CURTIS, JOHN W.
CURTIS, LANGDON, SABIN, SILVERNAIL, KELLEY, HISERODT
Posted By: Jean Kramer (email)
Date: 5/12/2004 at 15:41:56
Biography reproduced from page 228 of Volume II of the History of Kossuth County written by Benjamin F. Reed and published in 1913:
The residence of John W. Curtis in Kossuth county covers a period of about thirty-six years, during the greater portion of which time he has followed the carpenter’s trade in Algona, but he is now engaged in farming a mile and a quarter southwest of this city. He was born in Columbia county, New York, on the 18th of August, 1839, and is a son of William and Clara (Langdon) Curtis, likewise natives of the Empire state. After farming in the state of New York for about thirty years, the father removed to Massachusetts and there continued his agricultural pursuits until his death in 1892. The mother died three days before her husband’s demise and both were buried on the same day.
John W. Curtis was reared and educated in New York and Massachusetts, remaining at home until he attained the age of eighteen years. In 1857, he left the old New England farm, where his parents lived, and came to Kenosha county, Wisconsin, which was then termed the far west. As he had not learned a trade at that time and was not familiar with any line of work save that of agriculture, he sought and obtained employment as a farm hand, continuing to follow this occupation for twelve years. At the expiration of that time he learned the carpenter’s trade, which he followed in Wisconsin until 1876. In the latter year he came to Algona, where he has worked at his trade until recently, but is now engaged in farming. He has bought a very pleasant home and thirteen acres of land a mile and a quarter southwest of Algona, which he is cultivating in connection with a tract of about one hundred and sixty acres which he rents. Possessing a thorough knowledge of practical agriculture, Mr. Curtis is successful in his present undertaking.
On the 18th of August, 1862, Mr. Curtis was united in marriage to Miss Sophia Sabin, a daughter of Edison and Levina (Silvernail) Sabin, natives of the state of New York, where the father engaged in farming until 1869, when he removed to Kossuth county. Upon his arrival here he filed on a homestead which he cultivated and improved during the remainder of his life. He passed away on September 4, 1878, but the mother survived him until the 7th of January, 1890. To Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have been born five children, as follows: Elmer, who died on the 14th of April, 1888; Eva M., the wife of Matt Kelley, a farmer of Kossuth county; Clara M., who married C. L. Hiserodt, who engages in farming in Cresco township, this county; and William E., who is farming in the vicinity of Blairstown, Benton county, Iowa.
Mr. and Mrs. Curtis attend the Congregational church, in which the latter holds membership, and fraternally he is a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. He has always been republican in politics but of late has become converted to the progressive party, being thoroughly in accord with its principles and platform. He has been more or less prominently connected the local governmental affairs during the entire period of his residence in the township and has served for twelve years as assessor and for ten as justice of the peace, while he has also discharged the duties of road supervisor. Mr. Curtis is progressive and public-spirited in matters of citizenship and takes an active interest in promoting the development of the county and in advancing the welfare of the community.
(Photo of John W. Curtis and Family accompanies the biography.)
Kossuth Biographies maintained by Linda Ziemann.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen