JAMES H. CURTIS

James Hubert Curtis, a well known civil engineer of Worth county, holding high rank in his profession, is located at Northwood. He was born in Aurora, Indiana, June 10, 1881, a son of Judson and Louisa (Bainum) Curtis. The father was also born in Aurora, while the mother's birth occurred in Wilmington, Indiana. They were educated in their native state, were married there and the father took up the occupation of carpentering, while later he turned his attention to farming. Subsequently he removed to Bellflower, McLean county, Illinois, where he cultivated a large tract of rented land, remaining a resident of that county for seven years. He then removed with his family to Wapello county, Iowa, where he purchased three hundred and twenty acres of land. He afterward sold one hundred and sixty acres, while he cultivated and improved the remaining one hundred and sixty, continuing his residence upon that tract up to the time of his retirement from active business. He is now living in Batavia, Iowa, at the age of sixty-seven years, while his wife has reached the age of sixty-five years. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and has guided his life by its teachings. His political allegiance is given to the republican party. Since becoming a resident of Batavia he has accepted the presidency of the Farmers' Cooperative Bank and continues in that position.

James Hubert Curtis spent his boyhood in his native state and pursued his education in its public schools to the age of fifteen years, when he accompanied his parents on their removal to Illinois. There he attended the common schools and from 1907 until 1910 was a student in the Highland Park College at Des Moines, Iowa, where he took the engineering course. He then accepted a position with the Illinois Central Railroad at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, remaining there for a year, after which he became civil engineer at Bancroft, Kossuth County, Iowa, where he resided for four years. He next went to Floyd county, where he operated a large stock farm in connection with his father-in-law for two years, and in the spring of 1915 he located in Northwood for the practice of his profession and is well known among the civil engineers of this part of the state.

In 1910 Mr. Curtis was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Ethel Krueger, a daughter of Frederick Carl and Sophia (Steffen) Krueger. Mrs. Curtis was born in Charles City, Iowa, while her parents were natives of Waukon, Allamakee county, Iowa, whence they removed to Ulster township, Floyd county. They were farming people but have retired from active connection with farming interests. Her father was prominent as an agriculturist and raiser of fine stock. He and his wife are members of the German Methodist Episcopal church and are well known in the community where they reside. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have become the parents of two children, Ethel Louise and James Frederick.

In his political views Mr. Curtis is a republican, but while keeping informed on the questions and issues of the day so that he is able to support his position by intelligent argument, he has never sought office, preferring to concentrate his time and energies upon his business interests. He belongs to the Methodist Episcopal church and is ever ready to extend a helping hand where aid is needed. He cooperates in all those measures which work for the uplift of the individual and the betterment of the community at large, and his worth as a man and citizen has gained him high regard in the community in which he lives.

SOURCE: HISTORY OF MITCHELL AND WORTH COUNTIES, IOWA, 1918, VOL. II; PAGES 204-205

Transcription by Gordon Felland, 9/22/2006