Pg 398

         T. M. CURTIS, a gardener residing in Letts, Iowa, was born in Union County, Pa., in 1819, and is a son of Simeon and Patience (Hill) Curtis. At an early day the father went to New York, settling in Steuben County, where he worked at his trade of carpentering for some years, and then removed to Constantine, St. Joseph Co., Mich., where he engaged in the same employment, living there until his death, which occurred many years ago. The mother had died several years previously.

Our subject was reared upon a farm and received his education in the district schools of his native State. In 1840 he was united in marriage with Martha C. Skutt, who was born in New York, of which State her parents, Peter and Betsey (Decker) Skutt, were also natives. In that State the father followed farming until 1852 when he became a resident of Kent County, Mich., making that his home until his death, which occurred Nov. 25, 1866. His wife survived him several years, dying Oct. 24, 1875.

Mr. and Mrs. Curtis began their domestic life in New York, where they resided for some time, and then removed to St. Joseph County, Mich., in 1844. To them were born ten children: Samuel, who is married, and now resides in Linn County, Kan.; Shepherd is married, and living in Anderson County, Kan.; John is married, and resides in Grand View; Albert is married, and makes his home in Letts; Mary Ann, now Mrs. Hutchinson, whose home is in Butler county, Kan.; Thomas S. is married, and living in Letts; Ella, now Mrs. Furnas, is a resident of that village; Olive is the wife of Mr. Parsons, of Muscatine County; Hattie resides at home; and Minnie, now Mrs. Harrison, is living in Muscatine.

After his arrival in Michigan Mr. Curtis purchased 240 acres of land, which he greatly improved, but sold it on his removal to Iowa, where he settled in Muscatine County in 1865, and where he resided several years. In 1873 he removed to Letts, Louisa County, which has been his home continuously since, and for the past few years has engaged in gardening. He and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which he is one of the most active workers, and an earnest promoter of the cause of Christianity. He casts his ballot with the Republican party, and is one of the prominent men of the town. During the late war he enlisted at Constantine, Mich., in 1861, in Chandler’s Horse Guards for three years’ service, being mustered in at Coldwater, but was soon discharged, then re-enlisted, in Lampheer’s Battery of Light Artillery, as wagonmaster, and was mustered in at Kalamazoo. On entering the service he was sent to Louisville, thence to Salt Creek, after which he returned to Louisville, and later participated in the battle of Cumberland Ford, where his health failed him and he was sent home. About a year later he . . .

Pg 401

. . .was mustered out of service. His two sons, Samuel and Shepherd, also served during the war as members of the 19th Michigan Infantry, under Gen. Hooker. The father of Mrs. Curtis was a soldier in the War of 1812.