An Illustrated History of the State of Washington, by Rev. H.K. Hines, D.D., The
Lewis Publishing Co., Chicago, IL., 1893

MATTHEW THOMPSON CURRY, attorney and counselor at law, Centralia, is a highly
respected member of the bar of Lewis county, and is also prominent among the
educators of the State. A brief review of his personal history is herewith
given. He was born in Iowa county, Wisconsin, September 14, 1843, a son of Henry
Curry, a native of Great Britain, born in England; the father was an expert
miner and engaged in this business after coming to this country. He also
followed farming to some extent in Wisconsin, and resided there until the time
of his death, which occurred in September, 1886. Mary Thompson, his wife, was
born in Ireland, of Protestant parents; they were married in England, and there
were born to them a family of twelve children. Matthew is the eldest; his youth
was divided between the district school and the duties that usually fall to the
lot of a farmer's son. At the age of seventeen came one of the most important
events of his life: there was a call for men to go out in defense of the old
flag, and to this he responded with all the zeal of youthful patriotism. He
enlisted in Company E, Eleventh Wisconsin Volunteer Infantry, and served until
January, 1863, when he was discharged by reason of disability, he returned to
his home, and after regaining his health and strength turned his attention to
the acquirement of a higher education. After spending a year in the seminary at
Mineral Point, Wisconsin, he engaged in teaching, and spent the two years
following in study at Beloit College; he next was engaged in teaching at
Dodgeville for two years, and also taught a year at Linden, Wisconsin. These
three years of labor earned another welcome respite. He entered the University
of Michigan and pursued the studies of the literary department to the end of the
junior grade, when, having determined to study law as a profession, he entered
the law department of the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, and was graduated
from this renowned institution in 1871. He returned to Dodgeville, and for two
years filled the position of principal of the city schools. He was admitted to
the bar of Wisconsin in 1872, and afterward removed to Lee county, Illinois,
where he was engaged in legal practice until 1877. He then removed to Cherokee
county, Kansas, and during his residence in that State he was employed by the
Extension and Construction Company of the St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad as
bookkeeper and paymaster, a position he held for three years. Coming to this
State in 1883, he resided for a brief period in the capital city, and afterward
in Tacoma. He then came to Centralia, which was then in its infancy. There was
scarcely a demand for legal practitioners, so Mr. Curry returned to his "first
love," and assisted in laying the foundation of the excellent public-school
system which exists in this State. His reputation was not confined to the
borders of Lewis county, for at the end of two years he was called to fill the
position of principal of the public schools of La Grande, Oregon. At the end of
one year he returned to Centralia, and then resumed his professional labors. He
holds a life diploma as a teacher in the State of Washington, and in 1889 was a
member of the State Examining Board. In 1890 he was elected City Clerk, and the
following year City Attorney. He is now Court Commissioner for this judicial
district, he is a man of keen intelligence, and has never laid aside his habits
as a student. Possessing the courage of his convictions, he is a fearless
official, and enjoys the highest regard of the people of his county. Politically
he affiliates with the Democratic party, and is a member of the County Central
Committee. He belongs to the A.O.U.W., and to the T.P. Price Post, O.A.H. Mr.
Curry was united in marriage to Miss Corda B. Newlin, in October, 1880. Mrs.
Curry is a native of Indiana, and has for a number of years been connected with
the higher educational movements of the State.

Submitted to the WA. Bios Project in January 2004 by Jeffrey L. Elmer

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Notice: These biographies were transcribed for the Washington Biographies
Project. Unless otherwise stated, no further information is available on the
individual featured in the biographies.