Randolph County, Indiana
Cyrus Courtney
Mr. Courtney was born August 20, 1853 in Switzerland county, Indiana. He is a son of William and Mahala (Pretzman) Courtney. The father was born December 3, 1814 in Harrison county, Kentucky, and he came to Switzerland county when twenty years old. The mother was born on March 25, 1820, in Switzerland county. William Courtney was a prosperous farmer. He moved to Randolph county in 1872 and settled on a farm in Greensfork township, which farm is now owned by his son, Cyrus B., of this sketch. The death of the father occurred on June 14, 1897, his widow surviving until May 2, 1912. Robert Courtney, paternal grandfather of our subject, came from New York state with his family to Harrison county, Kentucky, as a young married man, and later moved to Switzerland county, Indiana. The Pretzmans, the maternal side of our subject's family came from New Jersey with the early pioneers. The father of our subject helped build the first railroad in Indiana, having had a contract to build six miles of the grading. He was always a man active in public affairs. In the early days it was his custom to frequently take produce down the Ohio river and the Mississippi river to New Orleans on flat boats. This he followed for a number of years with gratifying results.
Cyrus B. Courtney was reared on the home farm and he assisted with the general work there when a boy. He received a common school education. He continued farming until 1891 when he moved to Winchester and engaged in the real estate and loan business, handling both farm and town properties, having an excellent knowledge of both, and he has built up a large and ever-growing business through his foresight, and honest and courteous dealings with his fellow men. He also owns the old home farm which he supervises.
Mr. Courtney was married on June 16, 1901 to Eva Roberts, daughter of George and Osia (Stutson) Roberts, of Williamsburg, Indiana. The father was born in the last named city and always lived there, with the exception of three years service in the Civil war, as a member of the Sixty-ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry. Both her parents are now deceased.
To our subject and wife one son has been born, George William Courtney.
Politically, Mr. Courtney is a Republican, but he has never sought to be a public man. He is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, having joined in 1890, Spartanburg Lodge, also belongs to the Encampment. His wife is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and is active in church work.
Past and Present of Randolph County, Indiana, 1914.
Contributed by Gina Richardson