Daniel W. Curran [DS.4]

Daniel W. Curran [DS.4]
(31 Oct 1843 — 29 Apr 1935)

According to oral family history, this photograph was taken circa 1870. On the left is Daniel Curran [DS.4]. On the right is his son, Thomas Curran [DS.4.5]
(b. 12 Nov 1868).

Note the two-ribbon tie and trimmed lapels on Daniel and the bottoned down shoes on Thomas.

DATE OF BIRTH

In attempting to trace the parents and ancestors of Daniel [DS.4] back to Ireland and Scotland, it is important to discover his date of birth as well as the dates of birth of his parents and siblings. Hence, I have devoted what may seem like an excessive amount of space to a discussion of the uncertain date of birth of Daniel [DS.4].

According to our oral history in the Chicago area, my great grandfather, Daniel W. Curran [DS.4] was born on 31 October 1843 in Scotland. While there is some documentary evidence for each of the years 1842, 1843, and 1844 as the year of his birth, I now find the evidence for 1843 to be the most persuasive. Although I have seen neither a birth certificate nor a baptismal certificate for Daniel, I have evaluated several items of evidence relating to the date of his birth:

Census Records
The age stated in the census records should have been the age at the last birthday preceding the date of the census. For the census of 1900 and earlier, that date was 1 June. However, I noted that the ages of Daniel’s children were frequently computed incorrectly by subtracting the year of birth from the year of the census. Applying both methods of computation to the stated age of Daniel indicates that he was born in 1842, 1843, or 1844.

Sarah and 1844
Daniel’s oldest child, Sarah [DS.4.1], often said that she was 17 years younger than her father. If her statement was accurate, then her father Daniel was born in 1844 or 1845 since the record of Sarah’s baptism states that she was born on 23 July 1862. I would rule out 1845 because that would mean that there was a difference of only 16 years in their ages for part of the year. That would have been an even more impressive number for Sarah to talk about

80th-Birthday Party
Ben Nicks [DS.4.2.1.2] sent me a clipping (dated only "Nov.") from the Chicago Herald and Examiner. It reported a party celebrating Daniel's 80th birthday and stated that he was born in Glasgow on 31 October. Included in the article was a photograph of four generations of Currans with their ages. They were Daniel W. Curran (age 80), George Curran (age 58), George Harper (age 12), and Roy McClevey (age 36). Since George Curran [DS.4.3] was born on 14 April 1865 and Roy McClevey [DS.4.1.1] was born in August 1887, I have concluded that the paper was printed in 1923 even though somebody had written "1922" on the clipping. This again implies that the year of Daniel's birth was 1843.

Newspaper of 23 Nov. 1928
An unidentified newspaper, dated 23 Nov 1928, published a story (conerning the estate of Thomas Curran [DS.4.5]) in which Daniel [DS.4] was said to be 86 years old. That implies 1842 as the year of his birth.

Death Certificate
Daniel's death certificate gives his date of birth as 31 Oct 1843.

PLACE OF BIRTH

I recall my mother [DS.4.5.7] telling me (as a small boy) that Daniel [DS.4] was born in Edinburgh while his mother was visiting from Ireland and that he came to the United States when he was one or two years old. However, I have not found anyone else who has heard of the connection with Edinburgh.

Since Daniel himself told Loretta McGrath that he was born in Ireland but raised in Scotland, it may be that my mother had the story reversed. Most likely, Daniel was born in Ireland while his mother was visiting from Scotland. The most likely location is Ireland is Donegal since that is where both of Daniel’s parents were born.

Immigration
Census records of Daniel’s siblings indicate that they came to the United States in 1849, 1850, and 1851. The newspaper article reporting Daniel’s 80^th birthday said that he came to the United States at the age of 12 months (i.e. November 1844). Since it seems unlikely that these young children would have traveled separately, I presume that the entire nuclear family arrived together circa 1850.

Record of Marriage

D. Curran

May 20^th 1864. I this day joined in the holy bonds of matrimony Daniel Curran & Elizabeth Payne, in presence of James Gr_____ & Francis Heilers.

D. Niederkrartz S.J.

Source: Donna J. Bethune [WA.5.2.?].
Marriage Records, Holy Family Church, Chicago IL, page 40.

