Curtis, Norman P. 1875 - 1911

CURTIS, BAKER

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 8/2/2023 at 05:40:54

Source: Decorah Republican Apr. 13, 1911 P2 C5

TOOK HIS OWN LIFE.
Norman P. Curtis, Son-in-Law of F. H. Baker, Victim of Overwork.
Word came to Decorah Tuesday afternoon that Norman P. Curtis, son-in-law of F. H. Baker, had been found dead in the Wisconsin University grounds at Madison some time during the morning under circumstances that left no doubt of his having taken his own life. His body, still warm, so press dispatches say, was found by his classmate Dr. Joseph Donovan, about a quarter of a mile from the engineering building, but life was extinct, death having been instantaneous.
From all the circumstances there can be but one cause ascribed—temporary insanity due to overwork and ill health. That he was an indefatigable student was shown by the fact that it was his habit to work at his desk far into the night. Ill health had followed and recently he had wor{r}ied a great deal about his work. No financial difficulty darkened his horizon, his home associations were ideal, and the advent of a little son on April 4th had been a source of much joy to him. Mr. Curtis graduated from the engineering department of the university in 1904 and for some time past has been an instructor in railway engineering.
Three years ago he was married to Miss Kate Baker, second daughter of Mr. and Mrs. F. H. Baker, and she, and a little daughter, as well as the infant son, survive hm. Their affliction is one that seems doubly hard to bear, but there will be much comfort in the knowledge that a host of friends, both here and elsewhere, join in sympathy for them.
Mrs. Curtis’ mother and brother, Mrs. F. H. Baker and W. F. Baker, went to Madison Monday night.

Source: Decorah Republican Apr. 20, 1911 P3 C4

NORMAN P. CURTIS.

An Appreciation.

The following tribute to Norman P. Curtis, whose death was recorded last week, is made by Prof. Pence of the University of Wisconsin and appeared in the Madison Democrat of the 13th inst:--The funeral of Norman P. Curtis, whose death occurred about noon on Monday, were held at the family residence, 20 Prospect avenue, at three o’clock yesterday afternoon. The services, which were of a simple character, were conducted by Mr. Frank W. Hall, a lifelong friend of the Curtis family, who in 1893 also conducted the funeral services of the father, and about a year ago of the mother.

Norman Philip Curtis was born Feb. 18, 1875, at Mauston, Wis., where he received his earlier education in the public schools. The progress of his school work was suddenly interrupted in his early boyhood years by a serious eye trouble which for a time threatened total blindness, and during this critical period it became necessary for him to be separated from his relatives that he might receive the continuous care of an able specialist. Upon recovering the use of his eyes the course of his schooling was resumed and in due time he entered the University of Wisconsin. His father, the late Hale Curtis, a leader of the Wisconsin bar, died when Norman was but 18 years of age, and the family, consisting of an older brother, Alfred, and two younger brothers, Nathan and Arthur, were reared by the mother, who in this responsible task had the brotherly counsel and interest of Mr. George Curetis, Jr., of Madison, the former law partner of her husband, After completing his engineering training in 1904, Norman engaged for several years in railway engineering practice in the south and later took up contracting work. After a period of successful endeavor along these lines, he concluded to take up engineering teaching work, and in 1908 was appointed instructor in railway engineering in the University of Wisconsin, combining the duties of teaching with those of an assistant on the engineering staff of the Wisconsin tax and railroad commissions. He was married in June, 1908, to Miss Katherine Baker of Decorah, Iowa, who with two children, a girl and a boy, survive him.

He was a man of sterling character with the ability to endear himself to his associates to an unusual degree. He was a close and persistent student, not content with a superficial knowledge of any subject with which he came in contact or concerning which he ought to be informed. He was conscientious to a fault in the discharge of his duty and would not permit pleasures to interfere in any way in meeting his obligations. His ideals were always high and secretly he suffered much because of his failures to attain to all that he had set out to do. But few of his intimates were aware of this sensitive element in his nature. Always seemingly cheerful and hopeful in his outlook, he at times suffered deeply without revealing his inner self to his associates. A true friend and supporter to others, he sometimes denied to himself the comfort others would gladly have given him. With failing health came the overstressing of his inner self, and a life of abundant hope and promise came to its untimely end.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows he was born Feb. 8, 1875 and died April 10, 1911. He is buried in Phelps Cemetery.

Phelps Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by Jeff Getchell.
WebBBS 4.33 Genealogy Modification Package by WebJourneymen