1896 Index

A Memorial and Biographical Record of Iowa
Chicago: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1896

C

Unless otherwise noted biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

Valentine Cline, a well known and honored resident of Indianola, Iowa, who is now living retired in the enjoyment of the fruits of his former toil, was born in Adams county, Ohio, and is descended from German ancestry. His great- grandfather was a native of Germany, and when a young man emigrated to America, locating in Virginia. The grandfather of our subject, John Cline, was born in the Old Dominion and lived to be seventy-five years of age. He was a soldier in the war of 1812, and throughout his life followed farming. The father of our subject, Wilson Cline, was born in Virginia and died at the age of forty-five years. By trade he was a carpenter and became one of the pioneer settlers of Adams county, Ohio. He married Miss Elizabeth Silcott, a native of Virginia and a daughter of William and Elizabeth Silcott. Her father was a native of Germany, and during his childhood came with his parents to America. His death occurred at the advanced age of eighty-five and his wife died when only thirty-five years of age.

The gentleman whose name introduces this sketch was left an orphan at the early age of nine and went to the West in company with his uncle, Jarrett Silcott, locating in Parke county, Indiana. There he remained for three years, when, in September, 1854, he came to Warren county, Iowa, which he made his home for two years. On the expiration of that period he returned to Parke county and was there united in marriage, on the 28th of September, 1856, to Miss Elizabeth Ball.

On the 31st of October, 1862, he felt that he could no longer remain contentedly at home while his country was engaged in the Civil war, and enlisted in defense of the Union at Rosedale, Parke county, Indiana. He was mustered in about ten days later as a private of Company C, One Hundred and Twenty-third Indiana Infantry and drilled there one month. In December the regiment started for Louisville, Kentucky, and thence went to Nashville, Tennessee, where it was assigned to duty with the First Division, Second Brigade, Twenty-third Army Corps. The troops then marched to Chattanooga, and with the command Mr. Cline participated in several skirmishes, including one at Tatter Hill and another one at Cumberland Gap. They met the rebels in battle at Resaca, Georgia, the engagement lasting all Saturday and Sunday, and in the evening of the second day they started in pursuit of the Confederates. They took part in the battles of Burnt Hickory and Big Shanty, and struck the main column of the opposing army at Kenesaw mountain, where there was a general engagement, in which the One Hundred and Twenty-third Indiana suffered heavily, losing forty killed and many wounded. Mr. Cline was wounded by a spent ball and lay in the hospital for six weeks, but joined the company again before the fall of Atlanta. He participated in that battle, and was then given a furlough, returning home to vote for Lincoln in 1864. He joined the army again at Columbia, Tennessee, participated in the battle there, and also as Franklin, where the regiment lost 200 killed and over 300 wounded! With his command Mr. Cline then went to Nashville, where Hood made a desperate effort to capture the city, but was routed and his army scattered. The Union corps was then sent to Cliffton on the Tennessee river and took boats for Washington city, where they spent three weeks in February, 1865. They then sailed down the Potomac to Fort Fisher and after participating in the engagement there took part in the battle of Wilmington, going thence to Newbern. Landing, they marched across the country to Goldsboro, and meeting the army of General Bragg an engagement was brought on, the enemy being routed. From Raleigh the troops proceeded to charlotte, where they camped until September, 1865, and were then mustered out. The regiment at once returned to Indianapolis, where they were discharged on the 6th of September, and Mr. Cline at once returned to his home in Parke county. He was a brave and faithful soldier, always found at his post of duty and won for himself an honorable war record worthy of perpetuation on the pages of the history of his adopted country.

Mr. Cline resided in Parke county until October,1869, when he brought his family to Warren county, Iowa, and purchased a quarter section of land in Otter township, to the cultivation and improvement of which he devoted his energies until November, 1889. Since that time he has lived retired in Indianola. He still owns eighty acres of his original farm, however, and fifteen acres within the corporation limits of the city, where he raises many varieties of fruits.

