Copyright © 2023 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
Mrs. J. S. Curran worked at Sosman & Landis in 1885. On August 2, 1885, the Chicago Tribune listed her as an employee who donated fifty cents to the Grant Memorial Fund.
I immediately recognized that exploring the life and career of Mrs. Curran would be a challenge. The initials “J. S.” were likely her husband’s, meaning that even the “J” could stand for John, James, or Joseph. There were also dozens of men with the surname of Curran in Chicago during 1885. Of these numerous individuals, historical records and newspaper articles would include variations of Curran, such as Curren and Currin.
1885 listing for John S. Curran in the Chicago Directory.
Throughout my research, there was one name that kept catching my eye – John S. Curran. It was his address that made me look twice, and then a third, fourth, and fifth time. In 1885, he lived at 277 Clark and operated a cigar store at 283 Clark; this was on either side of Sosman & Landis’ studio. From 1880 to 1886, the firm was located at 277 and 279 S. Clark from 1880-1886.
1884 listing for Sosman & Landis in the Business Section of the Chicago Directory.
Note that in the 1880s Sosman & Landis also listed 277 and 279 S. Clark St. as their address.
There was also an Inter Ocean article that helped me connect a few dots. On Oct. 28, 1887, the newspaper announced, “Fred Bowman, J. S. Curran, Charles Tracey, Tressa Nelson, Carmero Passo, Joseph Spitts, George Bordenau and Mary Kee charged with violating the statute against selling tobacco to children, were fined $20 and costs each by the Justice R. H. White yesterday morning. The fines were subsequently suspended on payment of costs. About fifty small children were in court as witnesses against the prisoners” (page 6).
It was this event that linked J. S. Curran to Fred Bowman, another individual who weaved in an out in previous biographies. Bowman was tied to C. M. Crouse, Sosman & Landis employee No. 106. Crouse and Bowman were part of the Wood’s Museum/Aitken’s Museum theatre crowd, located at the corner of Clark and Randolph Streets in Chicago. The venue included a lecture hall, complete with a stage and stock company. Bowman and Crouse were part of the company.
In the end, Mrs. J. S. Curran was Mrs. John S. Curran; her maiden name being Warner. Sosman & Landis employee No. 111 is Mrs. Josephine Curran.
Josephine “Josie” Warmer was born in New York in 1858. She was the youngest daughter of Seth Porter Warner (1811-1892) and Statira Frary (1815-1907). Her father became a very successful Chicago blacksmith who funded the construction of Warner Hall in 1851. In fact, Seth Warner is considered a Chicago pioneer. On June 14, 1892, his obituary in the Chicago Tribune, detailed his arrival in 1837:
“Seth P. Warner Passes Away.
He was one of Chicago’s pioneers – the funeral will be held today.
Seth P. Warner, who died at the house of his daughter, Mrs. James [Mary] Wallace, No. 388 La Salle avenue, last Sunday, was one of Chicago’s pioneers. He was born in Amherst, Mass., Sept. 18, 1810, and came to this city in 1837. In 1849 he went to California but returned to Chicago in 1851. That year he built Warner Hall at Randolph and Clark streets, one of the former landmarks of the downtown district. Mr. Warner assisted in organizing the first fire company of the city. It was a hook and ladder company, with quarters near Lake and Dearborn Streets. He was also one of the organizers of the First Presbyterian Church. Later he became a member of the Second Presbyterian Church, where he remained until he joined Prf. Swing’s congregation, of which he was a member at the time of his death. Mrs. Warner leaves a widow and the following children, Orin Warner and Mrs. James Wallace of this city, Porter Warner, proprietor of the Times, Deadwood, S.D., and Mrs. James Chrisman of Glen Ferry, Idaho. The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. today at the residence of Mrs. James Wallace. Prof. Swing will make the funeral arrangements” (page 6).
Warner Hall (see arrow) from Chicagology.com
For geographical context, Warner’s Hall was located right across the street from Wood’s Museum. The proximity of the buildings was noted in a newspaper article published after President Lincoln’s assassination. On May 2, 1865, the Chicago Tribune announced, “Suspended across the street from Col. Wood’s Museum to Warner’s Hall were two flags, and between then a mammoth banner, having in its center the picture of a spread-eagle, and over it the following: Col. Wood’s motto: Victory, one destiny, one constitution, one country.’ Three flags floated half-masted from the roof. Bulletin boards in front of the Museum were shrouded in black, and everything denoted the deepest grief.”
