Carl Benjiman Curlee led a colorful life. He was the son of Obediah Caldwell Curlee and Mary E Blakeney. Carl Benjiman “Zeke” Curlee was born 13 March 1888 in Monroe, Union, North Carolina and died 31 October 1957 in Kileen, Bell, Texas. He packed a lot of living in his 69 years. I will tell his story in pictures, newspaper clippings, and other documents.
Ancestry.com. North Carolina, Birth Indexes, 1800-2000 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
Original data: Register of Deeds. North Carolina Birth Indexes. Raleigh, North Carolina: North Carolina State Archives. Microfilm.
1900 Federal Census, North Carolina, Union, Monroe, Dist. 140
1 June 1900 Enumerated by J W Stern
Transcription:
Dwelling No 36 Family No 38 Curlee O C, head, white married male, born Jan 1849, age 51, married 4 years
_____ Wilma, wife, white married female, born Sept 1872, age 28, married 4 years, 4 children, 2 children living
_____ Carl, son, white male, born Mar 1888, age 12
_____ Pickett, dau, white female, born Oct 1899, age 1
At the age of 14, Carl ran away with the circus.
Newspaper article scan provided by Blair Case. Corpus Christi Caller Times 2 Feb 1948
Excerpt from above newspaper clipping
1916 – Carl was a salesman living in the Hotel Walton in Cincinnati, Ohio
Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
Original data: Original sources vary according to directory. The title of the specific directory being viewed is listed at the top of the image viewer page. Check the directory title page image for full title and publication information.
1917- Carl was a salesman living in the Hotel Walton in Cincinnati, Ohio
Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
Original data: Original sources vary according to directory. The title of the specific directory being viewed is listed at the top of the image viewer page. Check the directory title page image for full title and publication information.
WWI Draft Registration Card
Transcription:
1. Name in Full: Carl Benjiman Curlee
Age: 29
2. Address: Walton Hotel, Cinte, Ohio
3. Date of Birth: March 12, 1888
4. Natural Born
5. Where born: Monroe, NC, USA
6. Occupation: Salesman Auto
7. Where employed: Welbon Motor Car Co
8. Where employed: 7th & ____ Sts
9. _______: Wife and child
10. Married or single: Married
11. What military service have you had: Sergt _____ Infantry
_______: _____ _____: USA
12. __________: Wife and child dependant
Signed: Carl Benjiman Curlee
Registrar’s Report:
1. Tall, medium or short: Tall _______: Slender
2. Color of eyes: Blue Color of hair: Brown Bald: No
3. _______________: No
Frank Pendergast
6 Ward G
Cincinnati
Ohio June 5, 1917
William Zimmerman
Source Information:
Ancestry.com. U.S., World War I Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005.
Original data: United States, Selective Service System. World War I Selective Service System Draft Registration Cards, 1917-1918. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration. M1509, 4,582 rolls. Imaged from Family History Library microfilm.
Newspaper article scan provided by Blair Case. Cincinnati Enquirer, 21 Oct 1918, page 7
Carl married Charlotte Kelly before 1915. They had a daughter Charlotte who was born in 1915. They are mentioned on the WWI Draft Registration Card.
In the 1920 census, Carl resides in the Ohio Penitentiary. He is widowed and is 31 years old.
1920 Federal Census, Ohio, Franklin, Columbus Ward 9, Dist 163
6 January 1920 Enumerated by Frank O Howell
Newspaper article scan provided by Blair Case. Cincinnati Enquirer, 15 Apr 1919, page 10 In 1928 Carl B Curlee lives in Chattanooga Tennessee and is general manager of J H Alday Motor Co. According to this City Directory entry, Carl is married to Regina.
Source Information:
Ancestry.com. U.S. City Directories, 1821-1989 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.
Original data: Original sources vary according to directory. The title of the specific directory being viewed is listed at the top of the image viewer page. Check the directory title page image for full title and publication information.
1930 Federal Census, Texas, Nueces, Corpus Christi, Dist 1
Carl B Curlee, head, age 40, married, first married at age 23, architect golf course
Regina T Curlee, wife, age 38, married, first married at age 23
Charlotte Curlee, daughter, age 15
List of Boarders
Source: The Corpus Christi Times, February 23, 1939, page 1B
1940 Federal Census, Oregon, Linn, Albany, 22-4
April 5, 1940 Enumerated by Ethel G Caldwell
Carl Curlee, head, married white male, 51 years old, born in NC, lived in Texas in 1935, Sect. Chamber of Commerce
Virginia Curlee, wife, married white female, 39 years old, born in North Dakota, lived in Texas in 1935, Dancing Teacher
Source: Eugene Register-Guard - Nov 25, 1943 page 6
Source: Prescott Evening Courier, July 23, 1945, page 8
Border Crossings: From Mexico to US 1895-1964
A3423 Brownsville, Texas, 1943 - 1964
Source Citation: National Archives and Records Administration (NARA); Washington, D.C.; Passenger and Crew Lists of Airplanes Arriving at Brownsville, Texas, January 1943-September 1964; Record Group: 85, Records of the Immigration and Naturalization Service; Microfilm Serial: A3423; Microfilm Roll: 5.
Source Information:
Ancestry.com. Border Crossings: From Mexico to U.S., 1895-1964 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
Source: CC Caller Times, 21 July 1947, page 11
Texas Death Index 1903-2000
Carl Benjiman “Zeke” Curlee died 31 Oct 1957 of acute myocardial infarction. He had also been diagnosed with bronchiogenic carcinoma. He was buried at Rose Hill Cemetery, Corpus Christi Texas.