I have heard no oral history suggesting why Daniel and Elizabeth waited until after their second child had been baptized at Holy Family Church before they were married at Holy Family Church.

The census record of 1 Jun 1900 states that Daniel and Elizabeth (called Liza with "I" pronounced as in "ice") had been married 38 years. If the period was computed correctly, then the answer implies that they were married during the 12-month period ending 31 May 1862. Since their first child, Sarah, was born 23 Jul 1862, my guess is that they had a civil marriage circa Oct 1861. If there was a civil marriage before their marriage at Holy Family Church, the record would have been lost in the fire of 1871. At least two of their children, Thomas and James, apparently had a civil marriage well before their religious marriage.

Although Daniel Curran was a Presbyterian when he arrived in the United States circa 1850 (at about age 6), at least eight of his nine surviving children were baptized as Catholics. Dan [DS.4] and Elizabeth [DS.4S] settled in the southwest section of Chicago around old Center Avenue (renamed as Racine Avenue circa 1914). Baptismal records indicate that, of Daniel Curran's six children born before the fire, the two oldest and the three youngest were all baptized in Holy Family Church. I have not yet found the baptism record for the other child, George Abraham Curran (born 14 Apr 1865). All children born after the fire were baptized at Sacred Heart Church.

Elizabeth [DS.4S] and Daniel [DS.4] had 17 children (all apparently born in Chicago) of whom 9 survived to reach adulthood:
DS.4.1	Sarah Curran (McClevey) (23 Jul 1862 — 6 Apr 1938)
DS.4.2	Ellen Elizabeth Curran (Harper) (9 Dec 1863 — 17 Mar 1933)
DS.4.3	George Abraham Curran (14 Apr 1865 — 29 Mar 1949)
DS.4.4	William Henry Curran (b. 10 Mar 1867, d. c.1931)
DS.4.5	Thomas Curran (18 Nov 1868 — 12 Nov 1928)
DS.4.6	Mary Jane Curran (Harper), (20 Sep 1870 — 31 Jan 1947)
DS.4.7	James Francis "Jim" Curran (3 Dec 1875 — 17 Apr 1949)
DS.4.8	Daniel Curran (b. 5 Aug 1877, d. after Nov 1928 and before Jul 1933)
DS.4.9	Edward Curran (b. 26 Jan 1885, d. 4 Feb 1928)
At least four of the nine adult children died before Daniel [DS.4] did. He said "Its a terrible thing to outlive your children." Daniel [DS.4] apparently felt very close to his siblings. His three daughters (Sarah, Ellen, and Mary) were given the same names as Daniel's three sisters and with the same chronological sequence. Similarly, the first four of his six sons (George, William, Thomas, and James) were given the same names as four of Daniel's six brothers and with the same chronological sequence. On the other hand, it seems that after 1860 the name "Denis" was never again given to any descendant of Daniel's father, Denis Curran. Perhaps this name was given to one of Daniel’s children who died before being baptized by a priest.

CENSUS DATA

1 June 1860: Ward 10, Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois
(Census roll 168, page 518, lines 19 and 40: "Daniel Curan" and "Daniel Kern", age 16, Male, born in Scotland, attended school within the year)

1 June 1870 Census: Roll 202,Ward 7, Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois
Enumerated 4 August 1870. Stamped page 132. Written page no. 264.