Warner’s Hall also places Josephine within the midst of not only a theatrical community, but also a gathering place for many progressive political movements. For example, from Oct. 6-8, 1853, Warner’s Hall was the site for the “First Convention of Colored Citizens of the State of Illinois”, where members at the event resolved to fight the Illinois law that prohibited free Black Americans from visiting Illinois longer than 10 days. Frederick Douglas was a speaker at the convention, and members resolved, “we most especially recommend to our people throughout the state to become owners of land, to build houses and cultivate the soil, as the surest means of making themselves and families independent and respectable.” One decade later, war meetings were held at Warner Hall, including an enlistment event for the Union Army’s First Illinois Colored Regiment.
War meeting at Warner’s Hall in 1863.
A year later, little Josephine Warner also made the news. On Oct. 19, 1864, the Chicago Tribune reported, “The Efforts of Little Ones – a fair was held a few evenings since at the residence of S. P. Warner, Esq., No. 284 Michigan avenue, by Miss Josephine Warner. The proceeds netted $110 which were handed over to the committee of the Young Men’s Christian Association for the relief of soldier’s famine. We are glad to record these noble efforts of the little ones. They are worthy of all appreciation” (page 4).
Josephine came of age four years later, in 1870. For whatever reason, Josephine did not marry young. The 1870 US Federal Census listed 18-yrs.-old Josephine Warner living with her parents and baby sister, Mary, in their new home. The previous year, Warner built a mansion in the Austin neighborhood of Cicero, Illinois. Cicero is a western suburb of Chicago, a little southeast of Oak Park. Other members of the Warner household in 1870 included ticket agent James Wallace, his wife Mary Wallace, and a few German servants. I have yet to locate a connection between the two families, yet James Wallace (18135-1891) continued to work as a ticket agent for decades, always citing his place of employment as somewhere on Clark Street.
The Seth Warner home is still standing, having once housed the Austin Academy of Fine Arts. It has repeatedly made news over the years, as it is one of only thirteen Chicago landmarks that predate the 1871 Chicago Fire.
The Seth Warner home in the Austin neighborhood of Cicero, Illinois.
By 1878, Josephine was 26 yrs. old and living with John S. Curran, having just given birth to their first, and only child, Eva. That year, John S. Curran was living at 279 Clark in Chicago, working as a watchman. Eva Curran was born on April 16, 1878. I have yet to track down any more information about Josephine during the first two years of Eva’s life, specifically any marriage certificate or wedding announcement.
In 1880, Curran was still working as a watchman, living with his wife Josephine and 2-yrs. old daughter Eva. The 1880 US Federal Census listed the small Curran family living at 274 Clark Street. Josephine listed as his wife and “housekeeper” in the census. This is odd, as the tradition occupation for wives was “keeping house,” instead of housekeeper. It made me wonder if the Currans were financially struggling, and Josephine was working. Oddly, on June 6, 1886, their names were listed in the “Marriage License” section of the Chicago Tribune. At the time John Curren was listed as 26 years old, and Josephine Warner was listed as 29 yrs. old.
Part of me wonders if Josephine had a child out of wedlock, causing immediate estrangement from her family. It would explain a lot, especially her seeking nearby work in 1885 when their daughter was 7 years old. Getting married in 1886 just made everything legitimate as Eva entered school. During the 1880s, everything began to change as her husband transitioned from watchman to cigar store owner. Through it all, the Currans remained living on the exact same street – Clark.
And this brings us back to the mention of J. S. Curran and Fred Bowman in 1887 – the article that really helped me connect the dots. On Oct. 28, 1887, the Chicago Tribune reported, “Fred Bowman, J. S. Curran, Charles Tracey, Tressa Nelson, Carmero Passo, Joseph Spitts, George Bordenau and Mary Kee charged with violating the statute against selling tobacco to children, were fined $20 and costs each by the Justice R. H. White yesterday morning. The fines were subsequently suspended on payment of costs. About fifty small children were in court as witnesses against the prisoners” (page 6).
Their criminal charges were part of a much larger legislative shift that addresses under-age tobacco use.
On October 27, 1887, the Chicago Tribune elaborated on a change in legislation that led the charges: “June 15 last the Legislature approved the section to be added to the criminal code that ‘hereafter no person or persons in this State shall sell, but, or furnish any cigar, cigarette, or tobacco in any form to any minor under 16 yrs. old unless upon written order of parent or guardian.’ The penalty was placed at $20. The new law has never been enforced in the city, but some time ago the Mayor took the matter under consideration, and yesterday announced his resolve to stop the sale of tobacco to children. Orders to this effect were given to the police. The result of a morning’s work was the issuing of nearly 100 State warrants for the proprietors of small stores near the public schools, and a raid was made in the vicinity of Jones School.” J. S. Curran, No. 283 South Clark Street and Fred Bowman, No. 214 Clark Street” were included with the list of individuals” (page 8)
This entire event prompted Curran to change his business, having may have been his “series of unfortunate events” moment. About this time, Josephine also left him, remarrying her second husband in 1888.
