HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
WILLIAM ALEXANDER CURRY
BIOGRAPHY and GENEALOGY
(1842-1901)
Bullock County, Alabam
William Alexander Curry, planter, and merchant was born in Union Springs, Bullock County, Alabama, Oct. 15, 1842. He died there Oct. 1, 1901. Mr. Curry was the son of John C. Curry, a pioneer planter, who was born in Fayetteville, Cumberland County, N. C, and moved to Union Springs in 1838, becoming there a prosperous farmer, a patriotic citizen, and a ruling elder in the Bethel Presbyterian church of Bullock county, and holding this latter position until his death in 1844.
He was a son of Angus Curry, a native of Scotland, who moved to Fayetteville, N. C.
The mother of William A. and Barbara (Macbeth) Curry, was the daughter of William Macbeth, a Scotchman by birth, a Presbyterian elder and a resident, after coming to America, first of Fayetteville, N. C., and afterward of Bullock County, Alabama.
William Alexander Curry was educated in the “old field school.” After years he satisfied the ambition of his youth to own the tract of land on which the schoolhouse stood. When eighteen years old, in March 1862, young Curry enlisted as a private in Company E, Forty-fifth Alabama infantry, Hardee’s corps, Cleburne’s division, Lampley commanding, and fought bravely until the close of the war. During his three years of service in the Confederate army, he missed only twenty-nine days from roll call, and that was caused by a wound in the foot, received in battle. Although disabled by a wound which would have been to most men excuse enough to leave the army, he continued to perform all the duties of a soldier. Even after leaving the army the old wound continued to pain him, and during all the rest of his life, he had to wear a rubber bandage to support the wounded ankle. A brother. Walter Curry, who served in the same command, was killed in the battle of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.
After the war, Mr. Curry returned to Bullock county and became a successful planter. He was a Democrat, active and efficient, although he never aspired to hold office. He was a Master Mason. He was not a member of any church, but he was a generous contributor to the Presbyterian church and to charity.
He married Artie Mecia Cottingham, daughter of Thomas Harley and Martha Elizabeth (Bledsoe) Cottingham, who lived near Union Springs. There known children were:
- Walter Harley Curry, born Jan. 11, 1885;
- Martha Belle Curry, born Jan. 24, 1891,
- John Cottingham Curry, born Sept. 20, 1894
- William Alexander Curry born Jan 19, 1884 – Oct. 6, 1885
Mrs. Curry, who resided with her children in Union Springs, Alabama, is a descendant of the Bledsoe family, which was distinguished in several wars. Her mother was the daughter of Budd and Rhoda (Gorman) Bledsoe, natives of South Carolina, who settled in Chambers County, Alabama, in 1834.
Budd Bledsoe gained distinction as an Indian fighter during the Creek war of 1836, and subsequently was a member of Colonel Jessup’s command, which escorted the Indians from Alabama to the Indian Territory. He was the son of John and Sarah (Beckham) Bledsoe, of Edgefield, S. C. John Bledsoe, with his brothers, Bartlett Bledsoe and Anthony Bledsoe, served under Gen. Francis Marion during the Revolution.
William Alexander Curry is buried at Oak Hill Cemetery, Union Springs, Bullock County, Alabama.
SOURCES
- Notable Men of Alabama: Personal and Genealogical, Volume 1 edited by Joel Campbell DuBose
- Find A Grave Memorial# 110337746 # 110337638 # 110337589# 110337371# 110337523# 110337711 # 110337830
