[p. 588] the late owner of 100 acres of fine farming land in North Beaver Township, situated about three and a half miles west of Mount Jackson, the place of his nativity, and lying along a cross road running south from the Springfield general highway, was born November 11, 1853, son of Robert P. and Eliza (McClure) McCurley, and died August 3, 1908.
John McCurley, the grandfather of John F., bought the McCurley farm in 1830, and when he died his son, Robert P., purchased the place. The latter, born in Perry County, Pennsylvania, was by trade a wagonmaker and had a shop in Mount Jackson, which he carried on in connection with farming. He died May 22, 1899, having survived his wife for many years.
John F. McCurley was reared on the farm which he purchased after the death of his father. He devoted all the active years of his life to farming. During his latter days the heavy labor was taken off his shoulders by his two capable sons, who now have the operation of the farm well in hand. On May 2, 1878, Mr. McCurley was married to Alice Meckley, who is a daughter of Rev. John and Eliza (Sell) Meckley. Rev. John Meckley died at Petersburg, Ohio, April 16, 1886. He was a minister in the German Reformed Church and during the last eleven years of his life preached in the old Springfield church near Petersburg. He married Eliza Sell, who died March 10, 1883. Mrs. McCurley was born in Adams County, Pennsylvania, and was one year old when she accompanied her parents to Stark County, Ohio. Later the family removed to Mahoning County, Ohio, where she was married to Mr. McCurley. After the ceremony Mr. and Mrs. McCurley resided for twelve months in North Beaver Township in a small rented house while awaiting the completion of the present comfortable residence, into which they then moved. They had one daughter and two sons, namely: Pearl May, who is the wife of Harry Harmon; and Harry Lawrence and Willis Burton, who are now carrying on the farm. Mr. McCurley was one of the capable agriculturists and reliable citizens of this locality and his loss is much regretted in the township. The surviving members of the family belong to the Westfield Presbyterian Church, of which he also was a member.
20th Century History of New Castle and Lawrence County Pennsylvania and Representative Citizens Hon. Aaron L. Hazen Richmond-Arnold Publishing Company, Chicago, Ill., 1908
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