The venerable Judge William Curry has been a resident of Preble County since 1808, and of Eaton since 1824. He was the son of Matthew Curry, of Scotch-Irish descent, and was born in Bedford county, Pennsylvania, May 9, 1792. His father removed to Campbell county, Kentucky, in the spring of 1796, and died in Cincinnati two years later, at the age of thirty-three years, leaving a widow and two children, of whom the subject of this biography was the eldest. When sixteen years of age young Curry removed to Butler county, Ohio, and there learned the tanner's trade, which he carried on for thirty-six years. Very soon afterward he removed to Preble county, and located in Jackson township, where he entered a piece of land. He was a soldier in the War of 1812, and served a portion of his time under General William Henry Harrison. In June, 1813, he married Sarah Van Ausdal, a sister of Cornelius Van Ausdal, and began housekeeping in the rude cabin which he had erected on his land, moving into it when it had no chimney or door, a blanket being hung up in the door space, and another over the window opening. In the spring of 1824 he removed to Eaton and erected a tannery, which he operated until 1844, when he sold out. He was also engaged for several years in the pork trade in Hamilton, but retained his residence in Eaton. In addition to various local offices which he filled, such as justice of the peace, mayor of Eaton, etc. Judge Curry was one of the petitioners for the charter of the Eaton & Hamilton railroad, and after the organization served as one of the directors, and also as a treasurer. From 1836 to 1844 he was one of the associate or "side" judges for the court of common pleas of Preble county. He was chosen to the general assembly of the State of Ohio in 1845 and represented the county in that body for one term. In 1850 he was appointed a deputy marshal of Ohio, and filled that office for several years.

Judge Curry ahs been a consistent member of the Presbyterian church for a great number of years, and for more than a quarter of a century has been honored with the office of elder. He has been twice elected a delegate to the general assembly of the denomination he is connected with -- in 1855 to Nashville, and in 1866 to St. Louis. Politically, Judge Curry's affiliations were with the Whig party, and when the Republican organization was ushered into being he became naturally one of its warm adherents, and has ever since taken a keen interest in its progress, though engaging in no active work as a politician. Judge Curry is now in his eighty-ninth year, and has been for seventy-two years a resident of Preble county, and for fifty-six a citizen of Eaton. Few men in the county are more widely known in this part of the State, and none more favorably. His long life shows a record without stain. His character is absolutely unblemished; and ignoring the fact that he has not been lavishly favored by fortune, that he has not attained great fame so eagerly sought for by men, and too often recklessly, and without a proper regard for higher things, ignoring these facts we can say what is obvious to all who know the man, that his career, viewed in the best light, has been a true success. Beginning life as a poor, fatherless boy, he pushed ahead fearlessly, always obeying the call of duty, in little things as well as large, laboring earnestly and conscientiously at whatever his hand found to do, "running with patience the race set before him." His sterling qualities have made him hosts of friends; in fact converted every acquaintance into an admirer, and even those who may have differed with him in matters of opinion could not fail to accord him respect for his always evident sincerity and the positiveness of his character, which sometimes has made him seem severe, though it has only been the complement of a complete and catholic charity. Judge Curry's wife died April 29, 1870. Their children are Mrs. Josiah Campbell and Mrs. Maria Smith of Eaton, and James H. Curry, of Alexandria, Preble county.

John Curry, born in Pennsylvania in 1804, emigrated to Preble county in 1814, and settled in Jefferson township. In 1832 he married Miss Nancy Ann Brinley, who was born in New Jersey in 1808. Their five children are all living -- James H. William L. Achsah, Jane, wife of Alexander Barr, of Jefferson township; John P., of Dixon township; and Sylvester B. of Dayton.

Mrs. John Curry lives in section twenty-six, where her husband died.

William L. Curry was born in 1839, in section twenty-six, of Jefferson township. In 1872 he married Sarah R. Duffield.

James Curry was born in Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania, in 1782. His wife, Martha Lindsey, born in 1775, died in 1844. In 1811 they came to Ohio and settle din Jefferson township, section twenty-six. He died in 1834. They had eight children, of whom three are living: Elizabeth, wife of Andrew McKee, lives in section fifteen, Jefferson township; Sarah Curry, resides in Gettysburgh, this township, Margaret, who resides in Iowa with her brother-in-law, Andrew Wolf, and Martha; Martha, born after her sister Martha's death; Jane and John are dead, who were born in Gettysburgh, this county in 1848.

In 1866 Mr. Curry was commissioned postmaster of Gettysburg, and remained in that office for ten years. Mr. Curry has one hundred and thirty acres of land, located in sections twenty-five and thirty-six of Jefferson township.

John McKee, born in Pennsylvania in 1778, emigrated to Preble county, Ohio in 1822, and settled in section fourteen of Jefferson township, where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred in 1846. His wife Margaret CURRY, was born in Pennsylvania in 1775, and died in 1829. She was the mother of eight children, of whom are sill living James, William, Josiah, and Margaret, widow of Joseph Bilbee.

William McKee was born in Westmoreland county Pennsylvania, in 1810, and came to Ohio in 1822 with his parents. He married Nancy Jane CURRY in 1855. She was born in 1830. Her parents, John and Catharine CURRY settled in this county in 1814, and are both dead. Mr. McKee is the father of ten children, of whom seven are living. He owns eighty acres of land situated in section twenty-four.

Andrew McKee was born in 1802 and in 1834 married Miss Elizabeth CURRY, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1807. In 1822, he emigrated to this county with his parents. He died in 1870. Four children, al living, have been born to them. Mrs. McKee owns one hundred and thirty-seven acres of land located in section fifteen.

Daniel W. Harshman, county commissioner, was born in Jefferson township in 1826; he was married in 1851 to Mary Jane CURRY, who died in 1876 at the age of forty-seven.

The Gettysburgh cemetery was started as soon as the church was organized. The first person buried therein was Robert CURRY, who died in 1816. This cemetery contains the ashes of most of the settlers of the part of the township in which it is situated. Herein are buried James Norris, John CURRY, William Thomas, Elder Rufus Harvey, John McCord, David A. Wehrly, James Melling, J.S. Preble, Alexander Barr, and many others whose graves are unmarked.