Line Person Age Sex Occupation Birthplace

13 Curren Daniel 27
M Box maker Scotland

14 ______ Elizabeth 27
F Keeping House New York

15 ______ Sarah 8
F At School Illinois

16 ______ Ellen 7
F At School Illinois

17 ______ George 5
M Illinois

18 ______ William 4
M Illinois

19 ______ Thomas 2
M Illinois

1 June 1880 census roll 190, E.D. 75, page 29.
559 14th Street, Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois

Line Person Age Birthplace
Pers/Fath/Moth Occupation

28 Curran, Daniel Head
37 Scot/Ire/Scot Expressman

29 ____, Elizabeth Wife
37 NY/Ire/Ire Keeping house

30 _____, Sarah Daughter
18 IL Works in book bindery

31 _____, Ellen Daughter
16 IL Works in book bindery

32 _____, George Son
15 IL Works in _____ mill

33 _____, William Son
13 IL Works in dry goods store

34 _____, Thomas Son
11 IL At school

35 _____, Mary Daughter
10 IL At school

36 _____, James Son
4 IL

37 _____, Daniel Son
3 IL

1 June 1900 Census: 699 South Center Avenue [became about 2100 S. Racine Ave.], Ward 8, Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois (Roll 253, E.D. 217, Sheet 24A)
Line	Person	Relation	Date of Birth	Age	Years Married	Birthplace Pers/Fr/Mo	Trade, etc.
36	Curran Daniel W	Head	Nov 1842	57	38	Scot/Ire/Ire	Bridge tender
37	______ Elizabeth	Wife	Sept 1847	52	38	NY/Ire/Ire
38	______ Edward	Son	Feb 1885	15		IL/Scot/NY	Laborer Day

1 January 1920: 1408 18th Street, Ward 10, Chicago, Cook Co., Illinois
(Census roll 318, E.D. 623, sheet 1B, line 87: "Daniel Curran", Boarder, Male, White, age 76, widower, immigrated in 1748 (sic), Naturalized, able to read and write, born in Scotland, both parents born in Scotland, their native language was Irish, able to speak English, Janitor in Park, earns wages.)

Chicago Directories
1863-64	Curran Daniel, carpenter, h. r. 200 W. Polk [near 739 W. Polk today]
1864-65	Curran Daniel, carpenter, h. r. 200 W. Polk
1867-68	Curran Daniel, boxmkr, h 361 Jefferson [became 822 S. Jefferson St.]
1868	Curran D. nailer, Hair & Odiorne, r. 361 Jefferson
1869	Curran Daniel, nailer, Hair & Odiorne, r. 600 Centre av. [now 1819 S. Racine Ave]
1870	Curran Daniel, boxmkr, Hair & Odiorne, r. 600 Centre Ave.
1872	Curran Daniel, boxmkr. r. 708 Centre av. [became 2131 S. Racine Ave.]
1874-75	Curran Daniel, expressman, r. rear 702 Centre av. [now 2103 S. Racine Ave.]
1875-76	Curran Daniel, express, r. 702 rear
1876-77	Curran Daniel, express, house rear 702 Centre
1877-78	Curran Daniel, boxmkr. house 353 W. 16^th [near 1080W. 16th today]
1877-78	Curran Daniel, express, house 353 W. 21^st [became 1164 W. 21st]
1878-79	Curran Daniel, teamster, house 353 W. 21st
1879	Curran Daniel, express, house 559 W. 14th [became 1408 W. 14th]
1880	Curran Daniel, express, house 559 W. 14^th
1881	Curran Daniel W. lab. house 559 W. 14^th
1882	Curran Daniel, boxnailer h. 214 Rebecca
1884	Curran Daniel, boxmkr. house 730 Centre av. [became 2159 S. Racine Ave.]
1885	Curran Daniel, lab. bds. 327 S. May
1886	Curran Daniel, carp. h. 695 Centre av. [became 2116 S. Racine Ave.]
1888	Curran Daniel, insp. h. 695 Centre av.
1889	Curran Daniel, lab. h. 695 Centre av.
1890	Curran Daniel W. boxmkr. h. 695 Centre av.
1891	Curran Daniel, boxmkr. h. 695 Centre av.
1892	Curran Daniel, lab. h. 695 Centre av.
1893	Curran Daniel, boxmkr. h. 695 Centre av.
1894	Curran Daniel, carp. h. 695 Centre av.
1895	Curran Daniel, boxmkr. h. 695 Centre av.
1896	Curran Daniel, boxmkr. h. 695 Centre av.
1897	Curran Daniel, bridgetndr. h. 696 S. Centre av. [near 2117 S. Racine today]
1898	Curran Daniel W boxmkr h 355 W 21^st
1899	Curran Daniel boxmkr h 699 S Centre av [now about 2118 S. Racine Ave.]
1899	Curran Daniel bridgetendr h 699 S Centre av
1900	Curran Daniel bridgetndr h 699 S Centre av
1903	Curran Daniel h 718 Centre av [became 2143 S. Racine Ave.]
1904	Curran Daniel h 718 S Centre av
1905	Curran Daniel h 718 S Centre av
1907	Curran Daniel boxmkr h 658 S Centre av [became 1943 S. Racine Ave.]
1908	Curran Daniel janitor h 658 S Centre av
1909	Curran Daniel janitor h 658 S Centre av
1915	Curran Daniel lab h 1408 W 18^th
1923	Curran Danl r 1108 W 18^th

Jobs

When Daniel married Elizabeth Payne circa 1861, he acquired a father-in-law and two brothers-in-law who were carpenters. This probably accounts for his being employed as a carpenter during the war years of 1863-1865.

