Biographical Sketch of Elmer Dellwood Ellsworth McCurdy

This biosketch of Elmer was taken from the writings of Dr. Charles W. McCurdy of Philadelphia in the early 1900's.

Elmer Dellwood Ellsworth McCurdy (son of Aaron McCurdy and Rebecca Kinkade) was born near Marietta, Ohio April 10, 1863. As he grew into boyhood he became sadly afflicted with epileptic fits which deprived him from attending school regular; therefore, he received a very limited education.

His mother dying in 1879, he left home a year later and went to Atlantic City, NJ and there became man-of-all-work with Lee s Ethoscope Combination. He travelled with him through the south. In 1882, he became Stage Manager of the Gem Theatre in Baltimore, and in 1883 of Winters Summer Garden. In 1884 he became Assistant Advance Agent for Teddy O Neil s Circus; and quit the show business in the spring of 1885. He entered it again in 1887 at Beaver Falls, PA touring with John McCready s Stock Company through the east and Canada.

He married first Rebecca J. Bradin of Jackson County, WV, to which one son was born: Harry Ellsworth. His second wife was Louisa Hamilton, the daughter of George and Martha (Harwood) Hamilton and granddaughter of Robert and Mary (Willison) Hamilton and of John and Polly (Hamilton) Harwood; all of Allegheny County, Maryland. In 1890, Mr. McCurdy located near Dunbar, PA where on July 15, 1890, two children (twins) were born to them both dying within a year. George Amelian McCurdy died March 7, 1891. Laurelian Akevia McCurdy died Oct. 7, 1890.

Mrs. McCurdy being in poor health, they took a traveling tour thru the mountain districts of North and South Carolina, Kentucky, Georgia and Tennessee, finally locating in Rutherford County, NC [1894] where Mr. McCurdy engaged in farming. In 1897 he removed to Fayette County, WV. In 1900, they returned to Maryland and located near the town of Westernport, his present residence.

In 1902, he engaged with Emil Neffen as clerk in the hardware trade at Piedmont, WVA, resigning in 1907 to attend to other pressing duties. They had one child, Maggie Ola, born Dec. 7, 1902.

In the preparation of this history, Mr. McCurdy has shown rare patience, persistency, and skill in correspondence which has extended over several years to all parts of the world in gathering the voluminous data herein presented. The unraveling of genealogical tangles, the ferreting out of correct lineages and the sifting and arranging of so much information necessitated some rare qualities of the mind. For all this labor of love, every bearer of the McCurdy name is truly grateful.

Provided by Betty Latta Kitchen -- e-mail: Betty Kitchen

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