HARBIN WILBURN MCCURRY
'I am a Union Man'
Pro-slavery "bushwackers" burnt his home, killed his son and nearly blinded his infant daughter with fiery coals.
Harbin Wilburn McCurry had to be forced to join a Missouri state militia supporting the Union in the Civil War, but the blacksmith insisted his loyalties were always with the North.
(Courtesy)
(Courtesy)
"I am a Union Man & always have been," the 39-year-old husband and father wrote, underlining the words. "I am willing to take up arms in defense of the United States Govt."
Barack Obama's great-great-great grandfather had been arrested in Arkansas. McCurry said he was visiting a relative, but Union forces apparently thought he was fleeing to avoid serving the North.
McCurry was released on parole after he agreed to take an oath of loyalty to the Union, enroll in the militia and put up a $1,000 bond.
He survived his 78 days in the Enrolled Missouri Militia, but the war between the states took a bloody toll on his family, with pro-slavery bushwackers led by the homicidal and ruthless William Quantrill killing at least one of McCurry's sons and maiming his baby daughter.
The guerrillas killed Harbin's son, "and set fire to their home, throwing coals of fire in the face of the Baby lying on the bed," according to a handwritten account by Ada McCurry, one of Harbin's granddaughters."The burning took place when dad was 5 years old, but he remembered clearly as long as he lived," Ada McCurry wrote in the undated letter supplied by Leon McCurry, her first cousin once removed.
"The baby that was burned was their sister," Ada McCurry wrote. "Her eye was burned so she could never close it. She married and had two children. She died when the second one was born."
Not long after the attack on their family, Harbin Wilburn and Elizabeth Creekmore McCurry moved their family to Kansas and ultimately into Indian territory that later became Oklahoma. He died in 1899, and she in 1918.
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Harbin W. McCurry, 39 ran afoul of the Union in 1862 while traveling to Arkansas to bring his sister-in-law back to his home in Missouri.
He was arrested near a stage route in a wooded, hilly part of Arkanas, apparently suspected of fleeing to avoid serving in the Enrolled Missouri Militia, which was formed to fight Confederate guerrillas spreading terror and bloodshed across the Missouri countryside.
McCurry was taken in on a charge of "suspicious character" and released from prison 20 days later on parole after he agreed to take an oath of loyalty to the Union, enroll in the Missouri Militia and put up a $1,000 bond.
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"Nov. 11th 1862
"Statement of Harvey W. McCurry. Aged 39. I reside in Newton Co., Mo.
"I never belonged to the Rebel Army . . . I was arrested on the 28 Oct. 1862 abt 3 miles east of Cross Hollow in Ark. by the 1st Mo. Cavlry.
"I left home to go to below Van Buren Ark. to see my Brother's wife and take her to my home in Newton Co. Mo. On my way to Ark. I was taken sick and stayed at Robt Evads house in White River Washington Co. Ark. I stayed there some three weeks and then started back home.
"On my way back I was arrested at Cross Hollow as above stated. On my way back I avoided the Federal lines. I have taken the oath of allegiance to the U. States in July 12 at Granby, Newton Co., Mo. I have not enrolled in the militia. I was not able to join.
"I am a Union Man & always have been. I am willing to take up arms in defense of the United States Govt. I am willing to enroll in the Militia."
Signed: H.W. McCurry.
Source: Nov. 11, 1862 handwritten statement of Harbin "Harvey" W. McCurry to the Office of the Provost Marshal General. On file in Missouri State Archives
Excerpt from the oath he signed as a condition of his parole:
"I, Harbin W. McCurry, of Newton County, Missouri, aged 39 years, in consideration of being discharged from arrest do hereby declare and promise that I will not in any manner, or by any means, aid, encourage or promote the existing rebellion against the authority of the United States, or any attempt to subvert the existing Government of the State of Missouri, nor directly or indirectly furnish information, arms, money, provisions or any other commodity whatever to, or old communication with, any person or persons engaged in hostilities against the Government of the United States or the State of Missouri: all of which I declare and promise solemnly on my word of honor, knowing that for a breach of this parole I am liable to be tried by a Military Commission; and further, that I will report myself in person to the Provost Marshal General of the District of Missouri wherever and whenever he may so direct . . . . "
Signed: Harbin W. McCurry. Dec. 20, 1862.
