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Oran Lillard Curry

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Oran Lillard Curry

Birth
Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky, USA
Death
15 Feb 1903 (aged 40)
Ouray, Uintah County, Utah, USA
Burial
Maeser, Uintah County, Utah, USA Add to Map
Memorial ID
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CURRY'S BODY IN VERNAL

Vernal, Utah, February 17:

The body of Oran Curry arrived here last night for burial. He leaves a wife and 3 children who reside in Vernal, Utah. Ill health and strained circumstances are assigned as the cause of his suicide.

*****

A BULLET ENDS ALL

In a moment of Despondency, Orin Curry Takes his own Life:

Early Monday morning, word came over the telephone that Orin L Curry had killed himself Sunday afternoon at his brother's house at Ouray.

The remains were brought to Vernal Monday by L W Curry, L Woodard, C W Forsyth and Mr Starke. The funeral services were held at the State House Tuesday at 12 o'clock under the direction of Bishop David. Warren Johnson and R S Collett were the speakers.

A coroners request was deemed unnecessary but Tuesday morning a preliminary investigation was made by Justice J R Wales, County Attorney O'Donnell and County Physician Rose. Three witnesses were examined, L W Curry, C W Forsythe and Mr Starke, the evidence being substantially as follows:

Saturday evening, February 11th, Orin armed at Ouray from the galsonite mines. His ears were bully frosted and swollen and he claimed to have left the mine Thursday and being unable to follow the road on account of the drifting snow, got lost and that night stopped in a deserted cabin which he afterward learned was only 12 miles from Ouray. He wandered around the next day and finally determined to camp in the desert and turn his horse loose in the hope that some one would find it and follow the track back to where he was, but towards evening, he met a sheep herder who took him in to Camp # 2 which was 30 miles up White River from Ouray.

Saturday morning, he met some Indians and went with them to Ouray.

Sunday, about 1 o'clock, he, his brother and Mr Forsythe were in the house adjoining the store and L W Curry and Forsythe were playing cribbage to see who would get a bucket of water from the river and finally, they both went for the water.

When they left the house, Oren was sitting in the rocking chair and appeared rather gloomy. The water was about 300 yards from the house and they state they were gone about 5 minutes.

When they returned, he was still sitting on the chair, his right hand holding a revolver in his lap, blood running from a bullet hole behind the right ear and he was breathing his last.

The revolver, a 22 caliber smokeless Colt, belonged to Mr Forsythe and was left in an adjoining room. There were two other revolvers in the room but he had evidently got up and got Mr Forsythe's revolver from the adjoining room and sat down in the rocking chair again before he shot. No one heard the report, although there were some Indians close to the house and Mr Waugh, the clerk, was in the store close to the house.

It is thought the revolver was pressed tight against the back of the head which smothered the report, the bullet entered about an inch behind the right ear and did not come out.

He has been working at the White River mines for a year past and we are told was discouraged with the work and indicated to some of the boys that he was going to try to get his brother to start him in business. He was working on the windlass and not being strong, was afraid he would let the bucket full and hurt someone, and therefore asked for a transfer to other work.

Oran L Curry was born in Harrisburg, Kentucky on November 11, 1862 where his mother and brother are now living. He came to Ouray as a post Trader seventeen years ago. He was married almost 5 years ago and leaves a wife and 2 small boys to mourn his untimely end.

*****

Found in the 1870 census at Harrodsburg Post office; Precinct 5, Mercer, Kentucky: M F Curry 36, M F 27, Lewis 9, Oran 7, Daniel 5


Found in the 1900 census at Vernal, Uintah, Utah: Allen W Davis 58, Matilda 48, Albert L 27 , Frank E 21, Florence B 18, Iva C 15, Guy A 8, Oran L Curry 36 (b November 1863 Kentucky, son in law, married 2 years, day laborer), Matilda Maud Curry 25, Marvel Lay 2 (says he is a grandson but was female, b August 1897), Oran E Curry 5 mos (grandson b December 1899, Utah), George M Robinson 83 (father in law, miller), Matilda Robinson 75 (mother in law)

CURRY'S BODY IN VERNAL

Vernal, Utah, February 17:

The body of Oran Curry arrived here last night for burial. He leaves a wife and 3 children who reside in Vernal, Utah. Ill health and strained circumstances are assigned as the cause of his suicide.

