Monroe County FlArchives Biographies.....Curry, William 1821 - 1896 ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/flfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 June 27, 2010, 11:50 am Source: See below Author: See below William Curry Key West is not only one of the most prosperous cities in Florida, but it enjoys the distinction of being the farthest south of any city in the United States. Only sixty miles from the tropical line, directly in the path of the northeast trade winds, with the Gulf Stream only a dozen miles distant, the climate is most salubrious and healthful. In the early days, settlers in Key West almost invariably came by way of the Bahamas, and today even the larger part of the population are either natives or descendants of the natives of the islands; and as a natural result, the architecture of the city is more West Indian, than American in style. It would be insufficient to say that the Bahamas have been a factor in the growth and development of Key West, for, as a matter of fact, it is no exaggeration to say that they have made Key West what it is, and have been a dominant factor in the development of that whole section of the State. Most prominent of all of Key West citizens of past or present and most influential in building up the city was William Curry, who, for over sixty years, was not only the leading merchant of Key West, but of all South Florida. Coming to Key West in his youth, he started as a clerk, and when he retired after over forty years of a phenomenally successful career, his sons stepped into the management of the great interests he had built up, and with the enterprise of youth, have developed and enlarged these, established new industries, and more than maintained the splendid reputation which he left them as a heritage. Mr. Curry was a native of Green Turtle Key, one of the Bahama Islands, and was born Sept. 11, 1821. He was of Irish descent, and his parents were Benjamin and Martha Curry. On March 3, 1837, he reached Key West which was then an unimportant village of fishermen and wreckers. He at first received employment as a clerk with the merchandising firm of Weever and Baldwin, who were in business on Wall Street. He continued with this concern about eighteen months, when they went out of business. He then went to work in the office of the United States Quarter-Master. During the Seminole Indian War he spent four years afloat with the fleet under Commander McLaughlin, and upon returning from this service, began clerking for William H. Wall. About 1843, he formed a firm in which he, and G. L. Bowne and another were partners. The third partner retired at the end of two years, and in 1845 the firm of Bowne and Curry was established, and during the succeeding years built up an immense business in merchandising, wrecking and shipbuilding. Captain John Lowe became interested with the firm in the Lavinia, a wrecking schooner, which proved a most profitable investment. They were largely engaged for many years in the salvage of wrecks along the coasts and keys, and did a big business in furnishing vessel supplies and family stores for those interested in the shipping business. The firm also became shipbuilders as well as owners, and among others built the Stephen R. Mallory at a cost of $80,000, the pilot boats G. L. Bowne and Euphemia, and at the same time owned, or were largely interested in a number of sloops and schooners. Their vessels were all well built, of the finest materials, and by the best workmen, as Mr. Curry would never consider anything but the best in building either ships or houses. The firm met with quite a reverse in 1846, when their stores and a large stock of merchandise were destroyed by a gale, but their resources were such that they immediately purchased a larger site on Front and Simonton Streets, where, with more lands and ample wharfage, they erected a much larger store and warehouses, and continued their business on a larger scale than ever before. The firm of Bowne and Curry was dissolved in 1861, when Mr. Bowne retired on account of ill-health, and sold all his interests to Mr. Curry. The latter continued the business in his own name, and enlarged and developed it so that when he retired he was not only the most prominent business man in Key West, but in all South Florida. He was succeeded by the firm of Wm. Curry's Sons, the members of the firm being Charles (since deceased), George H. (since deceased), Milton W. Curry, and Captain Martin L. Hellings, a son-in-law. Some idea of the immense interests of this firm may be gained from the following quotations: "They have already established extensive new enterprises. A large ship railway and dock for building and repairing vessels, the largest ice manufacturing plant in southern Florida, an electric light plant of sufficient power to supply the city, and other projects of equal magnitude, exemplify their progressiveness and public enterprise. Their storehouses, docks, and factories cover several acres of ground, and employment is given to scores of men. Their business is all systematized and each department has its head. Their ice manufacturing plant is designed to meet local demands, and the convenience of the great shipping interests concentrated here. Large quantities of ice are carried by those engaged in the export of fresh fish to Havana. A cold storage establishment is attached to the ice plant. Their extensive electric plant is adequate to furnish motive power for manufacturing and domestic purposes, aside from illumination. Their long lines of wharves, at which scores of vessels are daily loading and unloading, present a continually busy scene. The fish market, too, is located on their docks, where an almost incredible amount of fish is offered. The great warehouses are filled with one of the greatest stocks of ship chandlery, hardware, and general merchandise, to be found in Florida. This firm also owns the large brick bonded warehouses in which thousands of bales of Havana tobacco are stored; and buildings of like proportions are held in reserve for the storage of wrecked cargoes, which are periodically brought into this port. The firm is universally conceded a leading place among the great leading business firms of the peninsula, and under the present admirable management its prestige is likely to be maintained for many years to come." This is the firm that Mr. Curry established, and had the satisfaction of seeing continued in a manner in which he approved. One of the happiest occasions of his life was the celebration Sept. 11, 1894, of the golden anniversary of his marriage to Euphemia Lowe. Mr. and Mrs. Curry on this occasion not only received the congratulations of their many friends, but made a feature of a dinner to their children, and grand-children. Everyone was presented with a souvenir of the memorable day, and no one enjoyed it more than the venerable couple, who had for half a century been faithful and loving companions. Even then, Mr. Curry was in failing health, and on Jan. 23, 1896, he passed into the beyond. He was held in the greatest esteem in Key West, and business was practically suspended on the day of his funeral. All Key West mourned, for it was realized that there had passed one whose life had been devoted to the good of his fellow-men, and whose service in the building of the city was beyond all estimate, and while the business interests that he had conceived and fostered remained, they were less influential in reminding the public of his greatness and goodness than the memory of his kindness and geniality which lingers like sweet incense in the spiritual atmosphere of all who knew him. Additional Comments: Extracted from: FLORIDA EDITION MAKERS OF AMERICA AN HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL WORK BY AN ABLE CORPS OF WRITERS VOL. II. Published under the patronage of The Florida Historical Society, Jacksonville, Florida ADVISORY BOARD: HON. W. D. BLOXHAM COL. FRANK HARRIS HON. R. W. DAVIS SEN. H. H. MCCREARY HON. F. P. FLEMING W. F. STOVALL C. A. CHOATE, SECRETARY 1909 A. B. CALDWELL ATLANTA, GA. Photo: http://www.usgwarchives.net/fl/monroe/photos/bios/curry106gbs.jpg File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/fl/monroe/bios/curry106gbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/flfiles/ File size: 8.6 Kb