In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printings (1898 and 1907) are folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
From Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois (1907), The biographical record of De Kalb County, Illinois (1898), Portrait and biographical album of De Kalb County, Illinois .. (1885)
Elijah Curtis, farmer, section 8, Afton Township, was born in Douglass, YVorces- 1 ter Co., Mass., Nov. 23, 1836. His father, ! Bryant Curtis, was born in the same county, Dec. 4, 1803, and died in Afton Township, Dec. 8, 1SS0. His mother, Patience, nee Powers, was born June n, 1803, in Croydon, Sullivan Co., N. H., and died March 12, 1876, in Afton Township, this county. She was twice married, the issue of her first marriage being one son, and of her second, four sons and four daughters. Her first son was Harvey Powers Robbins. The names of her other children are Joanna Maria, Mary E., Elijah, Sarah, Martha A., Stephen, David B. and Nathan S.
Elijah Curtis, subject of this notice, was reared on a farm in Worcester Co., Mass. He assisted in the farm labors and attended the common schools until the age of 19 years, then came to this county, arriving here in 1856. He engaged in farm labor by the month, and continued in that vocation until 1859. He then began working land on shares and followed that until 1861.
At this period in his life's history, the nation became imperiled, and he went forth to aid in her defense. He enlisted in Co. C, 58th 111. Vol. Inf., Capt. G. W. Kittell and Col. VV. F. Lynch, of the 1 6th Corps, 2d Division. His regiment was in active service at Fort Donelson. He also participated in the battle of Shiloh, and was wounded, April 6, 1862. He then came home on a furlough, the hospital being full, and spent three months, after which he returned to his regiment at Camp Danville, Miss. He was in the battle of Corinth and received a wound in the right ankle Oct. 4, 1862. The wound was made by what was supposed to be a sharpshooter's ball, a piece of which was found in his stocking. He was taken to the hospital, where he remained two weeks, and was then sent to the hospital at St. Louis; was there a month, received a furlough, came home and remained two months, then went to the hospital at Chicago and was there four months, when he returned to his regiment at Springfield, Ill. His regiment was recruiting at Springfield, and two months later moved to Cairo, Ill., where it was encamped during the fall and winter of 1863-4. The regiment then joined Sherman's army at Vicksburg, and participated in a raid through Mississippi, after which it returned to Vicksburg. He then participated in the Red River expedition and during the same was wounded in the left high, May 18, 1863, and was sent to Jefferson Barracks, Mo. He remained there two months, received a furlough for a month and then joined his regiment at Jefferson Barracks. The regiment " were after" Price and had a battle with him near Kansas City, after which it returned to St. Louis and shipped on board a steamer for Nashville to join Gen. Thomas in time to participate in the battle of Nashville. The regiment then went to Eastport, Tenn. Mr. Curtis then left the regiment to be mustered out, his time having expired, and was discharged Feb. 7, 1865, at Chicago. He enlisted as a private, and at the time of his muster out he was Sergeant.
On receiving his discharge from the army, Mr. Curtis came to this county and engaged in farm labor by the month, which he followed for a year, and then traded 40 acres of land for an 80-acre tract in Clinton Twonship, on which he moved.
Mr. Curtis was first married July 2, 1865, to Miss Candace E. Bovee. She was a daughter of Richard and Orpha (Parks) Bovee, and was born in Erie Co., N. Y., Sept. 14, 1836, and died June 22, 1875. She was the mother of one child, David G., born Feb. 9, 1868. He. was married a second time, April 3, 1879, to Miss Juliette E. Hurd, a daughter of Alanson and Jerusha A. (Springer) Hurd, both natives of" York " State, the former born April 4, 18 12, and the latter Dec. 25, 1820. Both her parents are living in Dakota, and their children comprised five sons and four daughters, namely: Robert F., Juliette E., Susan P., Harriet M., Mary S., Durfy S., Millie M. and Samuel A. By the last marriage of Mr. Curtis there are two children, namely: Hortense, born Sept. 9, 1880, died Oct. 10, 1884, and Sarah E., born Jan. 10, 1883.
The grandfather of Mr. Curtis was a Revolutionary soldier and participated in the capture of Burgo\ ne's army; and Mr. Curtis still retains in his possession the old musket that his grandfather used during those dark days. The family of Mr. Curtis, his father's family, and his grandfather's family all lived on a piece of land that was deeded to his great-grandfather, Beriah Curtis, by the King of England.
