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Wednesday, April 9, 2014

52 Ancestors–52 Weeks #10 He Ran Away with the Circus - Carl Benjiman Curlee

 

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.

Carl Benjiman 'Zeke' Curlee

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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

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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.Carl 'Zeke' Curlee's Real Home is 'Just All Over'
Newspaper article scan provided by Blair Case. Corpus Christi Caller Times 2 Feb 1948
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Excerpt from above newspaper clipping

1916 – Carl was a salesman living in the Hotel Walton in Cincinnati, Ohio

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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

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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

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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.

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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.
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1920 Federal Census, Ohio, Franklin, Columbus Ward 9, Dist 163
6 January 1920 Enumerated by Frank O Howell


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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.

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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
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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

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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
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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

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Source: Eugene Register-Guard - Nov 25, 1943 page 6

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Source: Prescott Evening Courier, July 23, 1945, page 8

Border Crossings: From Mexico to US 1895-1964
A3423 Brownsville, Texas, 1943 - 1964

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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.

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Source: CC Caller Times, 21 July 1947, page 11

 Texas Death Index 1903-2000

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Carl Curlee
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.

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