Pre-Civil War Curfmans (Jacob and Daniel Sr.)

Jacob Curfman (1776-1860) Grandson of German Emigrant Conrad Curfman/Korffmann

Jacob Curfman was the eldest son of Philip and Barbara (Leiss) Curfman and was born on October 22, 1776 in Washington Co., Md. He died on April 11, 1860, at the age of 83 in Union Twp, Huntingdon, PA. He was buried in Cassville Cemetery, Cassville PA.

Jacob was a Supervisor in 1796-7, and Overseer of the Poor in 1814 and Constable in 1826 of Union Township. He purchased land and has a deed recorded in Huntingdon on December 6, 1797. He married Elizabeth Snare (Schneer) in 1799 in Cassville and they have 5 children including Daniel Curfman. 

In the 18th and 19th centuries, a Constable in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, held a position of authority within the local law enforcement and judicial system. Constables were appointed officials responsible for maintaining law and order in their respective jurisdictions. Their duties were diverse and included serving warrants, making arrests, maintaining peace during public gatherings, enforcing court orders, and sometimes overseeing the execution of judgments, such as evictions or property seizures. They acted as intermediaries between the community and the judicial system, often working alongside magistrates or justices of the peace. Constables were typically elected or appointed and held their positions for a defined term. They were expected to uphold the law, ensure public safety, and execute the orders of the court. Their role varied from town to town and often depended on the size of the community and the prevailing legal and social norms of the time.

Elizabeth Snare (Schneer)--Jacob's wife--was born on November 23, 1778 in Cassville, Huntingdon Co, PA. She died on April 2nd, 1850. They had 5 children, including a son, Daniel Curfman. Elizabeth's father was Philip Schneer, also spelled also spelled Schnerr.

Daniel Curfman Sr. (1802-1870) Son of Jacob and grandson of Philipp Curfman

Daniel Curfman was the eldest son of Jacob and Elizabeth (Snare) Curfman and was born about 1802 near Cassville, Huntingdon, PA. In the 1870 Clay Township Census he was a 67 year old farmer with $2500 in real estate and $800 in personal property.

Daniel died after June 14, 1870 and is buried in the Greene family cemetery near Saltillo. He married Matilda Greene in 1832. Daniel served as Overseer of the poor in Cass Township in 1847 and Constable of Clay Township in 1852. Daniel and Matilda had 6 children, including Daniel Jr., the civil War veteran.

Image: Grave of Daniel's wife Matilda Greene. Daniel is also buried in the Greene family cemetery but his grave could not be identified because of the poor conditions of the stones in the cemetery. The cemetery is right outside of Saltillo, Pa among a clump of trees.

In the 18th and 19th centuries, the role of Overseer of the Poor in Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania, was a significant responsibility within local government. Overseers of the Poor were appointed officials tasked with managing the welfare and support of impoverished individuals or families within their community. Their duties varied but generally included assessing the needs of the poor, distributing relief or assistance (such as food, clothing, or shelter), providing medical care, arranging for apprenticeships or workhouses for the unemployed, and overseeing the administration of poor relief funds. They were responsible for identifying who was considered "deserving" of aid and ensuring that resources were allocated fairly. Additionally, Overseers of the Poor often had the authority to make decisions about removing individuals or families from the community if they were deemed unable to support themselves, sending them to poorhouses or other institutions.

Matilda Greene's lineage:

Thomas Greene, the son of George Greene was born about 1740 in Baltimore County, Maryland. He was a farmer in Maryland before he and his for brothers migrated to Huntingdon County, Pennsylvania. Thomas and four brothers migrated to Huntingdon County. The brothers, Isaac, George, Elisha, and Clement settled on the water of Standing Stone Creek, some time between the years 1780 and 1785. George and Elisha brought some slaves with them. One, know as "Black Tom" lived in Huntingdon many years after he became free, and died there at an advanced age. George built a grist-mill on the creek, on or near the sire of Cornpropst's mills.

Thomas settled in the southern end of Hare's Valley, and on the 5th of May, 1796, obtained a warrant for two hundred and fifty-four acres, in the application for which it is stated that the improvement had been commenced in 1776. On this tract he built a grist-mill, about 1785, on the Mountain Branch of Three Springs Creek. A part of the original wall is under the present mill. On the 26th of February, 1785, he took out a warrant for three hundred acres "in the valley called Clear Ridge Valley, between Clear Ridge and Rocky Ridge, on the north side of Corbin's improvement, to the line agreed upon by William Corbin* and William Read, near the head of the Mountain Branch." This land, now situated in Cass township, was improved upon the ground prior to the issue of the warrant to Thomas Greene, and it is supposed he was the improver. In addition he had an extensive orchard planted, and he also had a distillery where he made various liquors. At his death he owned 1800 acres and land, which was divided among his children.

Thomas also served as tax collector in 1790 and attend the Methodist Episcopal Church. He died in 1816 and was buried, as was his wife and children, on the farm in the apple orchard. He was married to Helen Wright.  

George Greene (son of Thomas) settled in Cass Township, Huntingdon Co PA on inherited property which he shared with his brother Thomas Greene Jr. He was married to Miss Skinner and they had 7 children including Matilda Greene born in 1800.

Matilda Greene, was the daughter of George Greene, who was born about 1800 in Pennsylvania. She married Daniel Curfman in 1852 and is the mother of Daniel Jr., the Civil War veteran.