Mi. Curtis also has in his possession a cutlass his great-grand father captured at Cape Town, West Indies. The mother of our subject had four uncles who participated in the battle of Hunker Hill, and were among the fortunate ones to escape unhurt. A brother of Mr. Curtis died in a rebel prison at Danville, Vt., and a brother of Mrs. Curtis died in a hospital at 1 helena, Ark
Mrs. Curtis, present wife of the subject of this notice, was born in Marion Co., Ind. Aug. 14, 1844. Her parents were farmers and of German descent.
Mr. Curtis added 80 acres to his original 80, and in 1873 exchanged the 160 for his present farm of 200 acres. He is at present Highway Commissioner and Town Clerk, and also a member of the Board of School Directors, of which he is Clerk. Politically he is a Republican. Socially, he is a member of Merritt Simonds Post, No. 283,0. A. R., of which he is Sergeant Major.
The subject of the foregoing biographical notice being a representative man and a prominent citizen of DeKalb County, the publishers place a portrait of his features in this work.
>marshall Miller, of Squaw Grove Township, has been a resident therein since the fall,fx of 1836, having come here when about 18 \ months old. His parents, Samuel and Gil- 'V" ley M. (Sebree) Miller, were natives of Kentucky I and Indiana, and on coming to Illinois settled in Squaw Grove Township. Their only child at that time is the subject of this sketch. They passed their after lives in and near the village of Hinckley. The death of the mother occurred about 1849; that of the father took place Feb. 2, 1880. Mr. Miller had five brothers and sisters, — John, William, Charles, Melissa and Augusta.
Mr. Miller obtained a common-school education of the kind common to pioneers. He was an inmate of the paternal homestead until he was 27 years of age, when he married and settled down to an independent career. He is now the owner of no acres of land, the chief proportion of which is under tillage.
He was married Dec. 31, 1860, to Maria L., daughter of Alexander and Miranda (Nicho!) Coster, in
As printed in Portrait and biographical album of DeKalb County, Illinois .. (1885). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
ELIJAH CURTIS, a retired farmer residing; in the city of DeKalb, Illinois, has been a resident of the county for forty-two years, during which time he has principally engaged in agricultural pursuits, but has also shown his loyalty to his country by a service of nearly four years in its army during the war for the union. He was born in Douglas, Worcester count\ Massachusetts, November 23, 1836, and is the son of Bryant and Patience (Powers) Curtis. Bryant Curtis was a native of Worcester county, Massachusetts, and was born December 4, 1803. By occupation he was a farmer, both in the east and after his coming to Illinois. Locating in Alton township, DeKalb county, he lived a life of usefulness and respectability, and passed away December 8, 1880. His wife was a native of Croydon, Sullivan county. New Hampshire, born June 11, 1803. After proving herself a companion meet for her husband in truthfulness and love, she was called to her reward, March 12, 1876.
Bryant Curtis was the son of Ebenezer Curtis, who earned for himself an enviable reputation for his daring courage in the Revolutionary war. He participated in the battles in which Burgoyne's army was defeated and captured. His descendant, the subject of this sketch, owns a musket that he used in those dark and troublous times. Mr. Curtis has also in his possession a cutlass captured by his great-granduncle at Cape Town, South Africa. The mother of Mr. Curtis had four uncles who were engaged in defense of freedom and independence at the battle of Bunker Hill. The Curtis family, as far back as the fourth generation, lived on land in Worcester county, Massachusetts, deeded to them by the King of England.
The subject of this sketch was reared and educated on a farm in Worcester county, Massachusetts, where he confined himself to agricultural pursuits. At the age of nineteen, he came to what was then the west, locating in DeKalb county, Illinois. Here he engaged as a fartn laborer, working by the month, at which vocation he continued until 1859, when he began to work land on shares. 'Ihis he followed for two years. At this period in his life's history, his county\ became imperiled, and, like many others of her brave and patriotic sons, Mr. Curtis went forth, placing himself upon her altar, that the nation's integrity and glory might be retained. How faithfully he performed this sacred duty, the following will attest.
In 1861 he was enrolled as a member of Company C, Fifty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, G. W. Kittell, captain, and W. F. Lynch, colonel. The regiment was assigned to the Second Division of the Sixteenth Army Corps, and participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Red River, Kansas City, Nashville, and Bayou La Mourie. At Shiloh, April 6, 1862, Mr. Curtis was wounded and was laid up for four months, during which time he visited his home, in Afton township, DeKalb county, Illinois. After the expiration of his furlough, he returned to his command, then stationed at Camp Danville, Mississippi. " At the battle of Corinth he was again wounded in the ankle, October 4, 1862. This caused an absence of seven months, during which time he again received a furlough to visit his home..At this time his regiment was recruiting at Springfield, and he joined it at that place. In the winter of 1863-4, his regiment joined Sherman's Army ar Vicksburg. and participated in a raid through Mississippi. At a battle fought during the Red River Expedition, Mr. Curtis received another wound. May 16, 1864, this time in the high. After a four months' furlough and rest, he returned to his command, then stationed at Jefferson Barracks.