In 1882 Mr. Cline was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife, who died on the 14th of January of that year. She was a faithful member of the Methodist Episcopal Church from early childhood. In their family were seven children, the oldest being George H. He was born in Hancock county, Illinois, April 23, 1858, and was married September 6, 1881, to Cornelia F. Middlesnart, who was born May 12, 1864. They had seven children, namely: Jessie May, born November 24, 1882; Nellie L., born August 9, 1884; Marian Elsie, born June 18, 1886; Laura Belle, who was born December 16, 1887, and died August 1, 1889; Harry W., who was born March 3, 1891, and died February 28, 1892; Ruth Ina, born June 16, 1892; and George Earle, born April 3, 1895. The second child of the family, Willis L., is a prominent and known liveryman of Indianola. He was born in Parke county, Indiana, September 28, 1860, and remained with his father until he had attained his majority, when he started out in life for himself. He is now doing a good business, and has a liberal patronage. He was married February 6, 1883, to Minerva Hines, who was born in Warren county February 11, 1866. They now have five children: Freddie Wilbur, born April 27, 1884; Cora Maud, born November 21, 1885; Charles Leonard, born October 15, 1887; Ida May, born October 29, 1890; and Bonnie Laura, born November 13, 1892. The third child, Marion, was born in Parke county, Indiana, but went West in 1882 and has not been heard from since. John F., also born in Parke county, married Lizzie Morris and has three children, - Effie, Hazel and Walter. The remaining members of the family - Pearl, Charlie and Louanna - are all natives of Warren county. Mr. Cline of this review was again married April 13, 1883, his second union being with Mary E. Shepherd, by whom he had five children - Mabel, Lizzie, Maggie, Frank, and Hattie.

Judge CHESTER C. COLE is one of the most eminent men of Iowa , having taken a leading part in political, professional and educational work, and by merit and ability winning a place in the foremost ranks among Iowa 's honored sons.

He was born in Oxford , Chenango county, New York , June 4, 1824 , and is a son of Samuel and Alce ( Pullman ) Cole, the former a native of Connecticut and the latter of Rhode Island . The ancestry of the family can be traced back to John Cole, who came from England to America about 1670, and settled in New England . The paternal grandfather of our subject, Thomas Cole, was a native of Connecticut , and died in Oxford , New York , in 1828, being almost a centenarian at the time of his death. Samuel Cole carried on the occupation of farming as a life work. He had two brothers, Amos and Silas, who served in the Revolutionary war. He was a highly educated man, and because one of the pioneer settlers of Oxford , New York , where he attained to considerable prominence in public affairs. He died in Chenango county, New York , November 8, 1832 , while his wife survived until January, 1858. They were both members of the Unitarian Church . In their family were eleven children, six sons and five daughters, and with the exception of one son, Nathaniel, who died in infancy, all lived to mature years and reared families of their own. They were Eunice Wilcox, Hannah Hancock, Calvin, Prudence Blackman, Spencer, Phoebe Ann Fanning, Charles, Rachel Harvey, William H. and Chester C. The last two are the only survivors of the family, and William now resides in Baltimore , Maryland . He was for many years agent of the American Bible Society, and of late years has been an accountant.

Judge Chester C. Cole was reared in the county of his nativity, began his education in the public schools, and also pursued his studies in the Oxford Academy . He was not a robust boy, his health being very poor much of the time. He lived on the farm with his mother until thirteen years of age, when he entered upon his business career as a clerk in a store in Oxford , where he continued for four years. Again he entered school, for he was ambitious to acquire a good education, and the broad, general information he obtained made an excellent foundation for his law studies, which he commenced about the time he attained his majority. He was admitted to the bar in August, 1848, after completing a thorough course in the Harvard Law School , of Cambridge , Massachusetts . The following month he entered upon the practice of his chosen profession in Marion, Crittenden county, Kentucky , where he continued until May, 1857, when, wishing for a wider field of labor, he sought a home in the Northwest. It was then that he came to Des Moines , and almost immediately entered upon a large law practice. His thorough knowledge of his profession, his ability as a pleader, and his logical and forcible arguments soon won him a reputation that secured for him a liberal clientage.