After the war, lumber, nails, and wire became steadily cheaper (probably because of the expanding railroads and reduced shipping costs). The wooden box industry boomed and became a major source of employment for Daniel and his sons. Daniel worked as a box maker from about 1867 to about 1899 except for the years 1874-1880, during which he worked as a teamster (then usually called an expressman). Since Daniel’s son Thomas [DS.4.5] drove a horse-drawn beer wagon at the age of ten and worked on a wood wagon (i.e. a horse-drawn wagon for the sale and delivery of firewood) sometime during his childhood, I presume that Daniel used his sons as helpers in his delivery business until they were old enough to work as box makers.

Daniel started work as a bridgetender in 1897 and continued in that job until at least 1900. These years correspond roughly to the beginning of the period when his son Thomas [DS.4.5] had the patronage control to make such appointments. In later years it was said that the Currans owned the jobs for bridgetenders.

From 1908 until at least 1920, Daniel was a "janitor". His place of employment was listed in the census of 1920 as "Park". Oral history says that this job (which had been obtained through his son Tom [DS.4.5]) only required that Daniel take a walk in the park from time to time. It was said that Daniel could usually be found near a particular park bench.

Marty Sweeney [DS.4.7.6S] said that Daniel sold wood and coal and owned several horses and wagons that he used for delivery. Daniel eventually became the owner of several small distilleries. That would have been an obvious course for "vertical expansion" since a major cost element in the production of whiskey was the wood (mostly in the form of charcoal). If Daniel [DS.4] had developed some reliable sources of low priced wood, then he could have been a strong factor in the local production of whiskey. In fact, Daniel [DS.4] apparently got into the whiskey business too late in life to do much with it. His son, Tom Curran [DS.4.5], developed a local whiskey business that prospered at least until 1928. On his death certificate, Daniel’s occupation was given as "retired lumber dealer".

STORIES

Annie Laurie
In 1980, Loretta McGrath [WM.5.5] still recalled her childhood meetings with Dan Curran [DS.4]: "We'd all sit around and he'd get behind the chair and play Annie Laurie on a comb." Then he would sing Annie Laurie. "He'd still say he was born in Ireland but they were raised in Scotland. He came from Scotland. None of them (i.e. Dan Curran's family) had a brogue."

Great Chicago Fire
The Great Chicago Fire of 8-9 Oct 1871 was first observed in a barn about 1.2 miles northeast of the home of Daniel Curran [DS.4], his wife Elizabeth, and their six children. Mollie Curran [DS.4.6], their youngest child, had just had her first birthday on 20 September.

The wind caused the fire to spread rapidly eastward through the dry grass. It jumped the Chicago River and soon reached Lake Michigan. Closely spaced wooden buildings then facilitated a northerly spread of the flames along a front about a mile wide. The buildings being more widely spaced to the south and west, the fire department and residents were able to contain the spread of the fire in those directions. Thus, the fire never came much closer to the Curran residence.

As a small boy, I heard my mother tell my sisters about a church congregation that swore an oath to institute a perpetual novena if the church escaped destruction in the fire. The church did escape destruction and the parishioners, true to their oath, began a "perpetual" novena. Although I don’t remember hearing the name of the church, I think it must have been within a mile or so of my mother’s home on Racine Avenue for her to have heard the oral history.

Jig
I recall attending a large family party as a small boy. I remember that my great grandfather, Dan Curran [DS.4], was there and that somebody mentioned with delight that Dan [DS.4] was 90 years old and dancing a jig. I would have been 7 years old.

Chicago American
Dan's granddaughter, Ellen E. Curran (Cahill) [DS.4.7.9], recalled an article in the Chicago American wherein a reporter asked the secret of Dan's longevity. (He was over 90 at the time.) Dan [DS.4] replied, "I have a good shot of whiskey every morning and another at bedtime." The reporter then asked Dan [DS.4] whether it was true that he had had 17 children. Dan said, "I didn't, my wife did".

