I have solemnly baptized Sarah, daughter of
Daniel and Elizabeth Curran, born 23 July 1862.
Sponsors James H. Paine, Hannah Payne

A. Damen, S.J.

Loretta McGrath [WM.5.5] told me that her mother, Teresa Payne (McGrath) (23 Apr 1861 — 10 Dec 1942) [WM.5], was 15 months older than Sarah [DS.4.1]. This oral history is consistent with the baptism records of Teresa and Sarah.

The census of 1 Jun 1850 records that Elizabeth's father, William Payne (Dec 1813--30 Sep 1904), maintained two separate households in Louisiana. One held four children of the first marriage under the name of Payne (1850 census film roll 237, page 55, 2nd Ward, 2nd Municipality, New Orleans LA). The other household held his second wife and their one year old son James, all under the name Paine (1850 census film roll 232, page 221, 3rd Ward, City of Lafayette, Parish of Jefferson LA). Apparently, James (12 yr 9 mo old at the baptism of Sarah) still spelled his surname as Paine as late as August 1862 although he later changed the spelling to Payne.

MARRIAGE
During the year ending 31 May 1883, Sarah Curran [DS.4.1] married Smith McClevey (b. circa 1862; d. 26 Jul 1917) [DS.4.1S] who was an "engineer" in one of the large buildings in downtown Chicago. He was responsible for operation of the boilers, etc.

These photos of Sarah and Smith were taken on 25 July 1897.

Smith [DS.4.1S] was the son of Smith McClevey, Sr. who served as a Lt. Colonel in the 90^th Illinois Infantry Regiment from 23 Nov 1862 until 6 Mar 1863 (when he resigned). The father may have been the Smith McClevey whose letterhead in 1858 said "Dealership Wines and Liquors, Cordials, imported and domestic cigars Old Double Rectified Whiskey, No. 130 South Water Street".

Sarah [DS.4.1] and Smith McClevey [DS.4.1S] had five children of whom three were still living on 1 June 1900.

______ Elizabeth

________ Roy

STORIES
"It was a mystery how fast information would flow between the three sisters" [Sarah, Nell, and Mollie]

Sarah [DS.4.1] loved children. Even in her old age, Sarah [DS.4.1] used to take Grace's [DS.4.7.6] brother Oliver [DS.4.7.7] home with her. Sarah's daughters, Bess [DS.4.1.2] and Alice [DS.4.1.3], said that Sarah [DS.4.1] always kept stuff for the kids, balloons, etc. Grace said that the Irish referred to junk as truck. Grace's brother Walter [DS.4.7.5] used to say, "Aunt Sarah, you got any ruck for us?" "And [Grace said] she [DS.4.1] always had a bunch of stuff for the kids."

When her brother Tom [DS.4.5] got married at age 18, Sarah [DS.4.1] lent a dress to Tom's 15 year old bride [DS.4.5S]. When Malinda Harper [DS.4.7S] and Jim Curran [DS.4.7] were married, they lived for a while with his sister Sarah [DS.1] and her family.

Smith McClevey [DS.4.1S] hanged himself on 26 Jul 1917. In 1980, Nellie Cahill [DS.4.5.9] commented: "I can see why, living with that old witch." When I reported that comment to Grace Sweeney [DS.4.7.6] a few days later, Grace said, "She [DS.4.1] was not an old witch." Grace's husband, Marty Sweeney [DS.4.7.6S] said, "No, she [DS.4.1] was not an old witch; but she was a holy terror."

DEATH
Grace Sweeney [DS.4.7.6] said that Sarah [DS.4.1] died circa 1936 during a great snowstorm and was buried in St. Joseph's Cemetery in the Chicago area.. Loretta McGrath [WM.5.5] said (correctly) that Sarah [DS.4.1] died in 1938.

DS.4.1.1 Roy J. McClevey

Roy (Aug 1887 — 23 Aug 1960) was baptized as Leroy. He was sometimes called Roy but more often Pete. Roy McClevey [DS.4.1.1] was tall and looked like his father [DS.4.1S]. The census of 1920 listed a son named Roy, age 32. The census of 1900 listed a son named Daniel, born August 1887. I presume that Daniel and Roy were the same person.

DS.4.1.2 Elizabeth "Bess" McClevey (Regan)

Bess (21 Dec 1890 — 13 Nov 1964) was a telephone operator. She married Joseph Regan [DS.4.1.2S] (born in Ireland in 1886) who may have been employed as a butcher in 1920.

DS.4.1.3 Alice McClevey (Arren)

Alice (12 Feb 1894 — May 1979) worked at Sears as a nurse. She left, moved to Florida, married Clyde O. Arren (29 Nov 1891—Jul 1977) [DS.4.1.3S], and was widowed with a large inheritance. In the census of 1920, Alice [DS.4.1.3] was listed as Alice Farley and as married, not as a widow. I have no information about a first husband. Two obituaries from Hendersonville newspapers:

Alice McClevey Arren died Wednesday evening in a local hospital. Native of Chicago. Moved to Hendersonville, N.C. --- 1964. Was the daughter of the late Smith and Sarah Curran McClevey."

Native of Chicago, Illinois and a former resident of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, she had lived in Hendersonville since 1964. Her husband Clyde O. Arren died in 1977. Mrs. Arren was a past secretary of the American Red Cross of Broward County Florida and was a past President of the Pardee Hospital Auxiliary. She was also a life member of the Auxiliary Board.