CURFMAN FAMILIES.

[TWO FAMILIES: J. W. Curfman and Josiah H. Curfman.]

J. W. CURFMAN.

He is written about in the 1901 Biographic sketches of Cowley County. He came to Cowley County in 1871.

[1871...???] PAGE 141.

J. W. CURFMAN, farmer, resided in Fairview Township, Cowley County, Kansas, was a self-made man, having supported himself since early manhood. He had a farm of 160 acres, consisting of the southwest quarter of section 26, in Fairview Township, where he lived the rest of his life after his arrival in 1871.

Mr. Curfman was born December 13, 1838, in Bedford County, Pennsylvania. His parents were Isaac and Mary (Horton) Curfman.

Isaac Curfman was born in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, where he lived for several years, and whence he moved to Bedford County. His wife was also a native of Huntingdon County. She bore him children, namely: McKendry, who died at the age of two years; Josiah H.; J. W., the subject of this biography; Oliver, a miner in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania; Catherine; Margaret; Mahala, deceased; Susie; and Clarissa, the wife of Samuel David, a farmer living in Rock Township, Cowley County.

J. W. Curfman lived at home until 1870, when, in company with his brother, Josiah H. Curfman, he located in Chase County, Kansas. They had raised but one crop when they decided to settle in Cowley County, which they did one year later. J. W. Curfman located on his present farm, where he raised mostly wheat, corn, and oats. His brother bought 160 acres of land, the northeast quarter of section 34, in Fairview Township.

J. W. Curfman's first dwelling on his farm was one built by him. It was a house, 12 by 16 feet in size, and into it he moved his family and began his farming in the West. He made many improvements on the farm.

J. W. Curfman was united in marriage with Elizabeth Park January 20, 1862. She was born in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. Her father, Joseph Park, was a farmer.

Mr. and Mrs. Curfman had the following children.

1. M. E. Curfman, a farmer and stock raiser, Day County, Oklahoma.

2. Mary Bell, deceased, who was the wife of Michael Mitchell.

3. Joseph Oscar Curfman, who married Stella Knox, and in 1901 assisted his father in the management of the homestead.

4. Myrtle Curfman, who married William H. White, a farmer of Fairview Township.

5. Lulu Curfman, residing at home.

Mr. Curfman was a member of the school board for several years. He and his wife attended the Methodist church.

[MARCH 1871] PAGE 155.

JOSIAH H. CURFMAN (BROTHER OF J. W. CURFMAN)...

THERE WAS A PHOTO: MR. AND MRS. JOSIAH H. CURFMAN.

JOSIAH H. CURFMAN, a highly respected and well known farmer of Fairview Township, Cowley County, Kansas, and a man of splendid business ability, high principle, and strict integrity, is one of the most progressive citizens of the county. He resided on 160 acres of land, consisting of the northeast quarter of section 34. At one time he also owned 160 acres in section 35. He was born February 11, 1837, near Cassville, Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, and is a son of Isaac and Mary (Horton) Curfman.

His great-grandfather was born in Germany, and came to this country prior to the Revolutionary War, settling in the eastern part of Pennsylvania. There John Curfman, his grandfather, was born. who moved to Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, when that county was first being settled. He located on a tract of wild land, which he converted into fertile farming fields. He was a very prosperous man, and accumulated considerable property. He married a Miss Bornet, by whom he had two children, Isaac and Christian. After the death of his first wife, he was married to Elizabeth Taylor, by whom he had two children, Adam and Susan. He was a consistent member of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Isaac Curfman, father of Josiah and J. W. Curfman, was a native of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, and a farmer by occupation. He married Mary Horton, whose parents were natives of Wales. When they came to this country, the first landed in New York City. They later moved to Virginia, and, still later, to Pennsylvania, where they became permanent residents. Mr. and Mrs. Curfman were the parents of the following children: Josiah H., the subject of this sketch; J. W., a record of whose life appears elsewhere in this volume; Catherine, the wife of E. H. Heeter. living in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania; Margaret, wife of Miles Queery, a farmer of the same county; Clarissa, who married Samuel David, a farmer of Rock Township, Cowley County, Kansas; Oliver, of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania; Susie (Pheasant), of the same county; and Mahala, deceased.

Josiah H. Curfman was mentally trained in the common schools of his native town, and also attended Cassville Seminary. He taught school for five years, after which he went, with his brother, to Chase County, Kansas, where he lived for one year. In March 1871 he took up 160 acres of government land--his present home--and bought lumber which he hauled from Cottonwood Falls, Kansas, and with which he built a rude house, 12 by 16 feet, in size. He also broke five acres of land which he began to cultivate, and in October, of the same year, settled his family on the farm. There were but few settlers in the county at that time, and the surrounding country was poorly improved. Mr. Curfman was a hard worker, and it was not long until his farm presented a neat and attractive appearance. He made many improvements through the years, and now has one of the best farms in the county. He bought 160 acres of section 35, Fairview County, in 1874--known as the Neely place--but later disposed of it. He raised wheat, corn, and oats. He also raised cattle and hogs. He has also raised a few horses for his own use.

Mr. Curfman was united in marrige October 7, 1859, to Elizabeth Taylor, of Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, a daughter of Abraham and Hannah Taylor. They had the following living children in 1901.

1. H. U. Curfman, who married Alberta White, and was a miller in the Baden Mills at Winfield, Kansas.

2. Mary Curfman, wife of J. A. Savage, a farmer and stock raiser, of Blackwell, Oklahoma.

3. Isaac Curfman, a farmer, Blackwell, Oklahoma, who married Luelta Ridgeway.

4. Albert T. Curfman, who married Lucy Stevenson, and managed his father's farm in 1901.

5. Frank Curfman, a farmer of Woodward County, Oklahoma, who married Ada Watson.