*****

A BULLET ENDS ALL

In a moment of Despondency, Orin Curry Takes his own Life:

Early Monday morning, word came over the telephone that Orin L Curry had killed himself Sunday afternoon at his brother's house at Ouray.

The remains were brought to Vernal Monday by L W Curry, L Woodard, C W Forsyth and Mr Starke. The funeral services were held at the State House Tuesday at 12 o'clock under the direction of Bishop David. Warren Johnson and R S Collett were the speakers.

A coroners request was deemed unnecessary but Tuesday morning a preliminary investigation was made by Justice J R Wales, County Attorney O'Donnell and County Physician Rose. Three witnesses were examined, L W Curry, C W Forsythe and Mr Starke, the evidence being substantially as follows:

Saturday evening, February 11th, Orin armed at Ouray from the galsonite mines. His ears were bully frosted and swollen and he claimed to have left the mine Thursday and being unable to follow the road on account of the drifting snow, got lost and that night stopped in a deserted cabin which he afterward learned was only 12 miles from Ouray. He wandered around the next day and finally determined to camp in the desert and turn his horse loose in the hope that some one would find it and follow the track back to where he was, but towards evening, he met a sheep herder who took him in to Camp # 2 which was 30 miles up White River from Ouray.

Saturday morning, he met some Indians and went with them to Ouray.

Sunday, about 1 o'clock, he, his brother and Mr Forsythe were in the house adjoining the store and L W Curry and Forsythe were playing cribbage to see who would get a bucket of water from the river and finally, they both went for the water.

When they left the house, Oren was sitting in the rocking chair and appeared rather gloomy. The water was about 300 yards from the house and they state they were gone about 5 minutes.

When they returned, he was still sitting on the chair, his right hand holding a revolver in his lap, blood running from a bullet hole behind the right ear and he was breathing his last.

The revolver, a 22 caliber smokeless Colt, belonged to Mr Forsythe and was left in an adjoining room. There were two other revolvers in the room but he had evidently got up and got Mr Forsythe's revolver from the adjoining room and sat down in the rocking chair again before he shot. No one heard the report, although there were some Indians close to the house and Mr Waugh, the clerk, was in the store close to the house.

It is thought the revolver was pressed tight against the back of the head which smothered the report, the bullet entered about an inch behind the right ear and did not come out.

He has been working at the White River mines for a year past and we are told was discouraged with the work and indicated to some of the boys that he was going to try to get his brother to start him in business. He was working on the windlass and not being strong, was afraid he would let the bucket full and hurt someone, and therefore asked for a transfer to other work.

Oran L Curry was born in Harrisburg, Kentucky on November 11, 1862 where his mother and brother are now living. He came to Ouray as a post Trader seventeen years ago. He was married almost 5 years ago and leaves a wife and 2 small boys to mourn his untimely end.

*****

Found in the 1870 census at Harrodsburg Post office; Precinct 5, Mercer, Kentucky: M F Curry 36, M F 27, Lewis 9, Oran 7, Daniel 5


Found in the 1900 census at Vernal, Uintah, Utah: Allen W Davis 58, Matilda 48, Albert L 27 , Frank E 21, Florence B 18, Iva C 15, Guy A 8, Oran L Curry 36 (b November 1863 Kentucky, son in law, married 2 years, day laborer), Matilda Maud Curry 25, Marvel Lay 2 (says he is a grandson but was female, b August 1897), Oran E Curry 5 mos (grandson b December 1899, Utah), George M Robinson 83 (father in law, miller), Matilda Robinson 75 (mother in law)


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