It was not long before he became prominent in political circles, and in June, 1859, about two years after his arrival in Des Moines , he was nominated by the Democracy for the office of Judge of the State Supreme Court, but was defeated. In 1860 he was a candidate for Congress, running against Samuel R. Curtis. The canvass was an exciting one and memorable in the politics of the State. From start to finish, covering a period of seventy days, joint debates were had twice a day. This was in a day before railroads in southern Iowa and the contestants traveled in private conveyances crossing the State from east to west three times. In these debates the remarkable versatility of Judge Cole as a debater was splendidly brought out. Pitted against a man of acknowledged ability and accepted leadership of a party, made doubly aggressive by the force of numbers, he more than held his own to the discomfiture of his able opponent and the amazement of his adversaries following. Mr. Curtis was a man of good abilities, but lacked quickness in making timely replies to his young and agile opponent's thrusts. Judge Cole, while defeated in this contest by 1,000 votes, established a reputation as a convincing, logical speaker that has been as enduring as his splendid reputation as a jurist and advocate.

About this time the war broke out, and he was known as a war or Douglas Democrat, and subsequently, in February, 1864, as such, was appointed Judge of the Supreme Court by Gvoernor William M. Stone, and was twice elected afterward. He resigned his position as Chief Justice, and returned to the practice of law, which he still continues His three terms of service on the bench indicate his fidelity to the public interests. Having a thorough knowledge of the law and a mind particularly free from bias, he was one of the most able men that has ever served in that position. The language of his decisions was always plain, simple and clear, vigorous and pointed. The decisions themselves were models of perspicuity and judicial soundness. In 1892 he was made Dean of the Iowa College of Law, a department of Drake University .

On the 25th of June, 1848 , Judge Cole married Miss Amanda M. Bennett, a daughter of Egbert and Gertrude (Richtmyer) Bennett. They had seven children, - four sons and three daughters: Calvin S. died in early childhood; William Watson, who married Frances Josephine Chapin, and had three children, - Amanda M., Rachel and William W., - was formerly a lawyer in Des Moines , and in 1888 removed to Portland , Oregon , where he engaged in the legal profession, and also in the lumber business on the Columbia river , between Portland and Astoria ; he died there, November 17, 1894, leaving a wife and three children, but the youngest child died May 12, 1895 ; Gertrude Alice is the wife of A. C. Atherton, of Lewistown , Illinois , who occupies the position of general superintendent of a railroad in Illinois , and they have three children, - Chester , Alce and Donald; Mary E. is the wife of D. C. McMartin, a lawyer of Des Moines, and their children are Flora, Mary; Cole and Peter; the next of the family, Chester C., died in early childhood; Frank B. married Ella Jenkins and resides in Havana , Illinois , where he is engaged in railroading; they have two children, - Chester Cicero and Carrie; and Carrie Stone is the wife of J. R. Hurlbut, who is at the head of the wholesale drug house of Hurlbut, Ward & Company, of Des Moines ; their only child is Horace A.

Ever since their youth Judge Cole and his wife have been members of the Presbyterian Church; he served as Elder for many years, as did two of his brothers, - Spencer and William. Since 1849 he has been a Master Mason, and for a number of years was connected with the Knights of Pythias, and served as Chancellor of the Des Moines Lodge. About the time of the war he identified himself with the Republican party, from which party he received his appointment as Judge, and has ever since been an ardent advocate of its principles. He is a man of broad general information and ripe scholarship, a fluent and forcible speaker and a correct and attractive writer.

For a time he was interested in farming and farm lands, but has now disposed of all his farm property. He owns a fine residence at the corner of Cottage Grove avenue and Twenty-ninth street , where he now lives. He also owns Cole's Block, at the corner of Fifth Street and Court avenue, and other property, including the old home where he reared his family, known as Colchester Place , on Fourth street , just north of the Savery Hotel. He lived there for twenty-five years, and the place is rendered memorable by the liberality with which he always entertained his friends there. One of the receptions which he gave was attended by over 900 guests, including members of the Legislature, Supreme Court and other dignitaries. He possesses the hospitable spirit of the Southern gentleman, the dignity and cordiality of the Easterner and the progressiveness and advanced ideas of the Western man.

ALFRED CONNER submitted by Richard Kinkead

On the list of pioneers of Lucas County, Iowa, the name of Alfred Conner is found well toward the top. He has been here since 1852, and as a pioneer and also as a representative citizen he is entitled to consideration on these pages.

