John Walsh Curtin

     

John Walsh Curtin was born in May 1865 at Dromin, Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland. Joseph Lieberman writes: John Walsh Curtin was born in 1845 on his family's dairy farm in Dromin, a rural section of Listowel, County Kerry, Ireland. His mother, Ann Walsh, was raised on a neighboring farm and, as her name indicates, was a descendant of Welsh ancestors who were shipped to Ireland centuries ago. The English army of occupation mistakenly believed the Celtic Welsh would somehow have a pacifying influence of their Celtic kindred, the rebellious Irish.

Ann and her husband, Charles Curtin senior, both died of an infectious disease on the same day in 1881. They left nine orphans, four girls and five boys, ranging in age from 7 to 27. Denis, the oldest studying for the priesthood, had to leave the seminary and return home to run the farm. When he married and began raising his own family, all of his siblings migrated to America.

All of the Curtin daughters settled in New York City: Mary (Mrs Martin Flavin), Catherine (Mrs. Thomas O'Conner), Margaret and Bridget, who unmarried, lived with their bachelor brother, Judge Charles Curtin, in Greenwich Village and on his farm in Nyack, NY. Maggie kept house and Bee clerked at a department store. A brother Cornelius, may also have come to New York, but for some mysterious reason, John Curtin's children never heard any mention of him. Cousins in Ireland have no idea what became of Cornelius.

Like his brothers, John Walsh Curtin had been educated at Saint Michaels's College in Listowel, really a college preparatory high school. It included Latin, Greek, music, as well as advanced science and math in its curriculum. When the young Curtin men arrived in the United States, they were as well educated as most American college graduates. Consequently, Charles was readily admitted to law school and William Henry to medical school, afterwards specializing in treating consumptives in Saint Louis where he raised his family.^1,2

John Walsh Curtin married Elizabeth Grady, daughter of Thomas Grady and Ellen McNamara, circa 1893 at Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Joseph Lieberman: Ellen Grady still had her milk shop late in the 1880's when her teenage daughter, Elizabeth, was delivering milk to the mansion of P.J. Ferguson, the richest man in Shenandoah. He lived on White Street where Irish doctors, lawyers, bankers, brewers and businessmen lived congenially, socially accepted among some of the town's most affluent Protestant families. John Walsh Curtin, an immigrant newly arrived from County Kerry, Ireland, was staying with his first cousin, Mary Agnes O'Connor, Ferguson's wife. At the first sight the stunning, black-Irish beauty, he announced to his host that someday he would woo her and wed the girl.^3,1

John Walsh Curtin was enumerated with Ellen McNamara on the census of 11 June 1900 at Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, as John Curtin. John is a 35 year old white male born May 1865 in Ireland. He immigrated in 1884 and works as a clerk. He is indicated as a son in law to Ellen Grady and has been married for 7 years. Both of his parents were born in Ireland.⁴

John Walsh Curtin is head of household on the census of 25 April 1910 at Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, as John W. Curtain. John is a white male 44 years old and has been married for 17 years, He was born in Ireland as were both his parents. He works as a bookkeeper. Enumerated with him were Ellen McNamara, Thomas J. Curtin, Charles Curtin, Evelyn Curtin, Anna Curtin, Mary Curtin, Margaret Curtin, Elizabeth Grady, John Curtin and Elizabeth Curtin.⁵

John Walsh Curtin is head of household on the census of 22 January 1920 at Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, as John Curtin. John is enumerated as a 52 year old white male born in Ireland. He immigrated in 1887 and was naturalized in 1905. He works as a clerk in a loan office. Both of his parents were born in Ireland. Enumerated with him were Evelyn Curtin, Thomas J. Curtin, Charles Curtin, Mary Curtin, Margaret Curtin, Elizabeth Curtin, John Curtin, Ellen McNamara and Elizabeth Grady.⁶

John Walsh Curtin is head of household on the census of 9 April 1930 at Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, as John Curtin. John is enumerated as a 59 year old white male born in Pennsylvania. The value of his home is $6,000. His mother and father were born in the Irish Free State. He was 26 years old at his first marriage He is employed as an agent for a real estate company. Enumerated with him were Margaret Curtin, John Curtin, Elizabeth Curtin and Elizabeth Grady.⁷

John Walsh Curtin died in 1932 at Shenandoah, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; Joseph Lieberman writes: John, who died in 1932, went on to be a community activist in Shenandoah where he and Lizzie raised and educated their eight children, Ann, Evelyn, Charles, Thomas, Mary, Margaret, Elizabeth and John. He was treasurer of the Columbia Brewery of which he was part owner along with his wife's relatives. At the same time, he ran his own insurance agency. Only seven years after he married, John Curtin was already successful enough in business that he moved his wife, his children and his mother-in-law from the working class First Ward, where Ellen ran her milk store, to an upscale house on White Street.

"The finest, kindest gentleman the world has ever know." Grandmother Grady said of her son-in-law.¹