The Curtis Families of Clinton County, Ohio

DAVID CURTIS, farmer, P. 0. New Antioch, born in Virginia, November 7, 1826, is a son of Christopher and Sarah Curtis, natives of Virginia, and his grandfather was Christopher Curtis, who came from Germany when a young man and married Catharine Engle, of Pennsylvania, and soon afterward settled in Bedford County, Virginia, where they died. Christopher, the father of our subject, was born in Bedford County, near Liberty Court House on the Blue Ridge, July 19, 1801; married Sarah J. Turpin in 1820. In October, 1833, they removed to Ohio and settled in Highland County. In March, 1835, they removed into Greene Township, Clinton County, where they lived till their death. His wife died June 17, 1861. By her he had eight children, four now survive — Martha Ann, wife of Richard Morton; David; Sarah Jane, wife of Lewis Oatswarth, and reside in Jay County, Ind., and James C. In 1864, Mr. Curtis married for his second wife Emily Adams, by whom ho had four children, three now living — Thomas, Alexander and Sophronia. Mr. Curtis, when he arrived in Highland County, had only 50 cents left. He had intended to settle in Indiana, but his money gave out and he settled as above stated, and at once commenced in this then new country to make a living and home for his family, and by diligence and economy he succeeded well, and before his death owned 163 acres of land, well improved, with the general comforts of life. He died July 7, 1876. Mr. Curtis was a man of undoubted integrity, and a devoted member of the Baptist Church. He and his first wife joined the Blue Ridge Baptist Church in 1825, and in 1839 joined by letter the Baptist Church of New Vienna and were among the constituent members at its organization. He made the shingles for the roof of the church as his portion in its erection. He died in triumphs of faith, declaring, near his last moments, “ My way is clear.” David, our subject, was a lad of seven years when his father settled in Ohio, and here grew to maturity; was married February 2, 1854, to Martha Jane Truitt, born in Clinton County, Greene Township, September 6, 1836, a daughter of George W. and Abigail Truitt, he a native of Kentucky and she of Clinton County, Ohio. By this union they have had nine children, seven now survive — Allen A, born January 28, 1855; William H., January 14, 1858; James E., July 8, 1863; Frank, May 6,

1866; Lulie, March 2, 1871; George, November 22, 1873, and Lucy, born April 17, 1876. Mr. Curtis first located on the old Truitt farm, adjoining where he now lives. He has made his entire residence since in Greene Township, except one year (1865), during which he lived in Wayne Township, this county. In the spring of 1868, he located on his present place, where he has since resided. In 1874 and 1875, he erected his present substantial buildings and moved into the new house in May, 1875. He has a fine farm and a good home and residence. He now owns 375 acres of some of the best land in Greene Township. In 1854, when they commenced in life and started to housekeeping, they were in debt $50. Their present possessions have all been made by their own industry, except $750 received of their parents — thus showing a life of diligence and economy with their sure result, worthy of imitation.

As printed in the source¹. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

ALLEN ALBERT CURTIS.

Allen Albert Curtis, now a well-known farmer and stockman In Green township, this county, where he owns ft farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres, was born on January 28, 185. in the township where he lives, a son of David and Martha J. (Trultt) Curtis, both natives of Virginia, the former born in 1827 and the latter in 1837.

The paternal grandparents of Mr. Curtis were Christopher and Sarah Curtis, pioneers in Highland county. Ohio, who inter moved to Clinton county, where both spent most of their lives, and where both died. Upon coming to Clinton county, they settled on what Is now known as the HIgglns farm. Mr. Curtls's maternal grandparents were George and Abigail (Applegate) Trultt, the former of whom was a son of William Trultt. a pioneer of Clinton county, who died at the age of about ninety years. George and Abigail (Applettnte) Trultt were pioneer farmers in Clinton county, where both spent most of their lives, and where both died, the latter dying in the house where her grandson, Allen Albert Curtis, now lives, in 1906, at the age of eighty-four years.

