that is approximately the right age and working on the railroad, but I cannot verify that he is indeed my Terence.

Terence and Margaret had the following eight children:

Ellen (Nellie) (1852-1932)
Mary A Curran (1854-  )
John M. Curran (1856-1921)  *my direct ancestor
Catherine Curran (1858-1942)
Thomas J Curran (1860-  )
Hugh Francis Curran (1862-1864)
William S Curran (1864-1940)
Edward Curran (1866-1939)

Terence first worked on the railroad (1860 Census) and then settled into farming (1870 Census) in Walker Township, Wood County, West Virginia.  They were Catholic and attended mass at a mission church in Walker called The Church of the Holy Angels.  Both Terence and Margaret are buried in the cemetery where this mission church was located.  It's hidden away, up a trail and not maintained.  Terence died Aug 1890.  I have not been able to locate his death record.

I have seen the following derivatives of his name:
Terrance
Terence
Terrence
Terry
Curran
Curren
Currans
Currance
Kerns
Kern

Wordless Wednesday...Christmas Past

I know it's a week after Christmas, but I just now was able to get these uploaded and wanted to share them.  I don't know the specific year, my daddy and grandparents can fill me in later.  I took these scans when I was back in Georgia over the summer.  These feature my daddy, Kenneth Curran, and his parents, Alice Bussey Curran and Donald V. Curran.

Kenneth and Alice Curran

Kenneth and Donald Curran
Looks like someone called their name and snapped a photo.  So cute

Check out all the vintage toys!  The little gun and holster, the tractor, the wagon, the train and cars.  Awesome haul, little Kenneth!

What a handsome little man!  Kenneth Curran

Wordless Wednesday...Curran's in Ireland

Curran's Fish and Chips in Ennistymon, County Clare, Ireland

Curran's Pharmacy in Ennistymon, County Clare, Ireland

We took a trip to Ireland in 2013 for Spring Break.  While there we visited County Clare (I believe my Curran ancestors may, possibly be from there).  I took the above photos in the town of Ennistymon.  It was fun seeing my (maiden) last name up there on those businesses.  Someday I hope to find out where my Curran ancestor, Terence Curran, actually came from.

Veteran's Day...Remembering the Veterans in our Family Tree.

I'm proud of the long history of military service that my family contains.  I'm listing below the direct line members of my combined tree that I have discovered that served in the military.  There are likely many more that I am not aware of as well as uncles and cousins.  As I learn more I will add their names here.

I'm starting first with recent service since I have photos of these.  Then starting with the Revolutionary War and working forward.  Thank you for all your hard work and sacrifice!

Presently in the Military

LT Cody Schaal, US Navy,  my husband
formerly US Air Force

Elmer Jack Laycox, US Army and then US Air Force; Cody's grandfather

John C Schaal, US Army (my father-in-law)

Donald V. Curran, US Army (my grandfather)

Revolutionary War

James Todd Livingston (1754-1812) 5th Great Grandfather

Samuel Whatley (1762-1826) 5th Great Grandfather

John Niswanger  (1729-1788) 6th Great Grandfather

Richard Tennant (1744-1823) 6th Great Grandfather

Peter Haught SR (circa 1720-post 1810) 7th Great Grandfather

Thomas Forshey (circa 1751-1836) 6th Great Grandfather

Martin Dial (1744-1844) 6th Great Grandfather

John Ephriam Mayo (1759-1842) 6th Great Grandfather

Civil War

David R. Laycock (1826-) Husband's 3rd Great Grandfather {TN}

Philip Schaal (1825-1866) Husband's 3rd Great Grandfather {Missouri, USA} 

Levi (Doc) Marlow (1830-1907) 3rd Great Grandfather (VA)

Thomas J Bussey (1818-1908) 3rd Great Grandfather (GA)

William Lewis Thomason (1835-1912) 3rd Great Grandfather (GA)

John Fields Chapman (abt 1841-1905) 3rd Great Grandfather (GA)

John Edgar Allen (abt 1833-?) 3rd Great Grandfather (GA)

World War 1

John Colvin Bussey (1892-1976) Great Grandfather 

Wordless Wednesday...Curran Style

Lewis Wade Curran, SR (1903-1972) and Letha Hazel Marlow Curran (1905-1979)
My great grandparents
Copy of photo in possession of Donald V. Curran