Biography of J. M. Courtney

J. M. Courtney played a pivotal role in the growth of Cherryvale, where he settled as the town flourished. Born on March 31, 1840, in Ohio, he moved to Illinois with his family before serving as a private in the Civil War. After various occupations, including running a drug store and real estate, he took on significant civic roles, notably as city treasurer and justice of the peace. Married twice, Courtney was active in local organizations and remained a highly respected figure in the community.

J. M. COURTNEY—Cherryvale was still in its swaddling clothes when J. M. Courtney took up residence within its borders. He helped nurse it into vigorous and lusty youth, witnessed the passing of the line into manhood, and glories now in the evidences of its strength and prosperity. During these years he has been constant in his interest in the progress of the city and has given much time and effort to the building up of those institutions which constitute its pride, and particularly in the line of education. His various official duties as justice of the peace, superintendent of the waterworks, and vice president of the Montgomery County Bank, keep him in close touch with the people and make him a potent factor in the development which is now taking place in his section of the county.

March 31st, 1840, and Trumbull county, Ohio, mark the date and place of birth of Mr. Courtney. Michael and Grace (Piersol) Courtney were the names of his parents, both natives of the “Buckeye State,” and the father a shoemaker by trade. They were respected members of society, devout communicants of the Methodist church, and of intense and loyal patriotism. They removed to Illinois in 1845, where the father died in Vermillion county the same year. His wife survived him over a half century, dying at the advanced age of eighty-three years, in 1901. They reared nine children, four of whom still survive. After the death of the father the family went back to Mercer county, Pa., in 1847, where our subject was reared to man’s estate. He passed the years of early manhood in helping cultivate the home farm, and was thus occupied when the tocsin of war resounded through the land, calling those of patriot blood to save the nation from disunion. In October of 1861, he left the furrow and became a private in Company “I,” Second Penn. Cav. This regiment joined the forces about Washington, but Mr. Courtney did not see much of the active fighting, as he was soon taken sick with that soldier’s scourge, the measles, which in turn was followed by an attack of smallpox. After a dreary time in the hospital, our subject recovered sufficiently to act as a nurse to the wounded, and, owing to the urgent demand for that kind of help, he was kept there on detail until he was discharged for disability, the smallpox having left his eyes in bad condition.

After the war, Mr. Courtney went to Vermillion county, Illinois, for a period, and in 1866 located in Labette county, Kansas, where he continued to reside to the date of his coming to Cherryvale, 1876. With the exception of a year spent at Eureka Springs in the vain attempt to improve the health of his wife, our subject has held continuous residence in the city. He ran a drug store for several years, then went into the real estate business, which he has followed in connection with his duties as superintendent of the water works, his appointment dating from 1892. During these years he has been most active in the civic life of the community, serving as city treasurer, trustee of the County High School, member of the city school board, and has been now for three terms a justice of the peace.

Married life with Mr. Courtney began July 15th, 1866. The wife of his youth was Mary E. Wood, daughter of Daniel Wood. Her death occurred without issue, and on February 15th, 1885, our subject was joined to the lady who now presides over his household, Flora C. Willis. Her parents were J. W. and Mary Willis, residents of Illinois. Two children have been born—Earl M. and Rhea M. Mr. Courtney and family are members of the Methodist church, while he belongs to the Masons, the Woodmen, the A. O. U. W., the K. of H., and the G. A. R. He is an ardent Republican and a valued worker in the party. No more highly respected citizen is to be found within the confines of the city.