After its brush with I'ricc at Kansas (ity the Fifty-eighth returned to St. Louis and shipped for XashvilJp, to join General Thomas, and armed lust 111 time to engage In a battle at that place. The regiment was then sent to Eastport. at which place Mr. Curtis left it, his time having expired. He was honorably discharged at Chicago, February 7, 1865, as sergeant of his cumpanw being promoted to that rank at Corinth, Mississippi, as a reward for his bravery in that contest. He still carries the ball received at that battle. At the battle of Shiloh, his regiment was surrounded and after a well contested struggle it was obliged to surrender, but after being imprisoned seven months it was paroled. A brother of Mr.
Curtis was;i ineinber of Company G. Fiftyseventh Massachusetts X'ohinteL-r Infantry, and died in Uan\iile, N'virginia.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
Jime 13, 1898. Mr. Curtis traces Ins ancestors back to John Leland, who was anti]nary to I\ing Henry VIII, of England.
[This passage is too damaged in the scanned book to reproduce. See the original book.]
As printed in The biographical record of DeKalb County, Illinois (1898). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
ELIJAH CURTIS.
Among the residents of DeKalb who are now living retired but who in former years were closely identified with agricultural interests, is numbered Elijah Curtis, and his record as a man and citizen, and as a soldier, well entitle him to representation in this volume among the respected and worthy-citizens of the county. A native of Massachusetts, he was born in Douglas, Worcester county, November 23, 1836, his parents being Bryant and Patience (Powers) Curtis. The father was a native of Worcester county, bom December 8, 1803, and followed agricultural pursuits in the east and alec after coming to Illinois. Removing to the middle west, he located in Afton township, DeKalb county, where he spent his remaining days, passing away December 8, 1880, respected by all who knew him. His wife was a native of Croydon, Sullivan county, New Hampshire, born June 11, 1803, and died March 12, 18T6.
Bryant Curtis was a son of Ebenezer Curtis, who won for himself an enviable reputation for his daring and courage in the Revolutionary war. He participated in the battles in which Burgoyne's army was defeated and captured. His descendant, Elijah Curtis, owns the musket which his grandfather carried in the struggle for independence and also has in his possession a cutlass captured by his great-granduncle at Cape Town, South Africa. The mother of Mr. Curtis had four uncles who fought for the liberty of the nation at the battle of Bunker Hill. The Curtis family, as far back as the fourth generation, lived on land in Worcester county, Massachusetts, deeded to them by the king of England. Mrs. Curtis was also a cousin of Abigal Fillmore, wife of President Fillmore.
Upon the home farm in his native county, Elijah Curtis was reared and when not busy with his text-books his time and attention were given to the work of the fields. He was nineteen years of age when he became a resident of DeKalb county and here he has since resided. He first provided for his own support by working as a farm hand, being thus employed until 1859, when, wishing that his labors might more directly benefit himself, he began operating land on shares. For two years he was thus engaged, at the end of which time he responded to his country's call for troops. The south made its attack upon Fort Sumter and the call to arms was heeded by men who flocked to the standard of the nation from work shops, oflsces, counting rooms and fields. Mr. Curtis proved a most loyal soldier and in every position in which he was placed he was true to the duty which devolved upon him as a defender of the stars and stripes.
In 1861 he was enrolled as a member of Company C, Fifty-eighth Illinois Volunteer Infantry,
G. W. Kittell, captain, and W. F. Lynch, colonel. The regiment was assigned to the Second Division of the Sixteenth Army Corps, and participated in the battles of Fort Donelson, Shiloh, Corinth, Red River, Kansas City, Nashville and Bayou La Mourie. At Shiloh, April 6, 1862, Mr. Curtis was wounded and was laid up for four months, during which time he visited his home in Afton township, DeKalb county, Illinois. After the expiration of his furlough, he returned to his command, then stationed at Camp Danville, Mississippi. At the battle of Corinth he was again wounded in the ankle, October 4, 1862. This caused an absence of seven months, during which time he again received a furlough to visit his home. At this time his regiment was recruiting at Springfield, and he joined it at that place. In the winter of 1863-4, his regiment joined Sherman's army at Vicksburg, and participated in a raid through Mississippi. At a battle fought during the Red River expedition, Mr. Curtis received another wound, May 16, 1864, this time in the high. After a four months' furlough aijd rest, he return,ed to his command, then stationed at Jefferson Barracks.