The late Dnvid Curtis was a farmer by occupation, a Democrat in politics, and a member of the Baptist church. He and his wife were the parents of nine children, of whom Allen Albert Is the eldest, the others. In the order of their birth being as follow: William, Sarah, James K.. Jennie, Frank. Lulu, George und Lucy. Of these children Sarah. Jennie and Lula ure deceased. Lula, who was the wife of Frank Steele, died in March. liK*. Lucy is the wife of Oscar Matthews. David Curtis died in 181)8. and his widow Is still living. Allen Albert Curtis was reared on his father's farm and was educated in the public schools. For many years he has lived on the farm of one hundred and twenty-five acres which he owns in (Ireen township.

On January 2. 187! Allen Curtis was married to Ollie West, a native of Cllutou county, who was born in Wayne township on March 17. ISfil. daughter of Edmoud and Jane (Bernard) West, the latter of whom was the daughter of George Washington Bernard, mentioned elsewhere In this work. Edmond West was born in Wayne township, the son of a pioneer farmer of that township. To Mr. and Mrs. Curtis twelve children have been born, Winnie. William, Edna. Hurley. Jennie. Howard. Carrie. Jessie. Fred, Mary. Mabel and Stanley, all of whom are living save William.

Mr. and Mrs. Curtis are members of the Christian church at Centervllle and are regular attendants and active workers In that church. Mr. Curtis votes the Democratic ticket.

On the memorial roll of Clinton county, there is uo name more worthy of respectful consideration than that of the late Hon. F.lius Dsikiu Harlan, former member of the lower bouse of the Ohio General Assembly from this district, and for many years one of the most prominent factors In the agricultural, social and el vie life of this county. Honored by the electors of this district by the election for two successive terms as member of the state Legislature, he performed his duties to his district and his state, in that important capacity, in such a manner as to give his name a high place on the roster of Ohio's constructive statesmen and his memory long will be cherished hereabout. One of the leading farmers of the county, he for years was regarded as one of the most intelligent exponents of the modern methods of agriculture in this wirt of the state, and In 1893 was appointed as a delegate to the national farmers congress held at the Worlds Columbian Exposition at Chicago, in that year, on the recommendation of his warm friend and close associate, the Hot). John Sherman. For many years he was chairman of the Clinton county Republican committee and In this position wielded a powerful influence In political affairs throughout this section of Ohio. He was known as an effective organizer and In district and state conventions of his party his counsel ami advice were enrgerly sought by the leaders of the party In the state, his political labors and Influence thus extending to all parts of the state. In the purely local field, he had served his township faithfully and well for years as a justice of the peace, his Judgments ever being regarded as Just and true by his nelghlKirs, and he had performed equally faithful and effective service as a member of the board of education, his strong interest In the schools giving to this service an unusual value, which the community was not slow to appreciate. Faithful in all the relations of life, an honored veteran of the Civil War. an Indefatigable worker and a true and public spirited citizen, he was a man well worthy-if praise and it is but tilting and proper that in this history of the county in which the best efforts of his life were so unsellishly expended there should appear a brief and modest review of his useful career.

Ellas Dakin Harlan was born on a farm in Adams township, this comity, on April 1. 1S.T7. son of Nathaniel and Lydla (Dakin) Harlan, pioneers of this county and leaders in the community life of their neighborhood. Nathaniel Harlan was one of the most Influential factors In the development of the Adams township section of the county. A

HON. ELIAS DAKIN HAltLAN.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

Among the industrious farmers of Liberty township, this county, is Frank Curtis, who was born in this county on May 0. lKfiU. the son of David and Martha J. (Truitt) Curtis, the former of whom was born in Virginia and the latter in Clinton county. the daughter of George and Abide (Applegnte) Trnltt. George Truitt was a farmer and large landowner in Clinton county. The paternal grandparents of Frank Curtis were Christopher Curtis and wife, who were natives of Virginia and were married in that state. After their marriage, they came to Ohio and engaged In farming In Clinton county. They were devout members of the Baptist church.

