Christian Curie

Christian Curie

The subject of this sketch has seen more than the allotted number of years, and has during the most part of that time engaged in active work on his farm, which has well repaid him and has been to him the source of much pleasure. He has always found much pleasure in farming and the cultivation of crops and caring for stock, and has found that they are as profitable in a monetary way as any occupation could well be expected to be. In his life he has also gained for himself many friends, who have been attracted by his worth and capabilities.

Christian Curie, who is number among the leading farmers of Spencer township, DeKalb county, Indiana, was born in the state of Ohio, on November 9, 1842, and is the son of Nicholas and Barbara (Klopfenstein) Curie, both of whom were native of France. Nicholas Curie made the overland trip from Syracuse, New York to Wayne county, Ohio, of which he was one of the pioneer settlers, and there the family net with misfortune by the death of the mother of typhoid fever, four of the subject’s aunts also dying of the same disease at that time and all within twenty days. At that time there were no cemeteries in that part of the country and the bodies were all interred on a part of the farm which was set apart for that purpose. There was no doctor in that county then, and no lumber to make coffins with, so they split out plank and fastened them together with wooden pins. Only one man had any tools, he living about fifteen miles away, so they took the split plank to his place and there made the coffin. To Nicholas and Barbara Curie were born the following children: Mrs. Barbara Crupt, deceased; Nicholas, who lives in Ohio; Peter and Jacob, deceased; Christian, the immediate subject of this sketch; John, deceased; Mrs. Lida Worth, deceased, and Joseph, who lives in Ohio.

The subject of this sketch received his education in the common school, and in 1865 came to the Hoosier state, with which he has been identified continually since. For several years he was engaged in teaching school in Allen county and then moved on to a fine farm of one hundred acres in Spencer township, DeKalb county, which he now occupies. On this farm was located the first school established in DeKalb county, the teacher of which was Rev. Alton, who was paid by the patrons of the school helping him to cut the timber and clear apart of his land. Mr. curie’s farm is well improved in every way and the soil is maintained at the highest point of fertility due to the careful management of Mr. Curie, who rotates the crops properly and otherwise conserves the original resources of the land as far as possible. He raises a general line of crops and also gives attention to stock raising, in both of which lines he has met with most pronounced success. He is now numbered among the substantial men of his community.

Christian Curie was married on March 29, 1861, to Katherine Royer, the daughter of Gabriel and Annie (Conrad) Royer, natives of Pennsylvania. To this union were born the following children: William, of St. Joe; Mrs. Laura Whaley, who lives in Kansas; Mrs. Amanda Klopfenstein, of Grabill, Allen county, Indiana; Mrs. Emma Skilling, of Baltimore, Maryland; Mrs. Orline Koch, of St. Joe; Morris of St. Joe, who was a member of Company K, One Hundred and Fifty-seventh Regiment Indiana National Guard; Frank, of St. Joe; Mrs. Maude Beanns of Spencerville, this county; Mrs. Annie Henderson, who lives in Michigan; Gover, who lives in St. Joe and who, for four years, was in the United States navy, being assigned to the battle ship “Iowa,” where he acquired a reputation as the best marksman, having secured first prize for first enlistment men. He handled heavy ordnance, including twelve- inch guns.

Politically, Mr. Curie is a stanch Democrat and in his church relations is a member of the Brethren church. He is a man of fine personal qualities, genial disposition and enjoys the confidence of all who know him.