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- James D. McCurdy, the first-born of David, was born in Ireland, Oct. 1st, 1783; came to America with his parents when but three years old.
At the age of 12, he was adopted by Cornelius McCoy, through an agreement with David McCurdy, whereby his son, James, was to live with him until he became of age, when he was to become his heir (McCoy having no surviving heir).
On becoming of age, James inserted the letter D in his name, in memory of his father, David.
James married Jane McNair on July 5th, 1810, a daughter of William McNair, of what is now Groveland, N.Y., they had nine children as follows: William, Rebecca, David, Sarah, James, Nancy, Andrew, Margaret and Jane.
In 1817, he moved to the town of Ossian, and purchased a tract of heavily timbered land, which he cleared and added other tracts, until he acquired over 1000 acres.
His educational advantage was limited to brief attendance at the district school; but by adding a strict course of study at home, he became very well-educated; also studied Surveying, and became very successful in this branch.
In the war of 1812, when General Smith issued the proclamation for troops to invade Canada, James joined Captain David Porter's company, and proceeded to Buffalo where they encamped with orders to cross at 4 o'clock next morning. Just as the oops were on the move, a musket was fired on the American side, which gave the alarm; this was followed by a bugle, "To Arms on the Canadian side". A halt was called, and a consultation of the under officers held, who decided to apply to General Smith for orders, but he could not be found. The attempt was abandoned, and the troops returned home.
Early in life, James adopted the principle of total abstinence from all intoxicating drinks.
Though not a member of any denomination, he aided the preachers of those times and contributed fifty dollars toward building the first Presbyterian church in Dansville. But the strongest element of his character was his independent religious evictions; a diligent reader of the bible, always eager to know its teaching, which finally led him to differ from the common view; believing man to be but a mortal dying creature, obtaining future life only by a resurrection from the dead by faith and obedience to the gospel of Christ; to inherit the earth, redeemed from the curse as their everlasting abode; which condition is to begin at the second coming of Christ, which event he believed to be near. In the full confidence of this faith, he died February 16th, 1861, at the age of 78 years.
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