1830-40.] OTWAYCURRY. - 91 progress of his mind from the first rude attempts at versification up to his best orig- inal composition. How many pages were consigned to the flames after having been corrected, recited, committed to memory, and conned during the sleepless nights when nothing distracted his mind but the rustling of the forest leaves, or the music of the katydid ! Could we get the genesis of even one living poetical creation, how much upheaving and downthrowing ; how much fiery and watery agitation ; how many depositions in darkness, should we see, before even a stand-point was gained ; and then, how long after this before light comes, and the spirit moves on the face of the waters ! Mr. Curry's first published poetry was so full of fine sentiment and pleasing imagery, and was Avithal so melodious in versification, that it attracted attention and won admi- ration at once. On his return to Cincinnati, he contributed more freely to the press, over the signature of "Abdallah." It was at this time that he formed the acquaint- ance of Wm. D. Gallagher, who was induced to seek for him by reading his stanzas, "The Minstrel's Home." This acquaintance was improved by time, and unbroken by jealousy, envy, or serious misunderstanding. On leaving Cincinnati, Mr. Curry returned to Union county, where, in December, 1828, he was married to Mary Note- man, a lady well worthy of him, and who became a prudent and devoted wife. In 1829 he again visited the South, and spent four or five months at Baton Rouge, contributing, meanwhile, poetical productions both to the Cincinnati Mirror and the Cincinnati Chronicle. Upon his return, he settled in Union county, and engaged anew in agricultural pursuits, which he prosecuted with industry till 1839. While on his farm he courted the muses as opportunity offered, and issued some of his best verses from his rural home. He first appeared in public life in 1836, when he was elected a member of the House of Representatives, in the State Legislature of Ohio. Li this capacity he won the respect of his colleagues, and the confidence and approbation of his constituents, who re-elected him in 1837. In 1838 he became united with Mr. Gallagher in the editorship of the Hesperian, at Columbus — a monthly literary journal of high order, which, not being adequately sustained, was discontinued at the end of the third volume. In 1839 he removed to Marysville, and commenced the study of the law. In 1842 he was again returned to the Legislature ; during that term of service he purchased the Greene County Torch Light, a weekly paper published at Xenia, whither he removed in the spring of 1843. He conducted his paper — the style of which he changed to Xenia Torch Light — in a very creditable manner, for two successive years, when he sold it, and removing to Marysville, thenceforward devoted himself to his profession. Although he entered the law late in life, and practiced it scarcely ten years, yet, as we are assured by one of his ablest competitors, he had no superior as a sound lawyer, within the range of his practice, and bade fair, if his life had been spared a few years longer, to become an eminent legal mind. In 1850 he was elected a member of the second Ohio Constitutional Convention, and with manly firmness and dignity he resisted some of the principles of the instru- ment which that able body elaborated.
