CURTIS, GEORGE MARTIN 1844 – 1921

CURTIS, LEWIS, CARPENTER

Posted By: Volunteer Transcriber
Date: 6/12/2011 at 13:03:27

Clinton Herald, Thursday February 10, 1921, P. 6
GEORGE M. CURTIS DIES; FUNERAL TO BE ON SATURDAY
HEAD OF CURTIS INTERESTS PASSES AWAY, FOLLOWING LONG ILLNESS.
HERE SINCE 1867
Resident of Clinton Since Early Days – Last Survivor of Family of Ten Children – Active in Business and Politics.
George M. Curtis, aged 77 years, a resident of Clinton since 1867and identified with the city’s industrial development and political history since that time, passed away at 11 o’clock last night at his home, 414 Fifth avenue. His death culminated a life-time struggle against ill health, which he had successfully battled until he was finally stricken a few days ago, since which time he had been slowly succumbing to the overwhelming odds.
Funeral services are to be held at the late home at 3 o’clock “Saturday afternoon, followed by interment in Springdale cemetery. The active pall bearers are to be selected from Mr. Curtis’ younger associates in the offices of Curtis Bros. & Co., of which institution he was one of the founders, while the honorary pall bearers are to be the older men in the plant, associated with the company more than 40 years, and some of his older friends in the city.
Arrangements for the funeral have not yet been entirely completed, nor has a complete list of relatives and friends expected from out of the city been compiled. Among the earliest telegrams of sympathy, however, was one from Congressman Harry Hull, who said that he would come from Washington, D. C., to attend the services. Mr. and Mrs. C. B. Towle of Lincoln, Neb., also will be here. Senator A. B. Cummins, a staunch friend, now in Florida, is not expected.
Left to mourn the death of Mr. Curtis, of his immediate family, are his bereaved wife, formerly Miss Ettie Lewis, to whom he was married September 4, 1872, his two sons, George Lewis Curtis and Eugene Judson Curtis; and six grandchildren, Elizabeth, George M. II, and Etta Louise, children of Mr. and Mrs. G. L. Curtis, and Frances, Virginia and E. J. Jr., children of Mr. and Mrs. E. J. Curtis.
Had Many Interests.
Mr. Curtis was connected with a multiplicity of business interests, many of them developments of the sash and door business established in Clinton in 1866 by his brother, the late Charles Franklin Curtis. His political interests included an active part in the political affairs of the city, county and state. He served the county for two terms as a member of the state legislature and the Second Iowa congressional district as a representative in congress for two years.
He was chairman of the board of directors of Curtis Companies (Incorporated), a holding company for all of the Curtis interests, with offices and plants in various parts of the country. He also was president of Curtis Bros. & Co., of Clinton, the original institution and a part of the interests under the holding company, while he held an office in the directorate of each of the other companies operating under Curtis Companies (Incorporated). Other business interests included the vice presidency of the City National bank and membership on the board of directors of the McCloud River Lumber Company, a big institution with offices in Minneapolis and Mills at McCloud, Minn. He had been identified with the latter company since its organization in 1904. At various times, in his more active days, he also had served as a director of the First National bank of De Witt, a director of the Clinton Saddlery Company and a number of other institutions.
His entire life was a struggle against ill-health, members of the family said today. Even as a boy he was not stalwart but he was possessed of an iron will and frequently continued at his work when it was making expensive inroads on his health. In 1888, he suffered a breakdown and went to California to recuperate. Since that time his health had been increasingly precarious.
Native of New York.
Mr. Curtis was a native of New York state. He was born in Chenango county, New York, the son of John S. and Elizabeth (Carpenter) Curtis, April 1, 1844. In his death passed the last survivor of the family of ten children of whom only three sons reached maturity. Of the three sons, his brothers, Charles F. Curtis of Clinton and Cornelius S. Curtis of Wausau, Wis., having preceded Mr. Curtis in death.
In 1856, the family moved to Ogle county, Ill., where they settled on a farm in the vicinity of Rochelle, the father and sons engaging for ten years in farming. At the close of that period, in 1866, they moved to Rochelle and two years later the family came to Clinton, George M. and Charles F. Curtis having previously come here.
It was on the farm in Ogle county that the family sustained its most severe losses in membership, four children dying in a single week as a result of diphtheria. After the removal to Clinton another child died as a result of scarlet fever. The eldest son was killed fighting for the north in the Civil war, while the first loss by death was sustained in the east when one of the children died in infancy. George M. Curtis, himself, endeavored to enlist in the Civil war, running away from home for the purpose. He was sent back on account of his youth, however.
Until he was 16 years of age, George M. Curtis attended the district schools during the winter months and worked on his father’s farm in the summer. He then became a student in Mr. Morris seminary, Mr. Morris, Ill., and prepared himself for teaching, which profession he followed during the winter terms of 1862 and 1863. In the tow years following, until 1865, he was a clerk in a Rochelle store.
In 1865 he engaged in the coal business at Cortland, Ill., remaining there until 1867, when he purchased an interest in the sash and door business which his brother Charles F. Curtis, had established in Clinton in 1866. George M. Curtis took charge of the office affairs and also spent a part of his time as a traveling salesman for the plant.
That enterprise was the foundation of the present Curtis interests, of which Curtis Companies (Incorporated) is the holding company and which include: Curtis Bros. & Co. of Clinton; Curtis & Yale Company of Wausau, Wis.; Curtis-Yale-Holland Company of Minneapolis; Curtis Sash and Door Company of Sioux City; Curtis Door & Sash Company of Chicago; Curtis, Towle & Paine Company of Lincoln, Neb. and Topeka, Kan.; and the Cutis & Bentley Company of Oklahoma City, Okla. Curtis Companies (Incorporated) offices are maintained at Akron, Ohio, Pittsburgh, Pa., Baltimore, Md., and New York city, with administrative offices in Clinton.
Interest in Politics.
In addition to his activity in business affairs, his interests in which at one time included ownership of a California olive ranch, Mr. Curtis was keenly interested in politics. He was the first republican to be elected to congress from the Second Iowa district, as now constituted. His first election, in 1894 was over a normal democratic majority of almost 9,000, his victory being achieved with a majority of 436. In 1896 he was reelected by a majority of over 3,000, but in 1898 he declined to again make the race, for business reasons.
While in congress, his most active work was as a member of the committee on the District of Columbia. It was through his influence as a member of congress that an appropriation of $100,000 was secured for the erection of the present post office building. For many years, Mr. Curtis was prominent in local, state and national politics and has represented the republican party in many conferences and conventions.
Among his earliest political activities was his candidacy for election to the state legislature. He was elected representative from Clinton county in 1884 and again in 1886, serving two terms. It was in the legislature that he made his political acquaintanceships, which blossomed into friendships and resulted in his later political activity. Among the political alliances made at that time were his connections with Senators Cummins, Allison and Dolliver.
Mr. Curtis was married in 1872 to Ettie Lewis and to them were born two sons, George Lewis Curtis and Eugene Judson Curtis, who in recent years have assumed active charge of the interests of Curtis Bros. & Co.
Mr. Curtis was a member of De Molay consistory, A. A. S. R. Masons of Clinton, also a thirty-third degree honorary member of the supreme council, Scottish Rite, for the southern jurisdiction of the United States, a member of Emulation lodge, 255, A. F. & A. M., of Clinton and of Holy Cross commandery, Knights Templar, which body he had served as eminent commander.
Mr. Curtis was a member of the Clinton Rotary club, the Wapsipinicon club and the Clinton Country club.
Death is Shock.
Although Mr. Curtis’ relatives and close associates were prepared for the end last night, his death was a shock to many of his friends in business and other fields. On every hand today, there were tributes to the memory of Mr. Curtis as a citizen and a business man.
He was one of the incorporators of the City National bank and had served as a director since its organization, being elected March 6, 1880. He was elected vice president July 1, 1890, and had served in that capacity since, having been reelected annually, the last election occurring only last Friday.
Referring to Mr. Curtis’ long time connection with the bank, A. G. Smith, chairman of the board of directors, today said that Mr. Curtis was always held by his associated directors and officers as one whose advice and counsel was of much value and earnestly sought after.
“He was held in the highest esteem by all connected with the bank, personally as well as officially,” added Mr. Smith. “My acquaintance with him began more than 50 years ago. It was a close personal friendship that followed, without the slightest friction, but with increased affection as the years rolled by – he was like a brother to me.”
W. W. Cook, president of the Peoples Trust & Savings bank, commented on the fact that his father was one of the first patrons of the Curtis brothers. Mr. Cook referred to Mr. Curtis’ uniform courtesy and cordiality to young men as a characteristic that had won and held many friends.
C. F. Alden, another long time friend, was greatly affected, “I can’t say anything too good for Mr. Curtis,” he said. “He was a remarkable man.”

