Howard Cromartie Currie was born 6/12/1851; died 4/20/1887.
He was not quite 36 at the time of his death. I do not know the cause of death, but in a letter 3 months prior, he says that he has a cold and is out working, spending the night in a tent in a cane break and it is very cold; ice in the river like he has never seen before. This was somewhere in Arkansas. Another obituary in the family bible says that he died of congestion of the brain.
He left a wife and 5 children. Two of the girls and his wife died within the next 5 years; the third girl; when she was 22, leaving only his two sons, my grandfather, William Cromartie Currie, Sr., (12/2/1885 - 8/3/1957), and his brother, Gardner David Currie, (6/4/1876 - 12/20/1941), to survive, marry and have only one son each
He was the first child and the only son of our Hester and W. C. Currie
(This obituary is in Aunt Annie's scrap book. The writing above it is surely hers. She was 26 when he died. Howard was her brother. He was my great grandfather.)
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"Sandy Schmitz who runs the Carroll parish site sent this. She has been
incredibly helpful to us so be sure and thank her. Her site has a lot of
info on it.
http://www.cswnet.com/~sschmitz/"
The following information was sent by Sandy Schmitz to Leta Currie Marshall
Mr. Howe Currie of the 1st Ward and Mr. S. H. Mobberly of the 2nd Ward, were in
town on Monday in attendance on the School Board. October 23, 1886
The campaign committee appointed by the chairman of the Railroad Association of
the parish of East Carroll consists of the following: 1st Ward—H. C. Currie,
Robert Nicholson, and Buck Prentis. October 23, 1886
DIED.—It is with true sorrow we announce the death of one of the most worthy
citizens of East Carroll, Mr. Howard C. Currie. Mr. Currie was a native of the
parish and had just arrived at that age when man may be said to be in the prime
of life. Energetic, industrious and honest as a man and citizen true and
reliable as a friend, and kind and devoted as a husband and father. He was
respected and loved by all who knew him well. East Carroll has had taken
from
her one of her best citizens his friends a true and trusty
companion
and his wife and little ones have suffered an irreparable
loss.
We extend to his bereaved family our deepest sympathy and
commend
them to the consoling care and keeping of a kind Providence,
who
though He has seen fit (probably for some wise purpose best known
to
Himself) to take from them their truest and best friend and their
prop
and support, will not allow them to suffer if they put their
thrust
in
Him. April 23, 1887
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On March 12, 1874, Howard married Lucy Jane Lynch, (10/29/1855 - 1/22/1892)
She, as well as their 3 daughters (I think), are buried in Lone Tree
Cemetery, Stuttgart, AK, in the Lynch burial plot.
Poem to his wife
1887 Letter to his mother
Together, Howard and Lucy Jane Lynch Currie had the following children:
William
Howard Currie He only lived 6 hours.
Gardner David Currie
Mary Lynch Currie
Lorruhamah Alexander Currie
Helen C. Currie (nothing entered yet)
William Cromartie Currie, Sr.
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This letter was written by my great grandfather, Howard Cromartie Currie, (6/12/1851 - 4/20/1887), three months before he died. He is writing to his mother, Hester Ann Selser Richards Currie, (2/2/1820 - 6/10/1909); to his wife, Lucy Jane Lynch Currie, (10/29/1855 - 1/22/1892); and to his daughters, Mary Lynch Currie, (1/16/1878 - ?/?/1900), and Lorenhamah A. Currie, (9/1/1880 - 9/28/1888).
(Patricia M. Currie - June 28, 2001)
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Arkansas City
Jan. 8th 1887
My Dear Wife and Mother,
Your letters with Mamies
letter enclosed came to hand
yesterday and I was very glad to
hear that you were all well. I
was beginning to be very anxious
about you all but really did
not expect to hear from home
until tomorrow as it takes so
long to get a letter.. but the
Mail Boat landed at the
Camp as she was going up
and Mr. Goodrich and myself
got the Mail Agent to
open the mail and each of
us received a letter. We are
now in Camp four miles
below the City.. last night was
our first night in Camp
(end Page one)
and it was not very comfort-
able and I had a good deal
of fun out of Henry.. as he
is not used to any thing of
the kind. He was nearly
ready to move back to Town
this morning. We both have
very bad colds. Mine is much
better than when I wrote last
week and I hope soon to be
entirely well of mine but
the weather is very changable
it snowed two days and was froze
hard for two or three days and then
yesterday it warmed up some.
I never saw as much ice
in my life as there was in
the River here for two days
the Boats had to lay up
here they could not run to
Memphis. But it has nearly
quit runing that is the ice
(end page two)
Well I recon when this reaches
you, you will be all upside
down with every thing moving
and getting moved and fixed up.
I wish I could step in and stay
with you all until Monday
morning. But it is most too far
to step. Kiss all the children
for me and tell them that Papa
never goes to sleep without
thinking of each one of them..
give my love to all the family
and tell Silas that I think of him
might often and to do every thing
just right as Jimmie wishes.
Well I will say good by to you
my Darling Wife as I want to write a
little to the Babies.
Your Loving Husband,
Howard
Henry sends Respects to all
(end page 3)
Misses Mamie and Loruh Currie
My Dear little daughters
I received your dear little letters
yesterday and it made Papa's
heart glad all over to get a
letter from his two little
girls. I hope you both had
a good nice time at Mrs.
Irwins. I would like to have been
home to go with you.. what
has become of Buddie that
he could not write or say
something in Mama's letter.
I am out in the cane break to-
night in a tent and it is
might cold. Tell Miss Helen
it will be her time next.
from Your Loving Father
Howard C. Currie
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(Cousin Pat's note: Mamie, (Mary Lynch Currie), was nine years old and Loruh, (Lorrenhamah A. Currie), was seven, when their father wrote this letter. Helen C. Currie was four years old. Helen died when she was five; Loruh, when she was ten; and Mamie when she was twenty-two. His two sons: Gardner David Currie, Sr.(6/4/1876 - 12/20/1941), and my grandfather, William Cromartie Currie, Sr. (12/3/1885 - 8/3/1957) both had one child each; my father, William Cromartie Currie, Jr. and Gardner David Currie, Jr.)(William Howard Currie,(4/24/1875 - 4/24/1875), his first child, lived only 6 hours.)
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