Source: Parole agreement on file in Missouri State Archives
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Ada McCurry's undated handwritten account was salvaged by her first cousin once removed, Leon McCurry, 76, of Woodstock, Kansas, after Ada McCurry's death, at age 92, in 1987.
Most likely, the slain son she writes of was actually William Worth McCurry, the first-born, since Harbin and Elizabeth did not appear to have a son named Harbin Jr. Elsewhere in her letter, Ada McCurry recaps what happened to her aunts and uncles, writing: "Worth McCurry was killed by Quantrill's guerrillas while visiting at home."
The baby girl who was burned was apparently Sophronia McCurry, born around 1863. Some relatives say she was blinded in the attack.
"A story changes through the years," said Rae Janette McCurry Marshall, 77, a great-granddaughter of Harbin Wilburn and Elizabeth Creekmore McCurry who heard the story from several relatives. "That was the main thing probably, that Quantrill's Raiders had shot one of the boys -- the one who was left to take care of the baby when the parents went to town to get supplies."
Excerpts from Ada McMurry's account:
"Elizabeth Creekmore (Penn. Dutch). Harbin raised on White River, near Springfield, Mo. McCurrys came from Scotland to Carolina, then to Kentucky and on west to Missouri. Their home was on a hill north of Granby, Mo., where bushwackers killed Harbin Jr. and set fire to their home, throwing coals of fire in the face of the Baby lying on the bed. Young Harbin recognized the man and called him by name. Harbin said don't burn this house. And that's the reason they killed him.
"They came back in a day or two pretending sympathy, then asked Grandmother if she knew who killed her son. She told them no. If she had said yes, they would kill her and may be the rest of the family. Grandfather was away from home. After this happened, they moved away from Gramby [sic] to St. Joseph, Mo., and from there to Longton, Kansas, by covered wagon when dad was about 15. The burning took place when dad was 5 years old, but he remembered clearly as long as he lived.
"The baby that was burned was their sister. Her eye was burned so she could never close it. She married and had two children. She died when the second one was born. He was Ralph Dean . . . .
"Worth McCurry was killed by [William] Quantrill's guerrillas while visiting at home. Jake McCurry died away from home while working on the railroad.
"John McCurry had no children. Married at 54. Worked in the Gold rush in Alaska for 30 years then moved to Idaho and raised a large apple orchard. Ed McCurry had no family. He lived with his mother until her death. Then lived with Ralph Dean and Dan McCurry until his death."
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Bloody battles raged in Missouri and Kansas during the Civil War -- with reports of savagery by the pro-slavery side and by some of those who rose up to oppose the bushwackers.
It's unclear whether the pro-slavery guerrillas had any specific reason to target the McCurrys.
Descendant Leon Wilburn McCurry, 76, speculates that it might be because as Baptists his ancestors sided with Northern congregations in opposing slavery. But he said that, according to family lore he cannot verify, Harbin Wilburn McCurry once brought a slave home.
"He brought a slave home, and Elizabeth threatened to beat him to death if he didn't turn him lose," Leon McCurry said. "So he turned the slave loose, and the slave took the McCurry name. . . . I don't know if it was because she was against slavery, or he was black -- could have been both."
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"Uncle Harbin McCurry came here with our folks. He was a blacksmith, finally settled about 90 miles west of Joplin. He left 9 sons, all quiet and clean but one and he wasted his time trying to be wild, he is dead. But two of the boys, John and Arthur are in Washington State. Sam and Theo are farming near Loughton [Longton] Kan. Daniel and Albert are at Ada Ok. Sam is four days younger than I am and has a good farm. I think Dan farms and Albert is a contractor and builder. Three are dead."
From a letter written by Gabe Brown, a nephew of Harbin W. McCurry, in 1931, and transribed and supplied by Robert Mardock, husband of Mary Louise McCurry Mardock