Alfred Conner is a native of the Old Dominion, and is descended from Irish ancestors who for several generations were residents of Virginia. He was born in Preston County, November 3, 1832. His father, Job Conner, also a native of Preston County, was a son of William Conner, the latter likewise a native of Virginia and an soldier of the War of 1812. William Conner and his wife, nee Elizabeth Foreman, both died on their farm in Preston County. Their son Job was married in Virginia to Nancy McNear, a native of the same county in which he was born and a daughter of John McNear, who was of Irish descent. In 1846 Job Conner and his family moved to Cass County, Indiana, and located near Logansport, where he died not long after, at the age of forty years, leaving a widow and seven children, four sons and three daughters, their names being Margaret A., Alfred, Elizabeth, John, William, Harrison and Lucy Ann. Two of the sons - John and William - served as soldiers in the Union army during the late war. John is now a resident of Davis County, Iowa, and William lives in Lucas County. The mother died at the age of fifty years. Both parents were worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Alfred Conner is the eldest son of the above named family, and was fourteen years of age at the time his father died. Young as he was, he assisted his mother in every way that he could in the support of the other children, and helped her to pay for a farm which she subsequently purchased, the others also doing their part toward paying for this farm. In 1852 the family came to Iowa, journeying by rail to Burlington, thence by stage to Keosauqua. After looking over much of the country in this part of the State, Mr. Conner decided to cast his lot in Lucas County. His mother entered Government land here on Section 1, of Union township, and he helped her in its development and cultivation, and continued a member of the home circle until he was twenty-five years of age. After leaving home he was engaged in sawmilling for a short time at Fort Chance, Iowa. For thirty years he has resided on his present farm, 210 acres in Section 2, Union township, this being as good land as there is in the township. He has a comfortable cottage residence, located on a natural building site, with a grove and orchard near, and has other substantial improvements upon his place.

Mr. Conner was married at Chariton, Iowa, December 24, 1857, to Miss Harriet Wade, the ceremony being performed by Judge Gard. Mrs. Conner was born in Greene County, Pennsylvania, April 22, 1841, daughter of W.T. and Ruhana (Aikins) Wade, the former a native of Virginia and the latter of Pennsylvania.

Mr. Wade and his family emigrated to Iowa in 1853, and settled in Davis County, near Bloomfield. The following year they removed to Lucas County. Here the mother died, at the age of forty-two years. The father died in Appanoose County, this State, at the age of sixty-four. He was for many years one of the leading citizens of Lucas County, filling the office of County Surveyor and also that of County Treasurer. The last ten years of his life he spent in Appanoose County. He and his wife were the parents of twelve children, eight of whom grew up, namely: George, Newton County, Missouri; Justus, a member of Company G, Thirty-fourth Iowa Infantry, died at St. Louis, Missouri, while in the service of his country, leaving a widow and thirteen children; Harriet Conner, Eliza Spray, Seattle, Washington; Phoebe Chapman who before her marriage was engaged in teaching; Elijah, who died in Kansas was a teacher; Waitman, a resident of the State of Washington; and Ruhanna, who died in Iowa. Some time after the death of his first wife, Mr. Wade married Mrs. Nancy Conner. He was for many years an active member of the Baptist Church and was especially interested in the Sabbath-school serving as teacher and Superintendent for thirty years.

The children of Mr. And Mrs. Conner are six in number and as follows: Marion S., Union township, this county, W.H., Derby, Iowa; Eliza J., wife of Charles Williams, of Union township, this county; Joseph E., Derby, Iowa; George W., Oklahoma; and Frank L., at home. They lost three children in infancy. All have had good educational advantages, and three - Marion,

William and Eliza - have been engaged in teaching. Both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church, in which he is honored with the office of Deacon.

W .H. CONNER submitted by Richard Kinkead

W.H. CONNER, of Derby, is one of the prominent citizens of Lucas County having first come to this section as early as 1855, and having resided here now for many years.