Record of Death
Following is a slightly condensed copy of the Death Certificate of Daniel Curran [DS.4].

Registration Dist. No. 3104
Primary Dist. No. 3104

1. PLACE OF DEATH
County of Cook City Chicago
1847 S. Ashland St.

1a. PLACE OF RESIDENCE:
STATE Illinois COUNTY Cook
CITY Chicago
STREET and NUMBER 1847 S Ashland Ave

2. FULL NAME: Daniel Curran Sr.
3. SEX 4. COLOR OR RACE 5. S, M, W, or D
Male White widowed

5a. HUSBAND OF Elizabeth (Dec)

6. DATE OF BIRTH Oct 31 — 1843
7. AGE abt 91 Years 5 Months 28 Days

8. & 9. OCCUPATION Retired Lumber Dealer
10. Date last worked at this occupation: 35 yrs

12. BIRTHPLACE (City) unknown
(State or Country) Scotland

13. FATHER’S NAME: Unknown
14. FATHER’S BIRTHPLACE: unknown

15. MOTHER’S MAIDEN NAME: unknown
16. MOTHER’S BIRTHPLACE: unknown

17. INFORMANT Mrs. Thomas Curran
P.O. Address 1847 So Ashland Ave

18. PLACE OF BURIAL 19. DATE
Cemetery Mt. Carmel May 2 1935
Location Hillside
County Cook State Illinois

20. UNDERTAKER
Thomas J. Gordon
ADDRESS 1429 S Halsted St

STATE OF ILLINOIS
Dept. of Public Health — Div. Of Vital Statics
CERTIFICATE OF DEATH

Registered No. 12306

LENGTH OF RESIDENCE WHERE DEATH OCCURRED 82 yrs

21. DATE OF DEATH Apr 29^th 1935

22. I HEREBY CERTIFY, That I attended deceased
from April 16, 1935 to April 29^th, 1935.
I last saw him alive on April 29^th, 1935; death
is said to have occurred on the date stated above,
at 9:30 P.m.

The principle cause of death and related causes of importance were as follows:
Broncho - Pneumonia
Date of onset 48 hrs.

Other contributory causes of importance:
Senility

23. Was an operation performed? No
Was there an autopsy? No
What test confirmed diagnosis? Physical Ex.

24. (Signed) George L. McLaughlin M.D.
Address 1751 W. 21^st St.
Date April 30 , 1935
Telephone Can 6326

Filed 1935 APR 30 PM 8 18

Source: Photocopy of Death Certificate
received from Ben Nicks [DS.4.2.1.2]

Notes re Death Certificate:

1. The statement that Daniel had resided in Chicago for 82 years at the time of his death implies that he arrived in Chicago circa 1853. This statement is the only evidence I have seen that indicates that his family arrived in Chicago in 1853.

2. The telephone exchange "Can" is probably an abbreviation for "Canal".

3. Despite the statements on Daniel’s death certificate, my sister Loretta said that Daniel had had a cataract operation from which he had never fully recovered.

Elizabeth Payne (Curran) [DS.4S]
(Sep 1842 - 28 Dec 1906)

According to oral family history among the descendants of Nell Curran [DS.4.2], this photograph was taken circa 1870. The woman is said to be Elizabeth Payne (Curran). The baby would most likely have been "Mollie" Curran (Harper) [DS.4.6] (b.20 Sep 1870).

The photo was received from Ben Nicks [DS.4.2.1.2].

BIRTH
My great grandmother, Elizabeth Payne [DS.4S], was born in Albany NY — according to my mother [DS.4.5.7] and according to several other family members of my mother's generation. The census record of 1900 (and no other document found) states that Elizabeth was born in September. I accept that month as correct since the information was probably provided by Elizabeth and she would have had no motive for misstating it.

The evidence for the year of her birth is about equally supportive of 1842 and 1843. My reasoning concerning ages in the census records is the same as stated for Daniel [DS.4]. The analysis was complicated by the fact that Elizabeth obviously understated her age for the census of 1880 and 1900. The deciding factor for me was that Elizabeth's granddaughter, Elizabeth Eudicide Harper (Nicks), told her son Ben Nicks [DS.4.2.1.2] that Elizabeth [DS.4S] had died at the age of 64. That would be consistent with September 1842 as the date of birth.

