Biographies - Elmira Township

David Currier was born in Caledonia County, Vt., January 3, 1816. His father, Asa Currier, (son of David and Elizabeth (Peabody) Currier, natives of Massachusetts) was born in the same county April 1, 1790. Asa married Miss Sally Willy in Vermont, and resided there until 1838, when they came to Elmira Township, purchased a claim of 160 acres of land here, on which he resided a few years.

Moving to Osceola Township, he purchased a second tract, and was engaged in farming there until his death, March 18, 1808. His wife died March 1,1873. Asa was the second son of David Currier, and one of a family of eight children, namely: Jonathan, Asa, David, Joseph, Betsy, Sarah, Abigail and Victoria.

Prior to his migration to Illinois he supported his family, learned shoemaking, but during his life here he devoted all his attention to farming. David, the subject of this sketch, received a common school education in his native state, and worked on the farm for a number of years.

He migrated westward in 1830, and arrived at Peoria, October 14, that year.

On January 20, 1837, he came to this township (township 14, range 6, Putnam County) and took up a claim of 100 acres, the same on which he now resides.

In 1839 he married Miss Rebecca J., daughter of William and Agnes Parks, natives of Virginia, Washington County, who settled here before this time. To this union seven children were born, of whom three are living—William P. and Martha B., residing here, and Oliver B. (Currier) married Rebecca Olive Barlow, who lives at Blandville, McDonough County. The mother of these children died January 5, 1855, and in May, 1857, Mr. Currier married Miss Caroline K. Pattridge, daughter of Joseph and Catherine (Willard) Pattridge, natives of and married in New Hampshire, moved to Caledonia County, Vt., and thence to Osceola Township, in 1864, where Mrs. Pattridge died in February, 1865, and her husband in September, IS73.

Mr. Currier served on the first grand jury ever called in this county, has filled several township offices, is a member of the American Presbyterian church, and in politics a Douglas Democrat. He is the owner of 385 acres of fertile land in this township, and for half a century one of the foremost farmers of the county.