Clinton Herald, Saturday February 12, 1921
GEORGE M. CURTIS FUNERAL IS HELD
With services at the late home, 414 Fifth avenue at 3 o’clock this afternoon, with Rev. H. J. Rendall officiating, and at Springdale cemetery, in charge of Delphic chapter, Rose Croix, of De Molay consistory, A. A. S. R. Masons, final tributes were paid to the memory of the late George M. Curtis today.
In the services at the home, Rev. Mr. Rendall, pastor of the First Presbyterian church, paid a tribute to Mr. Curtis, a leader in business and political circles. Mrs. H. H. Hobart sang “Beautiful Isle of Somewhere”.
At the cemetery the beautiful Rose Croix service was in charge of Frank W. Ellis. A large number of the members of the consistory, of which Mr. Curtis, a Scottish Rite Mason of the thirty-third degree, honorary, was a member, attended the services.
Some additions to the list of honorary pall bearers, who included employees for more than 40 years and intimate friends, were announced today. The completed list was as follows: Robert Bielendorf, K. C. Johannsen, Patterson Rowe, William Walker, A. G. Smith, A. R. Olney, C. F. Alden, John Gerche, H. W. Seaman, W. S. Gardiner, C. E. Smith, F. D. Grant, L. P. Allen, A. M. Compton, E. T. Ericksen, F. B. Burbank, F. L. Hutchins, L. O. Paine, L. P. Holland and A. A. Carson.
Additional out of town relatives and friends present at the obsequies included W. K. Palmer of Cleveland, Ohio, N. L. Godfrey, H. A. Sellen, Harry Hurlburt and F. P. Boynton of Chicago, A. F. Dawson, and M. H. Dawson of Davenport and Mrs. And Mrs. S. J. Carpenter of New York city.
Between 11 and 12 o’clock this morning, the entire personnel of the plant and office employees of Curtis Bros. & Co. marched to the late home in a body to pay a final tribute of respect to Mr. Curtis.