John Currie^{[1, 2]}

1845 - 1888  (43 years)

• Name	John Currie
  Born	1845	Ottawa, Carleton Co., Ontario, Canada   [2]
  Gender	Male
  Misfortune	committed sucide
  Occupation	1875	Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [2]
  	Carpenter
  Eby ID Number	Waterloo-245753
  Died	8 Feb 1888	Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada
  Buried	Killean Cemetery, Puslinch Twp., Killean, Wellington Co., Ontario
  Person ID	I245753	Generations
  Last Modified	11 Jun 2024

  
  

  Father	Neil Currie,   b. CALC 6 Aug 1789,   d. 6 May 1869  (Age ~ 79 years)
  Mother	Catherine,   d. 3 Feb 1871
  Family ID	F285750	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

  Family	Marie "Mary" Smale,   b. CA 1855, , Mecklenburg, Germany ,   d. Yes, date unknown
  Married	22 Sep 1875	Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   [1, 2]
  Children	1. John Alexander Currie,   d. 19 Jun 1897, North Dumfries Concession 09 Lot 01, Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada   2. Edward Blake Currie,   b. 10 Oct 1883, Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 4 Jun 1953, RR2, Puslinch, , Wentworth Co., Ontario  (Age 69 years)   3. Catherine Helen Currie,   b. 8 Aug 1885, Puslinch Twp., Wellington Co., Ontario, Canada ,   d. 9 Sep 1965, Hespeler (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada  (Age 80 years)
  Last Modified	11 Jun 2024
  Family ID	F227528	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Notes

  CURRIE, JOHN The most tragic occurrence, that has ever taken place in Galt, was enacted at about 10: 30 the morning of February 8, 1888. From what can be ascertained at present, it appears that John Currie, a farmer, aged about 40 (or 45 - varying reports) years, living in the township of Puslinch, has been in town for a week or more drinking to some extent and it is said, threatened in conversation with others to shoot Henry Main, banker and broker. Little notice was taken of the threat. About 8 a. m., he went to McMurtry's Hardware Store and bought a 32 calibre self-cocking revolver, saying he was going to Detroit. He then went around town and bade his friends good-bye. This morning about 10, Mr. Currie entered Mr. Main's office and fired two shots at Main, one taking effect over the right eye and the other about the middle of the forehead. Death must have been instantaneous. Mr. Currie then went across the street to the stables attached to the Galt Hotel and shot himself dead in the forehead. No shooting was heard by anyone, until Mr. Currie fired at himself. Money-lending transactions are said to have led to this deplorable act. From the evidence, it appears that Mr. Currie blamed Mr. Main for his financial ruin and threatened to make public the manner in which he alleged the Mr. Main had swindled him. Henry Main was 54 years of age and was widely known throughout the county. He was a man of great shrewdness and business ability and had amassed a considerable fortune. He was for many years a member of the firm of Main and Scrimger and engaged in the livery business but latterly, he followed the business of private banking and was very successful, being one of the largest property owners in Galt. He leaves a wife and young family of four children. John Currie was well known in the township of Puslinch. He was rather improvident and intemperate in his habits and on Saturday, his farm on the 1st concession of Puslinch was sold under mortgage. Mr. Currie was a carpenter and barn builder and when sober, was a good workman. On Saturday night, while under the influence of liquor, he committed an assault upon his father-in-law, Frederick Smale of Puslinch, on account of which, a warrant was issued for his arrest. John W. Gilchrist arrived in Galt yesterday morning between 8 and 9 to take him into custody upon this charge, when John Currie promised to go with him in about three-quarters of an hour, as he desired to visit some friends. As they were old friends and had been brought up together, Mr. Gilchrist allowed him to go. Some time afterwards, they met at Scrimger's Hotel, when John Currie informed him that he had engaged a lawyer to defend him and that he was going to Mr. Main's to get some money. That was the last seen of him. His misfortunes, though largely of his own making, would appear to have driven him to desperation. He leaves a wife and four young children. -Hamilton Spectator, February 8, 1888 and Weekly Sentinel Review of Woodstock, Feb. 10, 1888. -Information from the death certificate: Informant - Hugh Currie, carpenter, of Huron County. -Information from the marriage certificate: On Sept. 22, 1875, at Preston, ON, John Currie, born in Ottawa, c. 1845, son of Neil and Catharine Currie, married Mary Smale, (born c. 1850, in Mecklenberg, Schwerin, Germany, daughter of Frederich and Sophia Smale or perhaps, Schmeel). -Information from birth certificates: Their children were: Frederick William (b. Apr. 28, 1878); John Alexander (b. Nov. 6, 1880); Edward Blake (b. Oct. 10, 1882) and Catharine Helen (b. Aug. 8, 1885). -Information from the transcription of Killean Cemetery: His parents, Neil Currie, who died on May 6, 1869 at age 79 years and 9 months and Catherine ?, who died on Feb. 3, 1871, aged 74 years, are buried here. A Celebration of Lives Obituaries of Puslinch Township, Wellington Co., Ontario Vol 1, Anna Jackson & Marjorie Clark Used with kind permission of Marjorie Clark

  
  

• Sources

  [S7] News - ON, Waterloo, Kitchener - Berliner Journal (1859-1917), 30 Sep 1875. 22 Sep 1875 By Pastor Wurster in Preston, John Currie was married to Maria Schmeel, of Puslinch Township. [S3002] Vit - ON - Marriage Registration, 9322-75. John Currie, 30, occ. Carpenter, b. Ottawa, res. Waterloo twp., s/o Neal & Catherine, married Mary Schmeel, 25, b. Mecklenberg Schwerin, res. Puslinch twp., d/o Friedrich & Sophia, witn: Louis Schmeel & Mary Buchholz, both of Puslinch twp., 22 Sept 1875 at Preston

  
  

• Event Map

  Born - 1845 - Ottawa, Carleton Co., Ontario, Canada Occupation - Carpenter - 1875 - Waterloo Twp., Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Married - 22 Sep 1875 - Preston (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Died - 8 Feb 1888 - Galt (Cambridge), Waterloo Region, Ontario, Canada Buried - - Killean Cemetery, Puslinch Twp., Killean, Wellington Co., Ontario  = Link to Google Earth