CURTIS, Robert H. - 1912 Bio (1856-1944)

CURTIS, BROWN, COBLE, EULISS, HOWARD

Posted By: Debbie Nash - Volunteer (email)
Date: 3/12/2005 at 21:56:00

From the “History of Jefferson County, Iowa” – 1912, Volume II
Pages 370-372

ROBERT H. CURTIS

“Robert H. CURTIS owns a farm of one hundred and sixty acres on section 27, Black Hawk township, where for twenty years he has engaged in general farming and stock-raising. He was born in Guilford county, North Carolina, on the 16th of June, 1856, and is the only son of Abraham and Margaret (BROWN) CURTIS. The parents, who were of German extraction, were likewise natives of Guilford county, the father’s birth having there occurred in 1802. When he had reached man’s estate Abraham CURTIS chose the carpenter’s trade for his vocation, but after his marriage he bought and operated a farm, with the assistance of hired help, in connection with his carpentry work. He passed away in 1873, but the mother lived until 1896, both having passed their entire lives in the country where they were born. Mr. and Mrs. CURTIS had seven daughters, three of whom are still living, as follows: Fannie, of Randolph county, North Carolina; and Cornelia and Margaret, who are residing in Guilford county.

Reared on his father’s farm Robert H. CURTIS obtained his education in the district schools, and while engaged in the mastery of the common branches he was also becoming familiar with the practical methods of agriculture. From the time he attained his majority until he left home four years later he gave his entire attention to the operation of his father’s farm. In 1881, he left North Carolina and came to Iowa, locating on a farm in Richland township where he worked by the month for two years. During that time he accumulated sufficient capital to enable him to farm as a renter, which he continued to do until 1891, when he bought his present farm. During the period of his ownership he has wrought extensive improvements in his place, which is well stocked, contains good buildings and is one of the attractive properties of the township. Mr. CURTIS has most intelligently directed his activities and has met with success in his various undertakings. For the past nine years he has been an invalid and has been unable to do any work, but he gives his personal attention to the supervision and direction of the various operations connected with the tilling of the fields and harvesting of the crops. He at one time rented his farm for about six years, four of which he spent in Fairfield, while for eighteen months he lived in Arkansas.

On the 5th of December, 1878, in Guilford county, North Carolina, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. CURTIS and Miss Sarah COBLE, who was born and reared in Guilford county. Mrs. CURTIS is a daughter of David and Laura (EULISS) COBLE, the former of whom is a native of Guilford county, of English extraction, while Mrs. COBLE was born in an adjoining county and is of German descent. Mr. COBLE, who was an attorney, owned a large estate and many slaves in North Carolina. He was a prominent officer in the Confederate army, enlisting in Guilford county, and was well known throughout the state. He passed away on the 7th of July, 1891, but the mother is still living at the venerable age of eighty-three years and makes her home in Burlington, North Carolina. Mrs. COBLE is very active and still in possession of all of her faculties despite her age, and in the fall of 1911 was favored by a visit from her daughter, Mrs. CURTIS, whom she had not seen for twenty years. To Mr. and Mrs. COBLE there were born six children, Mrs. CURTIS, who was third in order of birth, being the eldest of the three now surviving. William R., the oldest and only surviving son, is a resident of Burlington, as is also the other daughter, Laura Ann, who lives with her mother. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. CURTIS has been blessed with five children: Mrs. Amy Viola CURTIS, of Waterloo, who has two sons, Harry Winfield HOWARD and Curtis HOWARD; Henry Vance, who is attending the high school at Fairfield and assists his father with the work of the farm; Robert Vern, who is also attending school in Fairfield; William Grover, who died when he was two years of age; and Rosabelle, who was two and a half months at the time of her death.

In matters of faith Mr. CURTIS holds membership in the Christian church of Richland, while Mrs. CURTIS belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church of Fairfield. She is also a prominent member of the Black Hawk Township Neighborhood Club. The political views of Mr. CURTIS conform to the principles of the democratic party, but of recent years he casts his vote for the candidate he considers best qualified for the office, irrespective of party affiliation. His salient traits of character are such as commend him to the confidence and good-will of those with whom he comes in contact, and as a result he is held in high regard in the community where he has long resided.”

I am copying this for genealogical purposes and am not related to said individuals.