George was the son of James and Margaret (Davis) Curns. He married first Sarah M. Davis. He married second Susan Shemory on 14 Oct 1855.
George served in Company C, Pennsylvania 52nd Volunteer Infantry Regiment during the Civil War. He was mustered into service on 17 Oct 1861 and was mustered out on 15 Aug 1864 (3 Year Term). He served alongside his brother Robert Freeman Curns in the same unit.
Family records give George's birth date as 18 Dec 1833. The date of 1834 on the gravestone is believed to be an error.
THE EVENING EXPRESS, LOCK HAVEN, PA, TUESDAY, MAY 18, 1897
DEATH OF GEROGE C. CURNS
A Veteran of the Late War and a Jury Commissioner.
George C. CURNS, a well-known citizen and veteran of the late war, died at daylight this morning at his home in Castanea, aged 69 (?) years. He is survived by his wife, one sister, Mrs. Emma HANNA, of Mill Hall; and two brothers, Robert F., of Pine Station, and William, of Mt. Carmel.
Deceased was born at Dunnstown, this county, and spent his life as a resident of Clinton county, with the exception of a few years when he resided in Snyder county. He served three years in the Army as a member of Company C, 52nd Pennsylvania Volunteers. He returned from the war with shattered health and has been an invalid for the past four years, suffering from a complication of diseases. Last evening he attended a meeting of the school board of Castanea township, at which he acted as secretary. At daylight this morning he was taken with a hemorrhage and passed away quickly. Deceased was of a gentle disposition, kind hearted and obliging, a kind husband and a good citizen. He possessed fine musical talent and was a musician in the band of the 52nd Regiment during the war. He was well-known throughout this and adjoining counties as teacher of singing classes and conductor of musical singing classes and conductor of musical conventions and for a member of years was leader of the English Lutheran church choir in this city. He was a staunch Republican and at the time of his death was serving as jury commissioner, having been elected to that office on the republican ticket in 1894. He was a useful citizen and served for numerous successive terms as clerk of Castanea township. Deceased was a brother of the late Rev. James CURNS, of the Central Pennsylvania M.E. Conference.
The funeral will take place Thursday forenoon. Funeral services will be conducted in the M.E. church at Dunnstown at 10 o'clock, interment in the cemetery at that place. Deceased was a member of John B. Bittner Post G.A.R.