CURTIS, Frances Wilcox 1877-1924

CURTIS, WILCOX

Posted By: Michael Kearney (email)
Date: 7/31/2002 at 20:22:10

Monday March 24, 1924 Yesterday afternoon at three o'clock friends and relatives gathered at the G.L. Curtis home, Bluff Boulevard, there to pay their last tribute to the memory of Frances Wilcox Curtis who passed away in Brookline, Mass., and whose body was brought home by her husband and children. It was a beautiful service, as sweetly sincere as had been the life of this much loved woman. The casket was placed in that corner of the living room where she sat on the recent memorable New Years' Day as she greeted friends,new and old, who came to voice their pleasure and who received the blessing at her smile and cordial word. An on the console table near at hand was a radient picture, its exquisite coloring true to the living remembrance of Mrs. Curtis. All about were flowers, violets with their tender fragrance, the colorful message of roses, the promise of resurrection from the Easter lilies, the flowers that she loved from those who loved her. This funeral service was uplifting in the simple beauty of its concept and completion. Quietly, Dr. H.J. Renall of Morrison, stepped beside the casket and read the Scriptural lesson, and with great dignity gave this tribute to the memory of Mrs. Curtis, written by her husband as he was coming home on this last sad journey. On the twentieth day of March just past, the nation did homage to a truly great man who was on that day celebrating his ninetieth birthday - Charles W. Eliot of Boston. On that same day at a hospital in that same city of Boston, a great woman left this world at the early age of forty-six. She occupied no position of prominence; she contributed little of value to education; she had but ordinary intellectual attainments; the world at large knew her not - yet there are many to whom her passing brings sorrow and a deep sense of loss. If to live all one's life for others with no thought of self, be sign of greatness; if to find joy everywhere and give it in abundant measure to others, be sign of the unusual character; if, in spite of intermittent invalidism for twenty years and constant pain for seven years, to remain ever cheerful and have always ready a cheerful greeting for everyone be sign of a great spirit; and finally, if to live and think with malice toward none, with charity for all, a practically blameless life, be sign of achievement - then Frances Wilcox Curtis was a great personality. Never had anyone more of the joy of living, finding keenest delight in little things and big things, but always she must share her joy with loved one or friend or mere acquaintance. She had a wonderful gift for happiness, which she found always around her to whatever circumstances and whatever circumstances and what ever her physical suffering. She loved life and did not want to leave it,making the most remarkable fight at the end to stay with her loved ones. Yet, in the midst of that fight, almost her last spoken wish was in behalf of those she loved. To know her was to love her. Wherever she was - at home, abroad, even in the hosptial - people loved her and came to drink deep at the apparently inexaustible fountain of her cheerfulness. Now she must be laid away at rest with the God whom she always served. But her spirit cannot die - it will live long in the hears of the many who have felt its force and have been cheered on by it in the way of life. Her home, her family are desolated; their light and moving spirit will no longer shine for them from her beautiful face, but her influence will teach them to carry on. Then came the prayer and following, breathed with sweet intonation, the unaccompanied song "Over the stars there is rest," sung by Mrs. H.H. Hobart, in deference to Mrs. Curtis' preference for this soulful message. Dr. J.M. Duer gave the benediction. The casket were borne from the home by men who are long time friends of the family and was laid to rest in Springdale cemetery, Dor. Duer conducting the commitment service. The pallbearers were L.O. Paine, Lincoln, Neb., E.T. Erickson, Chicago, Ill., L.B. Holland, Minneapolis, Minn., F.L. Hutchins, Sioux City, S.W. Towle, Clinton, F.H. Van Allen, A.C. Smith, C.F. Tucker, F.D. Grant, H.R. Sugg, H. Purvis, H.R. Hurlbut, Chicago, From out of town - relatives: W.M. Walworth, Monrovia, Calif., Mrs. Van Kuren, Omaha, Neb., Miss Nye, Sandwich, Mass., E.L. Carpenter, Minneapolis, F.H. Carpenter, Minneapolis, W.E. Curtis, Wausau, Wis., Mr. and Mrs. C.B. Towle, Lincoln, Neb., From out of town: Mr. and Mrs. J.E. Morgan, Oshkosh, Wis., Mrs. H.R. Hurlbut, Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. C.H. Pascoe, Chicago, M.H. Dawson, Davenport, E.J. Bergk, Cleveland, Ohio. Mrs. Curtis was born in Clinton, August 28, 1877, the daughter of Frederick P. Wilcox one of Clinton's early pioneers and Annie Clark Wilcox, his wife. She lived her life in this community, attending the public schools to the third year of High school, when she left to prepare for Smith College. She entered Smith in the class of 1900 and completed two years work leaving college at the end of the sophomore year because she was needed at home. She was married to George Lewis Curtis, also a lifelong resident of this city, and to them three children were born: Elizabeth W., George M. II, and Etta Louise, all of whom, with the husband survive her. She had one sister, Elizabeth Wilcox (Mrs. W.E. Walworth) who died in California in May 1922 and was brought here for burial in the Wilcox family lot in Springdale cemetery. Besides carring the home keeping burdens, which were rather heavy in the early years of her married life, Mrs. Curtis found time for numerous outside activities. She was a charter member of the College Club, a member of the Society of Colonial Dames and of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She had a considerable part in the organization of the Clinton Young Women's Christian Association and was an active officer of that institution while her health permitted, maintaining a keen interest in it always. She had been a member of the Presbyterian church from childhood, tauoght a class in Sunday school as long as she was physically able, and conducted the Cradle Roll for many years. The urge of life that was in her was expressed so fully that it will continue to give forth its influence as the years bring their fruition to those who were in touch with her in these activities.