A. M. Cortis,
merchant, Monona, Iowa, was born in Windham County,
Conn., on the 29th day of December, 1818, and was a son
of Zachri and Prudence (May) Cortis, of English descent,
and on his mother's side a descendant of Old Ethan Allen.
Mr. and Mrs. Cortis were the parents of eight children,
three living-- Saphrona, wife of J. Allen, of Dudley,
Mass.; A. M., and D. A., of Willimantic, Conn. Mr. Cortis
was a man who took a great interest in the welfare of the
people where he lived, and was respected by all who knew
him. The subject of this memoir was reared on his
father's farm and received his schooling in his native
State. When fifteen years old he was apprenticed to the
boot and shoe trade, and when twenty-two went to
Manchester, Conn., where he embarked in the business on
his own responsibility, and was afterward engaged in
business on his own responsibility, and was afterward
engaged in Enfield, in the same business. From there he
returned to Windham County, where, in 1845, he married
Jane Martin, who died in 1849. He was employed as agent
by a book house and was sent into Maryland, and was
afterward employed as clerk in a boot and shoe store in
Baltimore, where he remained one year. He then returned
to Windham County, and in the spring of 1853 came to
Clayton County, Iowa, where he has resided since. In 1854
he married Ann Smith, who was born in 1831. By this union
there were five children, three living-- Jane, now wife
of Oscar Walker; Julia, wife of T.H. Howard, and Addie M.
After coming to Clayton County Mr. Cortis engaged in
farming but meeting with an accident which unfitted him
for farm life, he sold out and has been engaged in the
mercantile business most of the time since. He was an
old-line Whig, and cast his first vote for Wm. H.
Harrison, and since the organization of the Republican
party has affiliated with it. He has held several local
offices of trust in the gift of the people. source: History of Clayton
County, Iowa, 1882, p. 1038-1039 |