Genealogical Gems

Andrew Gregg Curtin was born 22 April 1817. He married Katharine Irvine Wilson (1821 – 1903). Katherine was born to William Irvine Wilson (1793 – 1883) and Mary Potter (1798 – 1861). They had seven children: Mary, Myron, Katherine, Bessie, Jane, Martha, and William.   Mary Wilson Curtin (March 1846 – 1927) married a physician George Fairlamb Harris (March 1843 – 1911) in 1871 Catherine Curtin Harris (1871-1936) married a bank cashier named John McCoy Shugart (1870 - 1924) in 1899 Infant son (1900 - 1900) George Harris Shugart (b. 1 February 1903 – 23 June 1963) married Helen Cruse on 2 January 1937. George Harris Shugart, Jr. (b. 4 January 1940 – 7 April 2013) married Elizabeth Russell on 12 December 1980. Allison Elizabeth Shugart (9 May 1983 – 9 May 1983) Ame Laurine Shugart (9 May 1983 – 10 May 1983) Mary McCoy Shugart (b. 31 May 1907) Adeline (b. circa 1878) Jane ...

Andrew Gregg Curtin was the Governor of Pennsylvania during our nation's Civil War.  The son of Scots-Irish immigrant iron founder Roland Curtin (1764–1830) and his second wife, Jean Gregg (1791–1854), he was born 22 April 1815 in Bellefonte in Centre County. He was the grandson of Pennsylvania politician and president pro tem of the U.S. Senate, Andrew Gregg. Before becoming Governor, he served as schools superintendent. During that time, he started the state system of teacher training in "normal" schools - like Lock Haven State Normal School, now Lock Haven State University. As a war-time governor, he did sponsor taxes to finance the war but managed to keep the state's debt low. More military units for the war were organized in Harrisburg than in any other recruiting point in the North. He organized "The Loyal War Governors' Conference" to foster support among fellow governors. It was this unified group of governors who suggested General George ...