Page County, Iowa: Franklin McCurdy

Biographical History of Page County, Iowa, 1890

[page 853] Franklin McCurdy is one of the prominent farmers of Buchanan Township. He was born April 10, 1834, in county Londonderry, Ireland, and is a son of Nanian McCurdy, a weaver by trade. He left the beautiful "Emerald Isle" when but fifteen years of age and emigrated to America; he landed in Philadelphia and afterward obtained work in an iron furnace in Lehigh County, Pennsylvnia. Before coming to this country he had followed the sea, and young as he was he was considered an able sailor. He worked in the iron furnace, the largest in the United States, for six months, and then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he learned the machinist's trade with the firm of Frank Bonsell & Co. At the end of one year he began running a stationary engine at Troy, Ohio, where he remained two years. At the end of this period he came to Iowa and settled in Page County. In 1859 Mr McCurdy was united in marriage to Miss Esther Seabolt, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Baker) Seabolt. Ten [page 854] children were born of this union: William M., Franklin M., John E., Robert J., Ada, Ida B., Ella, Mertie, E.S. and Ora K. Two years after his marriage Mr McCurdy settled on his present farm, then in a wild state, but now converted into a fine, fertile farm with excellent improvements. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a man who stands high in the community and merits the respect of all good citizens. William M. McCurdy married Emma Foster; John E. married Rena Wilson, and Robert J. married Nora Foster. William Seabolt, father of Mrs McCurdy, came from Tennessee to Page County in 1859 and managed a steam saw-mill for three years. He then removed to Nodaway County, Missouri, where he lived until his death. He was the family of ten children, five sons and five daughters: Jacob E., Lovell E., Bryant, Elihu, Edward, Allie, Priscilla, Eliza, Esther and Matilda. Franklin McCurdy, the subject of this sketch, is a self-made man, and by industry and economy he has become the owner of a fine homestead of 240 acres. He and his estimable wife have brought up their children to frugal habits and may well take pride in what they have accomplished.

Biographical History of Page County, Iowa, 1890

[page 853] Franklin McCurdy is one of the prominent farmers of Buchanan Township. He was born April 10, 1834, in county Londonderry, Ireland, and is a son of Nanian McCurdy, a weaver by trade. He left the beautiful "Emerald Isle" when but fifteen years of age and emigrated to America; he landed in Philadelphia and afterward obtained work in an iron furnace in Lehigh County, Pennsylvnia. Before coming to this country he had followed the sea, and young as he was he was considered an able sailor. He worked in the iron furnace, the largest in the United States, for six months, and then went to Cincinnati, Ohio, where he learned the machinist's trade with the firm of Frank Bonsell & Co. At the end of one year he began running a stationary engine at Troy, Ohio, where he remained two years. At the end of this period he came to Iowa and settled in Page County.

In 1859 Mr McCurdy was united in marriage to Miss Esther Seabolt, a daughter of William and Elizabeth (Baker) Seabolt. Ten [page 854] children were born of this union: William M., Franklin M., John E., Robert J., Ada, Ida B., Ella, Mertie, E.S. and Ora K. Two years after his marriage Mr McCurdy settled on his present farm, then in a wild state, but now converted into a fine, fertile farm with excellent improvements. In politics he affiliates with the Democratic party. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity, and is a man who stands high in the community and merits the respect of all good citizens. William M. McCurdy married Emma Foster; John E. married Rena Wilson, and Robert J. married Nora Foster. William Seabolt, father of Mrs McCurdy, came from Tennessee to Page County in 1859 and managed a steam saw-mill for three years. He then removed to Nodaway County, Missouri, where he lived until his death. He was the family of ten children, five sons and five daughters: Jacob E., Lovell E., Bryant, Elihu, Edward, Allie, Priscilla, Eliza, Esther and Matilda.

Franklin McCurdy, the subject of this sketch, is a self-made man, and by industry and economy he has become the owner of a fine homestead of 240 acres. He and his estimable wife have brought up their children to frugal habits and may well take pride in what they have accomplished.