Loretta McGrath [WM.6.5], who was born in 1890, knew Elizabeth [DS.4S] and said that she [DS.4S] was "a few years younger" than her husband [DS.4] who was born October 31, 1843. In photographs, Elizabeth [DS.4S] appears (to me) to be younger than Daniel [DS.4] in 1870 but older than Daniel in 1897..

Census Data

1 June 1850: 2nd Ward, 2nd Municipality, City of New Orleans, Parish of Orleans, Louisiana.
(1850 census roll 237, page 55. line 19: "E. Payne", age 7, Female, born in Ireland; attended school within the year)

1 June 1860: Ward 10, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.
(1860 census roll 168, page 98, line 31: "Elisabeth Peyne", age 16, Female, born in New York; attended school within the year)

1 June 1870: Ward 7, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.
(1870 census roll 202, page 132, line 14: "Elizabeth Curren", age 27, Female, White, Keeping House, Born in New York, Father and Mother of foreign birth.)

1 June 1880: 569 14th Street, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.
(1880 census roll 190, E.D. 75, page 29, line 29: Elizabeth Curran", age 37, Keeping House, born in New York, Father and Mother born in Ireland)

1 June 1900: 699 South Center Avenue, Ward 8, Chicago, Cook County, Illinois.
(1900 census roll 253, E.D. 217, page 24, line 87: "Elizabeth Curran", Wife, White, Female, Born Sept 1847, Age 52, Married 38 years, 17 children, 9 still living, Born in New York, Father and Mother born in Ireland, Can read, Can write, Can speak English.)

Stories
Elizabeth [DS.4S] was called "Liza" (with i pronounced as in ice) at least by her husband [DS.4] and by her brothers and sisters. Apparently, only Denis Curran [D] referred to her as "Eliza". Loretta McGrath [WM.6.5] always called her "Aunt Liza". My mother, in her later years, said that the name of her grandmother [DS.4S] was Ellen Payne. Along the same line, Grace Curran Sweeney [DS.4.7.6] remarked, "Through the entire family, you'll find Liza, Ellen, Nellie, Bessie; but they are all primarily Elizabeth."

Elizabeth's sister Teresa [WM.6] was roughly 19 years younger than Elizabeth. Teresa was called Teesee (with accent on the first syllable) by her siblings. Teesee once took Liza [DS.4S] for confession to a Mission at Sacred Heart Church. Liza told the priest that having 17 children had taken a lot out of her and that she had missed Mass. The priest asked her to repeat the number of children and then said, "Go home my good woman. There's a place in heaven for you if you never go to Mass." He then gave her absolution. Liza came out of the confessional, told Teesee what had happened, and said she didn't feel as though she had gone to confession. Teresa said, "Liza, I'd die if a priest said that to me; I'd be so happy."

I was told by Grace Curran Sweeney that her sister, Matie Curran Kinsella [DS.4.7.1], "would have the whole picture concerning Elizabeth Payne". It is now too late to follow that lead.

After Elizabeth developed diabetes circa 1875, she was not able to get out very much. The last time that Loretta McGrath [WM.6.5] remembered seeing Elizabeth was at a celebration on July 4, 1897. In 1980, Loretta did not remember when Elizabeth had died.

DEATH
The following table has been transcribed from an undated death certificate certified by David D. Orr, County Clerk.

53397 2685

BUREAU OF VITAL STATISTICS

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: CITY OF CHICAGO

28817 UNDERTAKER'S REPORT OF DEATH 28817

1. Name of Deceased (in full) Elizabeth Curran
2. Sex F Color W 3. Place of Birth Ireland Father's Birthplace same Mother's Birthplace same
4. Age 55 years -- months – days
5. Lived in Illinois 35 years, in Chicago 35 Years --Months – Days
6. Died on the 28th day of Dec 1906 , at about ____ M.
7. ~~Single~~, Married, ~~Widowed~~, ~~Divorced~~. Occupation: Housewife

8. Place of Death: 658 Center Ave. Ward 10

Place of Burial: Mt. Carmel
Date of Burial: Dec. 30, 1906
Hour 11 A. M.

