Abraham Curry, Founder of Carson City

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© 2007 Carson City Convention & Visitors Bureau
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Often considered the father of Carson City, Curry was born in New York in 1815 and arrived in Carson City in 1858 (ednote- from Downieville, California) along with partners John J. Musser, Benjamin Green, and Frank Proctor (ednote- also from Downieville, California), he purchased about 1,000 acres in Eagle Valley and laid out the community of Carson City, which he tirelessly promoted. (ednote- and for which he richly deserves the Founder title as opposed to his partners, some of whom left the area having sold their real estate; of those who stayed, their role in the promotion of the town was limited to real estate speculation as opposed to Curry's true civic involvement - he died a poor man having, in my opinion, sacrificed his own prosperity for a greater vision, not yet realized at his untimely death at 58 years old.)

Additionally, Curry built the Warm Springs Hotel (at the site of the present Nevada State Prison) as well as the prison(ednote- which use of the hotel was donated by Curry to the State of Nevada as the first State House and seat of government for the new state until the construction of the present State Capitol Building in 1871.) Curry also supervised the construction of the Carson City U.S. Mint building, and the Virginia and Truckee Railroad shops in Carson City. (ednote- Curry used native sandstone quarried at the prison quarry in most of his buildings, which use has given rise to a distinctive and formal appearance to a good many local buildings. DeLongschamps use of the same material in the last century echoes Curry's design and style.)

He also donated ten acres in the center of town to the state to be used for a state capital, which helped ensure that Carson City would become the political heart of Nevada. Curry’s political accomplishments included stints as a Territorial Assemblyman from 1862-63, a Territorial Senator from 1863-64, warden of the state prison and superintendent of the Mint. Curry died in 1873 and was buried in the city he helped to create. (ednote- bur. Lone Mountain Cemetery)

Note - slb: Curry is said to have died with scant monies at the time of his death yet his funeral was described by the local newspapers as the most well-attended and "deeply-felt" sad occasion to date in Carson City. His wife and daughter were left to live on for some years in genteel land-rich poverty, maintaining a school in their home, until the last of the Curry holdings were sold.

Date Uploaded: September 12, 2007

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