William Curry: A Dedicated County Clerk in Times of War

 

William Curry served as the county clerk of Pocahontas County, West Virginia, during the Civil War. He is noted for his actions to protect the county records from the upheaval of the war.

• When the Civil War began in 1861, William Curry, realizing the danger posed to the county's important documents, moved them to a place he deemed safe from potential conflict.
• He initially relocated the records to the residence of Joel Hill in the Little Levels.
• The records remained at Hill's home until January 1862, when Curry, growing concerned for their safety as the war progressed, decided to move them again.
• This time, he took the records to Covington, Virginia.
• Upon arriving in Covington, the county court arranged for temporary storage in the Allegheny County Courthouse.
• From there, they were moved to the storehouse belonging to Captain William Scott.
• In September 1863, as General Averill's command approached Covington, Curry, determined to keep the records out of harm's way, moved them once again.
• He first transported the records to the home of William Clark. Later, during this tumultuous period, Curry also temporarily hid the records in a stack of buckwheat straw for three weeks when the Union army came to Covington. He was assisted by R. W. Hill, who transported the records by wagon.
• Eventually, the records were taken to the relative safety of Covington and housed in the county clerk's office there for a few weeks.
• After the war ended in 1865, Curry, with the help of John B. Kinnison, returned the records to Joel Hill's residence using a three-horse team.
• They stayed there for a month before being relocated to a nearby house owned by the Reverend Mitchell D. Dunlap.
• Finally, in November 1865, the records were returned to their rightful place in the Hillsboro courthouse, signifying a return to normalcy after the war's disruption.

William Curry's actions in safeguarding the county records throughout the Civil War demonstrate his dedication to his duties and highlight the importance of preserving vital documents even amidst conflict. His efforts ensure that Pocahontas County's history and legal records remained intact for future generations.

In addition to his role as county clerk, the sources provide a few other details about William Curry:

• Family Connections: A William Curry, potentially the same individual, is mentioned in relation to the Curry family history in Pocahontas County. He is listed as the son of Sarah Auldridge and the late J. Harvey Curry, residents near Frost, West Virginia. This William Curry is said to have moved to Missouri. Further research may be needed to confirm if this is the same William Curry who served as county clerk.
• Business Trip: A Howard Junior Curry, possibly a descendant, returned from a business trip to Front Royal, Virginia, in July 1936. This information suggests that the Curry family continued to reside in the area after the Civil War.

While the sources primarily focus on William Curry's efforts to protect the county records during the war, his dedication to his role and the additional glimpses into his life offer a valuable insight into the challenges faced by local officials and residents during this turbulent period in American history.