He is a native of West Virginia, born in Preston County, near Wheeling, September 8, 1839. His father was also a Virginian by birth and named Job Conner. He is of Scotch-Irish stock, well-known to be one of the best in the world, and his more immediate ancestry have figured somewhat prominently in the history of this country. Mr. Job Conner married Nancy McNear, a native of Pennsylvania, and a daughter of John McNear, also of Scotch ancestry.

Mr. W.H. Conner was a boy of five years when his father and family moved from West Virginia to Indiana, locating in Cass County. His father died in that county, at the age of forty-two years, was a farmer by occupation, a Whig in politics and a Methodist in his religion. In 1855 the widow and children came to Iowa, with a wagon and two-horse team, and settled in Union township, Lucas County. Here the sons went bravely to work, and in time developed a comfortable home. Their mother died at the age of fifty years. In the family were seven children, namely: Margaret Clymer, who died in the State of Indiana; Alfred, now a resident of Union township; Elizabeth; John, who enlisted in the last war, in the third Iowa Cavalry, in Davis County, this state; W.H., whose name appears as the introduction of this biographical notice; Harrison and Lucy.

Mr. W.H. Conner was reared in Cass County, Indiana, on a farm, receiving his education in the public schools. Coming to Iowa, with the family, in 1855, as already mentioned, he lived in Lucas County for three years, and returned to Cass County, Indiana, where, April 3, 1862, he enlisted in the war for the Union, - in Company D, Forty-sixth Indiana Infantry Volunteers, and served for three years. In the army he was first in service at Fort Pillow, Memphis, St. Charles, and afterward participated in the campaign of Vicksburg and the battle of Champion Hills, where he was severely wounded in the hip by a minie ball. After confinement in the field hospital for three weeks he was taken to a hospital at Memphis, and afterward to another at Indianapolis, where he remained until July 17, when he received a furlough. On the expiration of this period of vacation he rejoined his regiment in Louisiana, 150miles west of New Orleans. He served in General Banks' expedition up the Red River, having a position on an ordnance boat. Subsequently he was at New Orleans and Lake Pontchartrain. Afterward he was for a time at Lexington, Kentucky, protecting supply trains, and ay that place he was honorably discharged, in April, 1865.

Returning to Indiana, he resided there until 1869, when he came to Wayne County, Iowa, settling upon 120 acres of wild land. After living there for five years, improving the place, he sold it and purchased the farm he now owns, two miles north of Derby and comprising 200 acres of valuable land. Here he has a nice home. The dwelling is 20x24 feet in dimensions, one and a half stories high, with an L of the same height, 18x20 feet. The residence is situated on a good elevation, which is pleasantly ornamented with trees, etc. The barn is 30x32 feet in size and there are the requisite sheds and other structures, all in good condition. He also owns a good house in Derby, 16x24 feet in dimensions, with an L 14x16 feet, and is a valuable property.

At the age of twenty-nine years, in Cass County, Indiana, he was untied in marriage with Miss Sarah Marshall, a lady of intelligence and of a good family, and a worthy assistant of her husband in the practical duties of life. She was born in Carroll County, Indiana, and brought up and educated there. Her father, John Marshall, and her mother whose maiden name was Margaret Kendall, both died in Cass County. Mr. And Mrs. Marshall's children have been four in number: George, who in the last war was Captain of Company A, Ninth Indiana Volunteer Infantry; John H. Conner, who is a popular and successful teacher, now at school attending Ames Agricultural College: was at Drake University at Des Moines for two years; Charles E., who married Celia George and has a son named Cloyd; Maggie, the wife of D.C. Sidebotham, of Wayne County, Iowa; and Bruce.

Mr. Conner has held township offices. In 1881 he was elected County Commissioner and held the office for three years, discharging the duties of the same faithfully. He is a prominent member of McKnight Post, No. 318, G.A.R.

The gentleman whose name heads this record, was educated in the schools of Lucas County, Iowa, and in his youth became familiar with all the duties that fall to the lot of the agriculturalist. He followed farming for a time in his younger years through the summer months, while in the winter season he engaged in teaching school, being thus employed for fourteen years, when he determined to give his entire attention to agricultural pursuits. He now owns a rich tract of land of 220 acres, which is situated in Warren township, Lucas County, and very successfully did he engage in its cultivation, the fields yielding to him a golden tribute in return for the care and cultivation he bestowed upon them. Thus his time was passed until he was called to public office.

