Family of
Daniel Curran [DS.4]
and Elizabeth Payne

Photograph of Daniel Curran [DS.4] and Family in 1897

The photograph above was taken in Chicago on 25 July 1897. It shows Daniel Curran [DS.4], his wife Elizabeth Payne Curran, their nine surviving children, and the spouses of seven of the children.

There is probably as much information in the photograph as there would be in anything written about this family. I hope that it will serve as a reminder to readers that later generations will treasure such photographs. I urge every reader to make an archival photograph of their own family and to hunt for historical photographs.

The handwritten note in the lower right corner seems to say

P.E.Rupp Photo
3516 Indiana

The occupation listed below was the occupation in 1897.

Top row (standing), from left to right:
Daniel Curran [DS.4.8] (5 Aug 1877- c. 1930), sold cigars
George Curran [DS.4.3] (14 Apr 1865-29 Mar 1949), coal & ice man
Kate Ryan (Curran) [DS.4.3S1] (George Curran's first wife)
Mary Jane "Mollie" Curran (Harper) [DS.4.6] (20 Sep 1870-31 Jan 1947) m. Ed Harper
Edward Napoleon Harper [DS.4.6S] (1 Aug 1867-25 Aug 1933), bridge tender.
Sarah Curran (McClevey) [DS.4.1] (23 Jul 1862-6 Apr 1938)
Mollie Finan (Curran) [DS.4.5S1] (18 Mar 1872-14 Feb 1918)
Tom Curran [DS.4.5] (18 Nov 1868-12 Nov 1928), saloon keeper.
Ellen "Nell" Curran (Harper) [DS.4.2] (9 Dec 1863-17 Mar 1933) m. William Harper
James Curran [DS.4.7] (3 Dec 1875-17 Apr 1949), sawyer.

Bottom row (sitting), from left to right:
William Harper [DS.4.2S] (16 Aug 1865-2 Aug 1954), mailman.
Will Curran [DS.4.4] (b. 10 Mar 1867; d. after Nov 1928), bailiff
Daniel W. Curran [DS.4] (31 Oct 1843-29 Apr 1935), bridge tender
Elizabeth Payne (Curran) [DS.4S] (Sep 1842-28 Dec 1906)
Smith McClevey [DS.4.1S], building "engineer".
Malinda "Minnie" Harper (Curran) [DS.4.7S] (21 Jul 1879-15 Sep 1951) m. Jim Curran
Kate Geary [DS.4.4S1] (b. Dec 1869; d. after 14 Apr 1910)

Bottom center
Edward Curran [DS.9] (26 Jan 1885—4 Feb 1928)

 Comments

  • It appears that Sarah lent the lower half of her dress to Malinda. Since their marriage on 4 Jul 1896, Malinda and Jim Curran had been living with Sarah and Smith McClevey.
  • I note a strong facial resemblance between Daniel Curran Sr. [DS.4] and Daniel Curran Jr. [DS.4.8], especially the nose. I recall vaguely that the Daniel Curran nose design was inherited by my uncle, Walter Curran [DS.4.5.1]. I hope someone can tell me whether it also appeared among the St. Louis Currans.
  • Mollie Finan Curran [DS.4.5S] has a strong resemblance to her two youngest daughters, Laura Curran (FitzMaurice) and Ellen Curran (Cahill). Her oldest daughter, Mae Curran (Healey) looked more like a Curran).
  • Grace Sweeney [DS.4.7.6] told me that Tom Curran [DS.4.5] was six feet tall which was taller than her father, Jim Curran. If she was correct, than Tom must have been partially sitting on the window sill when the picture was taken.
  • Will Harper, Edward Napoleon Harper, and Malinda Harper (Curran) were siblings. I think Napoleon most resembled his mother, Euducide Hebert (16 May 1847-22 Jul 1922). In this picture, Malinda and Will Harper both resemble their father, Edmond Arpin (Oct 1845-26 Dec 1887).
  • Marty Sweeney [DS.4.7.6S] referred to Will Harper's mustache as a "schnurbart".
  • Three of the hats are identical in appearance. I wonder whether they were provided by the photographer.
  • The photographer probably told the men with hats how to hold them.
  • I recall seeing wooden sidewalks in this neighborhood circa 1930.
  • The negative of this photograph is in the photo footlocker of Ben Nicks [DS.4.2.1.2].

The photo above shows Elizabeth and Daniel Curran circa 1901 with 25 of their grandchildren.  They are in front of a candy, notion, and stationery store owned by Euducide (Hebert) Arpin.  A note on the original photo in the possession of Ben Nicks says "Twentieth and Racine".  Since the name of Centre Avenue was not changed to Racine Avenue until circa 1914, the note must have been written long after the photo was taken.  The building address of 696 is consistent with that location.  The number was changed in 1909.

The girl in the bottom row, third from right, is Elizabeth Harper (then 10) [DS.4.2.1].  The girl behind her, with head turned to right, is Estelle Harper (then 6) [DS.4.2.3].  Both girls were daughters of Will Harper and Nell Curran.