George Byron Currey
Encyclopedia
George Byron Currey was a pioneer, lawyer, soldier, farmer, and editor in the U.S. state of Oregon
. A native of Indiana
, he served as commander of the District of Oregon
at the end of the American Civil War
.
, April 4, 1833, and was educated at Wabash College
in Indiana as a lawyer. He came to Oregon over the Oregon Trail
in 1853, and was admitted to the bar and practiced law near Eugene
in the Willamette Valley
. In 1864, Currey married Jennie Clarissa Gaines of Yamhill County
.
forces. During the American Civil War, in 1862 Currey raised Company E, of the First Oregon Cavalry in Wasco County
and was its captain during much of its service and later captain of Company A. In early 1865, Currey was made lieutenant colonel
. In June 1865, Currey was made colonel
of 1st Oregon Volunteer Infantry Regiment
, and was appointed commander of District of Oregon
from (July 14, 1865), then commander of the Department of the Columbia
(July 30, 1865 – November 20, 1865) following the death of George Wright
.
In the fall of 1865, Colonel Currey was planning a winter campaign against the Snake Indians
in eastern Oregon. He sent detachments of the 1st Oregon Infantry along with Oregon cavalry units to establish camps in their territory. Detachment commanders were instructed to build winter quarters at their posts and prepare for a winter offensive. Winter provisions were to follow in supply wagons. However, Colonel Currey was released from duty in November 1865 along with the men from the First Infantry. His successor Lieutenant Colonel Drake was released from service in December, so the planned winter campaign never got started.
from 1866 to 1868. He farmed near Lafayette
in northwest Oregon from 1868 to 1872. Currey then moved to Eastern Oregon
where he practiced law at Canyon City
from 1872 to 1880. He also served as a presidential elector in 1882. George Byron Currey died of epilepsy, in La Grande, Oregon
March 6, 1906.
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
. A native of Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
, he served as commander of the District of Oregon
District of Oregon (military)
The District of Oregon was a Union Army command department formed during the American Civil War. The district was part of the independent Department of the Pacific reconstituted by consolidating the Departments of California and Oregon, which was created on January 15, 1861 when the Army was...
at the end of the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
Early life
Currey was born at Crawfordsville, IndianaCrawfordsville, Indiana
Crawfordsville is a city in Union Township, Montgomery County, Indiana, United States. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 15,915. The city is the county seat of Montgomery County...
, April 4, 1833, and was educated at Wabash College
Wabash College
Wabash College is a small, private, liberal arts college for men, located in Crawfordsville, Indiana. Along with Hampden-Sydney College and Morehouse College, Wabash is one of only three remaining traditional all-men's liberal arts colleges in the United States.-History:Wabash College was founded...
in Indiana as a lawyer. He came to Oregon over the Oregon Trail
Oregon Trail
The Oregon Trail is a historic east-west wagon route that connected the Missouri River to valleys in Oregon and locations in between.After 1840 steam-powered riverboats and steamboats traversing up and down the Ohio, Mississippi and Missouri rivers sped settlement and development in the flat...
in 1853, and was admitted to the bar and practiced law near Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
in the Willamette Valley
Willamette Valley
The Willamette Valley is the most populated region in the state of Oregon of the United States. Located in the state's northwest, the region is surrounded by tall mountain ranges to the east, west and south and the valley's floor is broad, flat and fertile because of Ice Age conditions...
. In 1864, Currey married Jennie Clarissa Gaines of Yamhill County
Yamhill County, Oregon
-National protected areas:*Siuslaw National Forest *Tualatin River National Wildlife Refuge -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 84,992 people, 28,732 households, and 21,376 families residing in the county. The population density was 119 people per square mile . There were 30,270...
.
Military career
During the Rogue River Indian War in the 1850s, Currey served in the TerritorialOregon Territory
The Territory of Oregon was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from August 14, 1848, until February 14, 1859, when the southwestern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Oregon. Originally claimed by several countries , the region was...
forces. During the American Civil War, in 1862 Currey raised Company E, of the First Oregon Cavalry in Wasco County
Wasco County, Oregon
Wasco County is a county located in the U.S. state of Oregon. The county is named for a local tribe of Native Americans, the Wasco, a Chinook tribe who lived on the south side of the Columbia River. In 2010, its population was 25,213...
and was its captain during much of its service and later captain of Company A. In early 1865, Currey was made lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
. In June 1865, Currey was made colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
of 1st Oregon Volunteer Infantry Regiment
1st Oregon Volunteer Infantry Regiment
The 1st Oregon Volunteer Infantry Regiment was an American Civil War era military regiment recruited in Oregon for the Union Army. The regiment was formed in November 1864. At full strength, it was composed of ten companies of foot soldiers. The regiment was used to guard trade routes and...
, and was appointed commander of District of Oregon
District of Oregon (military)
The District of Oregon was a Union Army command department formed during the American Civil War. The district was part of the independent Department of the Pacific reconstituted by consolidating the Departments of California and Oregon, which was created on January 15, 1861 when the Army was...
from (July 14, 1865), then commander of the Department of the Columbia
Department of the Columbia
The Department of the Columbia was a major command of the United States Army during the 19th century.-Formation:On July 27, 1865 the Military Division of the Pacific was created under Major General Henry W...
(July 30, 1865 – November 20, 1865) following the death of George Wright
George Wright (general)
George Wright was an American soldier who served in the Mexican-American War and the American Civil War.-Early life and career:...
.
In the fall of 1865, Colonel Currey was planning a winter campaign against the Snake Indians
Snake Indians
Snake Indians is the common name given by American immigrants on the Oregon Trail to the bands of Northern Paiute, Bannock and Shoshone Native Americans in the Snake River and Owyhee River valleys of southern Idaho and Eastern Oregon...
in eastern Oregon. He sent detachments of the 1st Oregon Infantry along with Oregon cavalry units to establish camps in their territory. Detachment commanders were instructed to build winter quarters at their posts and prepare for a winter offensive. Winter provisions were to follow in supply wagons. However, Colonel Currey was released from duty in November 1865 along with the men from the First Infantry. His successor Lieutenant Colonel Drake was released from service in December, so the planned winter campaign never got started.
Later life and death
After leaving the Army, Currey returned to private life and practiced law at SalemSalem, Oregon
Salem is the capital of the U.S. state of Oregon, and the county seat of Marion County. It is located in the center of the Willamette Valley alongside the Willamette River, which runs north through the city. The river forms the boundary between Marion and Polk counties, and the city neighborhood...
from 1866 to 1868. He farmed near Lafayette
Lafayette, Oregon
Lafayette is a city in Yamhill County, Oregon, United States on the Yamhill River and Oregon Route 99W. It was founded in 1846 and incorporated in 1878...
in northwest Oregon from 1868 to 1872. Currey then moved to Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon
Eastern Oregon is the eastern part of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is not an officially recognized geographic entity, thus the boundaries of the region vary according to context. It is sometimes understood to include only the eight easternmost counties in the state; in other contexts, it includes...
where he practiced law at Canyon City
Canyon City, Oregon
Canyon City is a city in Grant County, Oregon, United States. It is the county seat of Grant County, and is about a mile south of John Day on U.S. Highway 395. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 703.-History:...
from 1872 to 1880. He also served as a presidential elector in 1882. George Byron Currey died of epilepsy, in La Grande, Oregon
La Grande, Oregon
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 12,327 people, 5,124 households, and 2,982 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,833.5 people per square mile . There were 5,483 housing units at an average density of 1,260.3 per square mile...
March 6, 1906.
External links
- 1st Oregon Volunteer Infantry - Oregon Encyclopedia (includes picture of Currey)