John Martin Currier

Narrative:

     John Martin Currier was born on 30 Aug 1854 in Blount Co., Tennessee.^6,7,8
     He appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Knox Co., Tennessee, in the household of his parents, John Currier and Mary W. Martin.¹⁸
     He moved to Blount Co. with his parents before 1870. He appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Blount Co., Tennessee, in the household of his parents.¹⁹
     John married first Elizabeth T. Brady, daughter of Walter R. Brady and Elizabeth C. Lamar, on 25 Jan 1876 in Platte Co., Missouri, at the home of John Weisman, her stepfather, with Rev. P. J. Berness officiating.^9,10,11
     John took a position in the Pension office in Knoxville in the fall of 1879.^20,21 He left the pension office to work as a messenger in the Southern Express Company for a time, but returned to the Pension office by Aug 1882.²²
     John and Elizabeth settled in Tennessee after their marriage. They appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Maryville, Blount Co., Tennessee, enumerated 14 Jun 1880. Their children Walter and Neeva were listed as living with them.²³
     John and Elizabeth were evidently divorced sometime between 1881 and 1886, but no record of that has been found.
     On 3 Mar 1888 John was playing pool in a Main St. billiard hall in Maryville with James Hannum, Jr., described as 18 or 20 years old and "considered to be a pretty wild chap." A dispute arose over some point in the game, and in the following melee Hannum stabbed John with just below the heart with a pocket knife. The wound was serious, and the newspapers the next day reported it as "probably fatal."²⁴
     John moved to Knoxville during this period, but just when has not been found.
     John became the bookkeeper at the Southern Building and Loan Association in Knoxville in the fall of 1892. He became the cashier there, working there until the firm was dissolved.^25,26,27
     John married second Lucy Hudiburg, daughter of John L. Hudiburg and Lucy Jane Scarborough, on 14 Mar 1894 in Knox Co., Tennessee, with Rev. Thomas C. Warner officiating.^12,13,14
     John and Lucy appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Knoxville, Knox Co., Tennessee, at 300 Main, enumerated 8 May 1900, reporting they owned their home, which was mortgaged. Their children Mary, William and Charles were listed as living with them His children Walter were listed as living with him.²⁸
     John was elected county court clerk of Knox Co. 2 Aug 1906, winning over the incumbent by a few hundred votes. He was re-elected 4 Aug 1910, when he was running unopposed. He ran again for a third term, but was defeated in the Republican primary on 2 Apr 1914.^29,30,31
     John and Lucy appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Knoxville, Knox Co., Tennessee, at 610 E. Hill Ave., enumerated 18 Apr 1910, reporting they owned their home, which was mortgaged. Their children Mary, William and Charles were listed as living with them His children Walter were listed as living with him.³²
     John was returning to the city from his farm west of town on 1 Feb 1914 when his driver lost control of the car, which ran off the embankment and overturned. He was badly bruised and cut, especially about the face, requiring 27 stitches to close the wounds. He was confined to his home for a time to recover. The driver, and his son Charles and a friend of his who were also in the car, were not seriously injured.³³
     He was elected a justice of the peace for Knox Co. on 1 Aug 1918, representing District One, composed of the first nine nine wards of the city of Knoxville. He served one term of four years.^34,35,36
     John and Lucy appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Knoxville, Knox Co., Tennessee, at 610 E. Hill Ave., enumerated 13 Jan 1920, reporting they owned their home, free of mortgage. Their children Mary, William, Charles and Lucy and his son Walter were listed as living with them. Her parents, Lucy and John L. Hudiburg, were also listed in the household.³⁷
     He retired to his farm west of the city, returning to his home to the city a few years before his death.^38,39
     John died on 18 Jan 1928, at his home at 610 E. Hill Ave., Knoxville, Knox Co., Tennessee, at age 73.^15,16 He was buried on 20 Jan 1928 in Old Gray Cemetery, Knoxville, Knox Co., Tennessee.^1,17
     His will was probated on 13 Mar 1928 in Knox Co. in which he left all his property to his wife Lucy, and name her as executrix, to serve without bond.⁴⁰