[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]

Frank Curtis, who was educated in the common schools of Green township and was reared on his father's farm in this county, was married in December. 1888. to Lucinda Morton, who was born In Clinton county, the daughter of Isaiah and Jennie (Lleurance) Morton, farmers In Green township nnd life-long members of the Baptist church. After his marriage, Mr. Curtis located on the old home farm, where he lived until about seven years ago, ut which time he purchased the farm of one hundred and one acres, where he now lives and where he Is profitably engaged in general farming.

To Frank and Lucinda (Morton) Curtis twelve children have been born, of whom one. Russell, is deceased, the living children, in the order of their birth, being Ixmnie, Roy. Carl, Elzle. Chloe, Sarah, Alice, Lucy, Martha, Opal and Burdsal.

Mr. and Mrs. Curtis are popular citizens of Liberty township. Mrs. Curtis Is a member of the Baptist church and active In the various works of the church. Mr. Curtis Is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows.

Another of the grandsons of the well-known pioneer family of McKay in this county Is Clarence H. McKay, of Chester township, the son of Jonathan McKay, nnd a keen, ambitious nnd Intelligent young farmer and stockman. He Is the owner of two hundred nnd eighty-eight acres of land, and Is also an extensive dealer in hogs and cattle, which he buys and sells.

As printed in the source². Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.

R. CURTIS, merchant, Sabina, was born in Wayne Township, this county * 182G, and is a son of Edward Curtis, who was a son of Edward Curtis. Sr., 0f y-ln ginia. Edward, Sr., was a son of Job Curtis, who was born in England, but came to and settled in Virginia, where he died. Edward, Sr., came with his family to Term see, where Edward, Jr., was born, and in 1805 he came to this State and located in this county. With him he brought wife and eight children, viz., Thomas, Mary, Frances, Rachel, Job, Edward, Martha, John, James, Sarah and an infant; the three latter were born in this county. Of these eleven children, Martha alone survives. Mrs. Curtis, wife of Edward, Sr., died in 1810; he survived her until 1848, when he died at the age of seventy-four years. His settlement here was made in an old Indian camp arid among the red men of the woods. Edward, Jr., was married to Elizabeth, the daughter of John Lyon, of this county, after which lie settled in what is now Wayne Township where he lived many years, and in 1838 came to Richland Township, in which he resided till 1851, when he removed to Delaware County, Ind., and where he died in 1860. Il0 was a member of the Christian Church, and was one of the founders of that church in the county. His wife died in 1856. To them were born nine children, two of whom live in this county, viz., Richard and James W.; five are living in other States, to wit: Nancy and Benjamin, in Indiana; Edward, Martha and Job, in Illinois. The subject of this sketch labored on the farm until of age, when he began “ huckstering,” a business ho followed four years. In 1851, he began merchandising in Wayne Township, and in 18511 he came to Sabina, and entered into a partnership with Jacob Thiebold, with whom he did business till 1858 in general merchandising. Selling his interest, he entered into a copartnership with his brother James W., with whom he did business until 1869 at which time he again became connected with Mr. Thiebold, with whom he was associated till 1876, when they closed out and organized a private bank, which they closed up two years later. In 1880, he became’ half-owner in his present business with Mr. A. Arnold. Was married, in 1850, to Miss Lucinda, the daughter of Adam Plymirc, by whom he had eight <children. three living, viz., Charley W., Milton C. and John J.- the deceased were Francis M., George R., Letitia and two infants. Mr. Curtis has been Treasurer and Trustee of the township ten years; is one of the charter members of Sabina Masonic Lodge, No. 324; owns 265 acres of valuable land, and is one among the substantial and moneyed men of the county. Mrs. Curtis died August 9, 1880, aged fifty years. Both belong to the Methodist Protestant Church.

As printed in the source³. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.