Madison-Perry County AlArchives Biographies.....Curry, Burwell J. 1836 - 
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Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 20, 2011, 7:07 pm

Source: See below
Author: Smith & De Land, publishers

  BURWELL J. CURRY is a distinguished son of Alabama, who has won fame by
inventions that are destined to be of incalculable value to the cotton-growing
States.

  His father, Jabez Curry, was of Scotch-Irish descent, and a native of Georgia,
where his father, a Revolutionary soldier, had settled at an early day. He came
to Alabama in 1823, settling in Perry County, where he was one of the largest
planters of that section. He died in 1869. The mother of our subject was Rebecca
Jordan, of English and French origin; she was a descendant of Lord Burwell, who
settled a colony in Virginia, and also of the Dupree family, early settlers in
Virginia. She died in 1874.

  Burwell J. Curry, our subject, was born in Perry County. Ala., in 1836. He
received a liberal education, first under a private tutor, and two years with
Professor Tutwiler, of Green Springs. In his fourteenth year he entered the
sophomore class of the University of Alabama, where he pursued his studies two
years, going thence to the University of Virginia, where he remained two years.

  He commenced his business life in Mobile, and was also engaged in planting in
Perry County prior to the war. He entered the army with a captain's commission,
with authority to raise an independent troop of cavalry—used for special service
and scouting. After the battle of Perryville he was retired from active service
on account of disability, and served as post quartermaster, at Marion, Ala.,
until the close of the conflict.

  Subsequent to the war he was engaged in merchandising and cotton dealing, also
planting in Hale and Marengo Counties, and in January, 1868, became a resident
of Madison County, where he purchased a large plantation.

  He accepted a lucrative position as general Southern manager for an insurance
company, and was connected with them until 1874, when he resumed the management
of his plantation.

  Possessed of superior mechanical ideas, and being a practical machinist, he
soon evolved the idea of perfecting machinery which would solve in a great
measure the economic question of how to raise cotton profitably. This he has
done, beyond peradventure, in inventing the Curry Cotton Cultivating Machine,
which has lately been placed upon the market, and has met with unbounded favor.

  Mr. Curry removed to Huntsville in 1881, and commenced manufacturing and
experimenting with his different inventions, spending a large private fortune in
perfecting them, until he has finally achieved well-deserved success. His
inventions are thus briefly described:

  The Curry Cotton Cultivator and Chopper, with its suitable attachments, may be
used to fallow or broadcast the land, for bedding for cotton, corn, or other
drilled crops. In one single action the machine forms the bed, opens the drills,
sows and covers the seed, in perfect order; also a device for distributing
fertilizers may be attached, which, with the work as above described, will save
the labor of at least ten men and mules, as compared with the old method.

  In chopping cotton the machine executes the work of from twelve to fifteen
men, cutting out the young plants with uniformity, and imparting a thorough
surface cultivation; and can be used for the cultivation of cotton, corn,
sugar-cane, pea* and potatoes, etc. The machine is a marvel of mechanical skill,
one of the greatest labor-saving implements that can be used by agriculturists,
and is meeting with large sales.

  The Curry Cotton Compress.—The first working model was constructed and erected
by Captain Curry at Huntsville, in the fall of 1885. This machine, although
crudely made, when tested demonstrated the success of Captain Curry's theory, as
bales of cotton of 500 lb weight upon this experimental machine were compressed
to a density of twenty-four pounds to the cubic foot; soon thereafter a company
was organized to manufacture the compresses, and a contract was made with W. P.
Calahan & Co., of Dayton, Ohio, in December. 1886. The first working machine was
erected at Huntsville, and there thoroughly tested in compressing several
thousand bales of the crop of 1886. It was then sold to Landman & Co., cotton
buyers of Huntsville, Ala., and has been coutinuously operated by them, and has
stood the severest tests, meeting every requirement of railroads and export
shippers. Other presses of this pattern, but greatly improved in material and
construction have been erected by the Curry Press Company at Holly Springs and
Florence. The average density of bales compressed by these machines is
twenty-eight pounds to the cubic foot. The presses, from their efficiency,
durability and cheapness in cost and great economy in expense of operating, have
attracted great interest toward them. These presses cost about one-fourth the
price of the steam compresses now in use, and will run ten hours, consuming only
about one ton of coal.

  Captain Curry has also invented a Portable Hay Press, which is remarkable for
its simplicity and efficiency. This press is portable, of light draft, can be
traveled through the meadow between the winrows or shocks of hay, making bales
as it goes. The power is attached to and is a part of this machine, and
therefore, unlike other portable hay presses, does not require to be set up in
the field, but travels through to its work. Captain Curry is also the inventor
and patentee of fruit (cider and wine) presses, tobacco and cheese presses, and
of several other mechanical appliances.

  Captain Curry was married March 9, 1865, to Miss Bettie Hammond, daughter of
Judge F. L. Hammond, of Huntsville.

  Two children have been born to them: F. L. Hammond Curry and Anna Lamar Curry.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

Northern Alabama: Historical and Biographical
Birmingham, Ala.: Smith and De Land
1888

PART IV.
MONOGRAPHS OF THE PRINCIPAL CITIES AND TOWNS IN NORTHERN AND CENTRAL ALABAMA,
TOGETHER WITH BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES OF MANY OF THEIR REPRESENTATIVE PEOPLE.


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