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JAMES COURCY
Portrait and Biographical Record of Leavenworth, Douglas, and Franklin Counties. Chicago: Chapman Publishing Co, 1899. p. 823
James Courcy,1 a retired farmer and businessman residing in Leavenworth, and one of the pioneers of Kansas, was born in Bangor, Maine 2, in 1828, a son of James and Hannah Courcy. When he was a child, his parents moved to New Orleans LA, and he attended school in that city. After a short time the family went to Chicago, and there lived from 1838 to 1841. From there he went to Stephenson County and later to Jo Davies County ILL. The mining excitement in California led him to go to the Pacific coast in 1850, and there he engaged in farming and mining, being successful in both. Seven years were spent in the far west. On his return to the east, he took up land in Johnson County, Kansas and also purchased land in Leavenworth County. Since then he has added to his property until he now has two hundred and forty acres in one tract, and one sixty in the other. Improving the property in Johnson County, he had his house on it for four years, and then sold and came to Leavenworth County.
While engaged in general farming, Mr. Courcy's specialty was fruit growing and dairying. He also carried on a livestock business, having about one hundred and twenty-five head. The products of his dairy were sold mostly in Leavenworth, although frequently he made shipments to Kansas City. The business was conducted under his personal supervision and proved the source of a fine income. In October, 1897, he sold all of his stock and has since rented his farms. He started the Leavenworth Dairy and Creamery Company in Leavenworth, but has turned the business over to his sons, and is now living retired, enjoying in the twilight of his life the fruits of his early labors.
Politically Mr. Courcy is a Democrat. He was a warm admirer of Horace Greeley, whom he supported for the presidency. In religion he is identified with the Roman Catholic Church. Fraternally he is connected with Knights of Pythias. He erected a couple of residences in Leavenworth, but these he has since sold. In 1857 he married Mary Murphy of Illinois. They became the parents of six children, of whom five are living, Edward 3, a miner in Colorado; Mary, wife of Charles Barrett; James, who is engaged in the creamery business; Harry, who is assistant superintendent of the electric railroad; and Charles, who is interned in the creamery with his older brother.
1 "Courcy" is the more original French spelling of the Coursey or DeCoursey name. In early records James and his family use the "Coursey" spelling. It appears that James' sons changed the spelling to DeCoursey around 1890, perhaps for they thought it was better suited to their dairy business. James seems to have more or less kept the Coursey spelling until his death, however.
2 Incorrect. Most other documentation indicates he was born in Canada, while his sister Elizabeth was born in Bangor.
3 Should be Edwin. (He may have been called Edward.)
| From "The DeCoursey Family", compiled by Aileen Colitti, 1995
Transcribed by Erica DeCoursey 2002 |
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