CURTIS, Charles F. 1846-1915

CURTIS, HOSFORD, HEMINGWAY, ARMSTRONG, TOWLE

Posted By: Michael Kearney (email)
Date: 8/16/2002 at 22:28:05

The Clinton Advertiser Tuesday December 21, 1915 p. 1 & 4 Charles F. Curtis, pioneer Clinton manufacturer and president of Curtis Bros. & Co., passed away at 7 o'clock this morning at his home 413 Fifth avenue. Mr. Curtis' death was entirely unexpected and was due to an attack of heart disease. Three or four days ago Mr. Curtis was taken slightly ill, and was advised by his physician to rest for a few days. Although he spent most of the intervening time in bed, he was able to walk about his home, and was up as late as yesterday. That his condition was serious was not known until twenty minutes before the end came this morning. His nurse noticed an unsteadiness in his breathing, and hastily sent for his physician. At seven o'clock, and just after the physician's arrival, Mr. Curtis breathed his last, surrounded by the members of his family. The funeral services will be held at the family home at 2:30 o'clock Thursday afternoon. The home will be open from 10:30 o'clock Thursday morning, in order that the employees at the Curtis factory. Mr. Curtis' business associates, and his personal friends may call and pay the memory of their old friend a last tribute of respect. Friends are requested to refrain from sending flowers. Mr. Curtis is survived by his wife and three daughters; Mrs. C.B. Towle, Lincoln, Nebraska; Mrs. C.A. Armstrong of Clinton, and Miss Florence Curtis at home. Charles F. Curtis was born on April 3, 1846, in Oxford, Chenango county, New York. He was the son of John F. and Elizabeth Carpenter Curtis, both natives of New York and of English ancestry. The parents of Mr. Curtis moved to a farm in Ogle county, Illinois, in 1856, and lived there until the year 1868, when they removed to Clinton. Charles F. Curtis attended the public schools in Ogle county, and the Rochelle High school. He then entered Eastman Commercial college of Chicago; from which he was graduated in May, 1866. The following month he came to Clinton and entered the grocery business with W.G. Hemingway as his partner. They carried on the cusiness until December of the same year, when they bought the interest of Clawson & Thornburg, in a small sach, door and planing factory at Seventh and Front streets. In the spring of 1867, George M. Curtis, a brother of Charles F., bought an interest in the factory. Later on Mr. Hemingway's interest was purchased and the firm name was changed to G.M. Curtis & Brother. Only three men were employed at that time, and the factory building was nothing more than an old shed. If one could go back to 1866, and see the plant in which this business was started, he would find it impossible to picture the factories and warehouses of the Curtis companies, with which Mr. Curtis was associated at the time of his death. In 1868 the name of the firm was changed to Curtis Brothers & Co., and has operated under that name ever since. The factory was moved to its present site in 1869. The business grew rapidly, and in 1881 another factory was started at Wausau, Wis. Cornelius S. Curtis, another brother of Charles F. and George M., was placed in charge. This factory has always been operated under the name of the Curtis & Yale Company. In 1892 at Minneapolis, Curtis & Yale company located a branch. The success of these plants made it seem advisable to open others. At the time of his death, Mr. Curtis was a director of Curtis, Towle & Paine Company, Lincoln, Neb.; president of Curtis & Garside Company, Oklahoma City; president of Curtis Bros & co. of this city; president of Curtis Sash and Door Company of Sioux City; director of Curtis & Yale company, Wausau, Wis.; director of Curtis, Yale, Howard company of Minneapolis; treasurer of the Curtis Door and Sash Company, Chicago; and vice president of the Curtis Lumber and Millwork company of this city. Mr. Curtis had been especially active in promoting home industries. Never has he failed to show an interest, and an active one, in the organization and pormition of business of promise. He was president of the Clinton Saddlery Company and the Clinton Furniture Company. He was one of the organizers of the City National Bank, and at the time of his death was one of the directors. He had much to do with the organization of the American Wire Fabrics Company, and served as one of its directors. He held the office of vice-president of the Clinton Artificial Ice Company and was a stockholder in the Collis Company. Mr. Curtis was interested in J.H. Queal & Company, operating a large number of retail lumber yards. Mr. Curtis has also taken an interest in southern lumber. He has been a substantial supporter of the Clinton Y.M.C.A. He served for a great many years as a director. For the success of its work in Clinton much of credit is due to Mr. Curtis. Recently when it seemed advisable to build a Coliseum in Clinton the directors found Mr. Curtis willing at all times to help, not only by his influence, but by substantial contributions. Many Clinton will miss Mr. Curtis, and many of these people are those whom most of us would think would have no reason to miss him. His charities were many, but never talked about. No better illustration of Mr. Curtis' interest in Clinton and Clinton people and his desire to see every-day life made just a little more enjoyable, can be cited than the step recently taken to establish near Curtis Brothers & Company's factory a park and club house. Much has been said of this and the ADVERTISER feels safe in saying, knowing mr. Curtis as it does, that he took a great deal of pleasure in watching this club house and park development to the point where it will soon be a place of use and enjoyment, especially for the employees of Curtis Brothers & Co. Mr. Curtis was married in October, 1873, to Nancy Hosford, who was born in Illinois, the daughter of A.P. Hosford, a pioneer resident of this city. To this union four children were born, three of whom survive. Mr. Curtis was a member of the Masonic fraternity, having taken the degrees of both the York and Scottish Rite, and was a 33rd degree member of the order. In politics he was a staunch Republican.