My Genealogy Hound

J. J. CURLEY, manager Western Union Telegraph office, Joplin, was born in Greene county, N. Y., Nov. 12, 1850. His parents, Patrick and Eliza (Flynn) Curley, were natives of Ireland. His father was born in County Roscommon, and his mother in County Langford. They came to America about the year 1845. When two years of age our subject was taken with his parents to Jefferson county, Wis., where they located near Watertown, on a farm. He there grew to manhood, receiving a liberal education. In the fall of 1870 he came south to St. Louis, and for two years engaged as an aid in building telegraph lines, and at the same time was with the city fire alarm company. During these years he learned the art of telegraphy. In August, 1873, he took charge of the telegraph office at Clarkesville, Pike county, Mo. At the same time he was assistant post master and express agent at the depot for the St. Louis, Keokuk & Northwestern Railroad. He came to Joplin in October, 1877, and established the Western Union Telegraph office in East Joplin, and in November of that year he established the present office. In December following he secured for the citizens of Joplin the associated press dispatches, but they were discontinued after four months, Mr. Curley was married at Clarksville, Mo., to Miss Nannie, daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Moss) Clark, of Pike county, but natives of Kentucky. Mrs. C. was born in Bowling Green, that county, June 8, 1857. From this union there have been three children, two now living: John F., born Aug. 15, 1878, and died Dec. 4, of the same year; Joseph, Jr., born April 15, 1880; George, born Nov. 2, 1882. Mr. and Mrs. Curley have a comfortable home on the corner of Third and Joplin streets, and enjoy the esteem of those with whom they are associated in social and business circles.