| Notes |
- This Tom was Philip's great-great-grandfather. His younger son was Thomas Morton, father of T. Morton, Jr., who is the Grandpa Curry we know. The following is from his granddaughter Louise's synopsis of family information:
As a lad of 8, Tom went to work in a mill, and was heard to remark that he wished they were not so poor and that he didn't have to work. In later years, around 1900, Tom started writing a diary of reminiscences. Among other tales, he told of his youthful adventures with a friend, Jim. Tom and Jim would float homemade boats in the river, swim in the swimming hole, catch turtles, explore a small island nearby, and play baseball together. Tom spent hours under a shady tree, reading stories such as Last of the Mohicans, and Scottish Chiefs.
He married Annie Robins Ryan and had three children: Louise Robins, Edward Thomas, and Thomas Morton. They also adopted an orphan girl, Edna, who was a big sister to all of the others, and helped Annie with the household chores. A journal entry for December 1914 expresses Tom's happiness and love for his family, and thankfulness to God for his blessings.
He was short -- 5'3" -- but very strong. For a while he worked in a grocery store in Orange, NJ, and it is said he could carry a barrel of flour all by himself. He taught his sons to be strong, too, by training them to box and fight, along with exercising regularly and using hand grippers. Tom was involved in community activities, and was very patriotic. Pictures of Washington and Lincoln hung in his upstairs hall.
Tom and Annie lived for many years in Englewood, NJ. He was an avid golfer, and also an amateur poet who wrote many poems to members of his family. They had a summer cottage on Long Island, where his grandchildren would spend summer vacations. "Pop" would take them rowing, and when they were out in deep water he would tell them stories about sea monsters. Tom was also a music lover, and would play his harmonica or accordian after the children were put to bed.
Both Annie and Tom had a great faith in God, but he was superstitious, too, as it seemed to him that many of his dreams came true. One day he found a horseshoe and a four-leaf clover, and then business began to improve. He had a little pin made for Annie, a horshoe and clover design lined with tiny pearls.
On April 11, 1928, Tom died in a New York City hospital after an operation for cancer. His obituary eulogizes his community service, including his support for youth sporting activities, his role as founder and administrator of the local American Legion post, charter membership in the volunteer fire department, leadership in putting the trolley extension through Highwood, membership in the Elks Lodge and Phelps Manor Golf Club, and -- despite his age -- enlistment in the Home Guard during World War I. He spent forty-five years with Thomas E. Curry & Co., a New York City wool dealer. But no doubt his greatest influence was within his own family, and on his grandchildren for generations to come.
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1858 - 1928 (70 years)