After its first brush with Price at Kansas City, the Fifty-eighth returned to St. Louis and shipped for Nashville, to join General Thomas, and arrived just in time to engage ia a battle at that place. The regiment wa? then sent to Eastport, at which place Mr. Curtis left it, his time having expired. He was honorably discharged at Chicago, February 7, 1865, as sergeant of his company, being promoted to that rank at Corinth, Mississippi, as a reward for his bravery in that contest. He still carries the ball received at that battle. At the battle of Shiloh, his regiment was surrounded and after a well contested struggle it was obliged to surrender, but after being imprisoned seven months it was paroled. A brother of Mr. Curtis was a member of Company G, Fifty-seventh Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and died in a rebel prison at Danville, Virginia.
When the war was over and the country no longer needed his aid, Mr. Curtis began farming in Clinton township, cultivating forty acres which he owned. Subsequently he sold that farm and bought eighty acres and afterward added a tract of eighty acres, in Milan townfdup, wfaieh he later exchanged for a valuable farm of two hundred acres in Afton township. Since his retirement from active business life he has sold that property but owns a good residence in DeKalb and three other houses in the city.
On the 2d of July, 1865, Mr. Curtis married Miss Candace E. Bovee, a daughter of Richard and Orpha (Parks) Bovee. She was born in Erie county, New York, September 14, 1836, and was one of the pioneer school teachers of DeKalb county. She was betrothed to Mr. Curtis before the war but gave him up at the call of his country and cheerfully waited his return. She died on the 22d of June, 1875, leaving one son, David G.
For his second wife Mr. Curtis those Miss Juliette E. Hurd, a native of Marion county, Indiana, born August 14, 1844, a daughter of Alanson and Jerusha A. (Springer) Hurd, both natives of the state of New York. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis was celebrated April 3, 1879, and two daughters blessed this union: Hortense, who was born September 9, 1880, and died October 10, 1884; and Sarah Eloise, who was born January 10, 1883. The wife and mother died December 1, 1886, at the age of forty-two years.
On the 3d of December, 1891, Mr. Curtis married Mrs. Wealthy M. White, the widow of James White, a sergeant of the Twelfth New York Volunteer Infantry, and a daughter of Robert Morse and Caroline Smith, both of whom were natives of New York. She was a student in a boarding school in New York state, afterward pursued a two years' medical course at BlackwelFs Island, New York, and was graduated at a trained nurse. She also pursued a business course in Binghamton, that state, and is an accomplished lady. By her first marriage she has one daughter, Nina, and unto Mr. and Mrs. Curtis has been born one son, Leland Powers, whose birth occurred June 15,
In his political allegiance Mr. Curtis is a stanch republican and has been called to a number of local offices, serving as town clerk, as road commissioner and as school director. He now receives a pension which was granted him by special act of congress. He was formerly a member of the Merritt Simonds post, G. A. R., of DeKalb, of which he served as commander in 1896, and was transferred to Potter post, No. 12, G. A. R., of Sycamore, to which he now belongs. Mr. Curtis is a man of many excellent traits of character, possesses a kindly and genial disposition and whei*-
Google ever he goes he wins friends. He continued actively in business for many years and then, with the competence acquired through his former labor, he retired to private life. He is today as true and loyal a citizen as when he followed the old flag on southern battle-fields. He possesses considerable poetical talent, in proof of which we append a song which was written by him and dedicated to his comrades of the Third Brigade, and which was sung to the tune of 'Wearing of the Green."
General Grant to Sherman said: "Abe depends on you and me. And with a hundred transports We'll ascend the Tennessee." At Shiloh on one April morn When the first attack was made, The long roll beat and bugles rang Throughout the Old Brigade.
Our gallant Wallace led us out
Amid the shot and shell
We formed in line and fought that day
And our brave Wallace fell.
And some of us were wounded,
And on a boat were laid,
While Sweeney with an empty sleeve
Stood by the Old Brigade.
Our orders were to hold the line. Said Sweeney, "We'll do our best"; Four times they charged and were repulsed, While we held the "Hornets' nest." 'Twas there that General Johnson fell In a fearful charge they made. The field was cove re-1 with the slain WTiere fought the Old Brigade.
The army of the Cumberland Crossed the river in the night. Helped plant the guns that moved the woods,
All drenching in the rain;
Which bathed the wounds and cooled the brown
Of all the dying o'er hills and glade
And washed "Old Glory's" stains away,
The blood of the Old Brigade.
We're marching on with feeble steps To fight one battle more. Then they will lay us down to rest With comrades gone before. To wait the final reveille To join the grand parade — "On fame's eternal camping-ground" Well find the Old Brigade. ♦Gunboats.
As printed in Past and present of DeKalb County, Illinois (1907). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Named in this biography: Squaw Grove
The printed record stops around 1907. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.