Between 1887 and 1891, the Chicago Directory listed Curran in the boots and shoes business, still operating his business as 283 Clark. Curran was also mentioned in a Chicago Tribune article published on June 29, 1888 (page 8). He was named in an article about suspected fraud by John J. Clifford, a M. D. Shay & Co. employee. The article reported, “J. S. Curran, a shoe dealer at No. 283 South Clark street became suspicious when Clifford ordered the twenty-four pairs and reported the matter to police.”
The last mention of Curran in the newspapers that I have located is from 1890. On Sept. 3, 1890, the Chicago Tribune” reported, “Hyman Isaacs, the proprietor of a clothing house at No. 285 Clark street, sued his neighbor, John S. Curran, for $10,000 damages in the Circuit Court for false arrest. Curran took out warrants against Isaacs and a runner in front of his place under Sec. 1,799 of the ordinance, which prohibits a man soliciting business in front of a store. Justice Bradwell held that a proprietor could not be punished, but a fine of $10 was imposed against the runner” (page 9).
Curran passed away on May 28, 1894, and was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Chicago. Meanwhile, Josephine settled in Salt Lake City with her second husband.
Josephine’s second husband was William Chalmers Chrisman (1858-1928). Chrisman worked as a railroad engineer, having entered the profession as a mechanic in 1878, achieving engineer status in 1880. The two were listed in her father’s obituary as living in Glens Ferry, Idaho, at the time of his passing in 1892.
In his last will and testament, Seth P. Warner wrote, “To my daughter Josephine, I give the sum of twenty-five ($25) dollars, which is all she shall have of my estate.” When reading the rest of Warner’s obituary, this made quite a statement. Josephine’s three other siblings (Orren Warner, Porter Warner and Mary Wallace) were bequeathed “the balance and remainder of his property and estate” – a substantial sum. Even a granddaughter, Irene Vandewater, and in-law, Roderick B. Frary, received $300.
Six years after the passing of her father, Josephine and her husband moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. They couple never celebrated the birth of any children, and I don’t know if they were Eva’s guardians as she grew to adulthood. Later census reports indicate that Josephine only gave birth to one child; as child that was still living. This was likely her only daughter, Eva H. Curran, who I believe remained in Chicago after her mother remarried and left the state.
In 1899, Eva H. Curran married James Henry Minor in Cook County. Minor was employed as a cornice maker, and in 1900 they were living at 262 W Erie Street in Chicago. Their names were listed in the Marriage License section of the Chicago Tribune on Jun 16, 1899. Actual wedding took place on July 2, 1899. I have been unsuccessful in learning much about Eva’s life and family.
As far as Josephine, she slowly fades from public record. Her name only pops up a few times between her arrival in Salt Lake city and passing in 1915. The first mention that I have located of Josephine in Salt Lake is in 1908, a full decade after her arrival. On Feb. 28, 1908, The Salt Lake Herald listed Josephine Chrisman in the Real Estate Transfers section. She purchased a plot of land from Isaac G. Quinn (part of lot 1, block 150, plat A).
By 1913, there are a couple mentions of her involvement with the literary society. On Sept. 13, 1913, the Salt Lake Telegram includes her name in an article about the newly founded Salt Lake City Literary Club (page 16). That’s really it.
Josephine passed away on Jan. 23, 1915. She was 64 yrs. old. Her death certificate confirms here father as Seth Warner, but her mother is listed as “unknown.” This does make me pause and contemplate various scenarios; none of which I can confirm at this time.
In 1915, the cause of Josephine’s death was listed as mitral regurgitation, with an arteriosclerosis as a contributing factor. This meant that the valve between the left heart chamber didn’t close completely.
Josephine’s obituary was published in The Salt Lake Herald-Republican on 24 Jan. 1915 (page 21).
“CHRISMAN – In this city, January 23, Josephine Chrisman, aged 64 years, wife of W. C. Chrisman was an active members of the Ladies Literary society. Funeral Service will be held at S. D. Evans’ chapel, 48 S., State street, Monday at 2 o’clock. Interment Mount Olivet cemetery.”
Her last residence was listed as 217 Reed Ave. William C. Chrisman continued to live at this address for another 13 years. On Dec. 26, 1926, the Salt Lake Telegram announced that after forty years of service, William C. Chrisman was making his last railroad trip to Junction City (page 26). The article reported, “Declared by railroad officials to have been one of the most skilled engineers in their employ, Mr. Chrisman has piloted and engine on every branch of the Oregon Short Line railroad. He passed away only eighteen months later.