10. Undertaker: John McMahon
Address: 428 W 14th St.
Tel. Canal 154

PHYSICIAN'S CERTIFICATE OF CAUSE OF DEATH

I Hereby Certify, That, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the cause of death of the above named and described deceased was as hereinafter ________.

Cause or Causes of Death:
Immediate and Determining Diabetes Mellitus
Contributing Cause or Complication Gangrene of foot

Duration of Cause or Causes:
About 3 years

Witness my hand, This 28^th
day of Dec 1906.

(Signature); Edward E. Raininger[?], M.D.
Address: 353 Oakley Blvd. Tel. West ____

Source: Photocopy of Death Certificate received from Ben Nicks [DS.4.2.1.2].

Her [WE.3] death certificate states that Elizabeth [WE.3] had been living in Illinois for 35 years. Since her first child was born in Illinois on 23 July 1862, we know that Elizabeth had been living in Illinois for at least 44 years at the time of her death. The discrepancy mig ht mean that Elizabeth [WE.3] once told somebody that she had lived in the same neighborhood since the Great Chicago Fire (which turned out to be 35 years before her death).

Top of Page | Family of Daniel Curran [DS.4]and Elizabeth Payne [DS.4S] |
Curran Table of Contents | Curran References | The Families of William Payne

Record of Death Following is a slightly condensed copy of the Death Certificate of Daniel Curran [DS.4].
Registration Dist. No. 3104 Primary Dist. No. 3104 1. PLACE OF DEATH County of Cook City Chicago 1847 S. Ashland St. 1a. PLACE OF RESIDENCE: STATE Illinois COUNTY Cook CITY Chicago STREET and NUMBER 1847 S Ashland Ave 2. FULL NAME: Daniel Curran Sr. 3. SEX 4. COLOR OR RACE 5. S, M, W, or D Male White widowed 5a. HUSBAND OF Elizabeth (Dec) 6. DATE OF BIRTH Oct 31 — 1843 7. AGE abt 91 Years 5 Months 28 Days 8. & 9. OCCUPATION Retired Lumber Dealer 10. Date last worked at this occupation: 35 yrs 12. BIRTHPLACE (City) unknown (State or Country) Scotland 13. FATHER’S NAME: Unknown 14. FATHER’S BIRTHPLACE: unknown 15. MOTHER’S MAIDEN NAME: unknown 16. MOTHER’S BIRTHPLACE: unknown 17. INFORMANT Mrs. Thomas Curran P.O. Address 1847 So Ashland Ave 18. PLACE OF BURIAL 19. DATE Cemetery Mt. Carmel May 2 1935 Location Hillside County Cook State Illinois 20. UNDERTAKER Thomas J. Gordon ADDRESS 1429 S Halsted St	STATE OF ILLINOIS Dept. of Public Health — Div. Of Vital Statics CERTIFICATE OF DEATH Registered No. 12306 LENGTH OF RESIDENCE WHERE DEATH OCCURRED 82 yrs 21. DATE OF DEATH Apr 29^th 1935 22. I HEREBY CERTIFY, That I attended deceased from April 16, 1935 to April 29^th, 1935. I last saw him alive on April 29^th, 1935; death is said to have occurred on the date stated above, at 9:30 P.m. The principle cause of death and related causes of importance were as follows: Broncho - Pneumonia Date of onset 48 hrs. Other contributory causes of importance: Senility 23. Was an operation performed? No Was there an autopsy? No What test confirmed diagnosis? Physical Ex. 24. (Signed) George L. McLaughlin M.D. Address 1751 W. 21^st St. Date April 30 , 1935 Telephone Can 6326 Filed 1935 APR 30 PM 8 18
Source: Photocopy of Death Certificate received from Ben Nicks [DS.4.2.1.2]
Notes re Death Certificate: 1. The statement that Daniel had resided in Chicago for 82 years at the time of his death implies that he arrived in Chicago circa 1853. This statement is the only evidence I have seen that indicates that his family arrived in Chicago in 1853. 2. The telephone exchange "Can" is probably an abbreviation for "Canal". 3. Despite the statements on Daniel’s death certificate, my sister Loretta said that Daniel had had a cataract operation from which he had never fully recovered.