His fellow townsmen, appreciating his worth and ability, placed Mr. Curtis in nomination for the office of County Treasurer on the Republican ticket, and when the election returns were received it was found that he was the successful candidate. He entered upon his duties shortly afterward, and so well were they discharged that in 1891 he was again elected, and in 1893 was chosen for a third term, and is now serving his sixth year. He is a most capable and faithful officer, devoted to the best interests of the community that can be promoted by the efficient performance of the tasks which fall to him. He is also serving his second term as a member of the city council. Wherever he is found, whether in private or official life, he is the same loyal man, working for the welfare of the community and all that tends to its upbuilding.

Mr. Curtis was married in Lucas County, August 31, 1872, to Miss Minora Burr, a native of Belmont County, Ohio. They had three children, but all died in infancy, and the mother passed away May 28, 1885, leaving a large circle of friends to mourn her loss. On the 9th of February, 1888, Mr. Curtis was again married, his second union being with Miss Amanda Harris, also a native of Belmont County, Ohio. Her parents, Edward and Martha Harris, were prominent people of that locality, where the father died, in the prime of life, while the mother still resides there. Mr. And Mrs. Curtis have an interesting little daughter, Laura, now six years old. The parents hold an enviable position in social circles and have a large circle of friends and acquaintances who hold them in high regard for their many excellencies of character.

During the late war Mr. Curtis manifested his loyalty to the Government and the Union cause by entering the service as a member of the Forty-sixth Iowa Infantry, Company K. He had some time previously desired to enter the army but his years precluded him, and as soon as he had attained a sufficient age he joined the "boys in blue" and did service in the State of Tennessee until the close of hostilities. He is now a member of Iseminger Post, No. 18, G.A.R., and for the past five years has acceptably served in the position of adjutant, taking great pride in keeping the records with neatness and exactness. He is also a member of Chariton Lodge, No. 63, A.F. & A. M. He and his wife are consistent members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and their earnest Christian lives are well worthy of emulation. Everything that tends to promote the education, material or moral welfare of the community receives their approval and co-operation and the best interests of the county are promoted by them.

WILLIAM T. CURTIS submitted by Richard Kinkead

WILLIAM T. CURTIS, one of the representative men of Lucas County, is a son of Lot Curtis, born in Belmont County, Ohio, August 23, 1822. His father, Thomas Curtis, was a native of Loudoun County, Virginia, and was a son of Barnabas Curtis. The latter descended from one of three Irish brothers who crossed the ocean to this country. Thomas Curtis married Frances St. Clair, a native of Virginia, and his death occurred in 1827. Lot Curtis came to Lucas County, Iowa, in the fall of 1860, purchasing 150 acres of land in Warren township, a part of which was cultivated, but contained no buildings. He erected a small frame dwelling, 16x28 feet, two stories high, obtaining the timber from his own place and hauling the logs to the old Thompson mill. Mr Curtis married Mary Chynowith, a native of Maryland and a daughter of William and Bridget (Turner) Chynowith, who were of English descent. To this union were born the following children: William T., the subject of this sketch; Joseph H., who resides on the old homestead; Amanda, wife of M. A. Scoville, who owns a farm of 160 acres in Warren township and has resided in this State many years; A.C., engaged in farming and the nursery business; Ira, a merchant of Chariton; and George and Ann Eliza, who died of diphtheria at the ages respectively of seven and nine years, and lie buried in the Waynick cemetery. The mother of these children departed this life in 1883.

William T. Curtis was born in Belmont County, Ohio, May 17, 1845, and came with his parents to this county, where, in addition to his common-school education, he received a three-months’ course of schooling from Professor Perry. His first work was on his father’s farm, and after attaining his majority he was employed in the Chariton flour-mill, where he remained one year. He then returned home and he and his father erected a mill, but three years later the mill was moved to Chariton, and eleven years later Mr. Curtis moved to Nebraska and built a mill there. After spending two years in that State he returned to his farm in Lucas County. About seven years ago Mr. Curtis was employed by Eikenberry & Stewart to manage their large interests in Russell, Iowa. After the death of Mr. Eikenberry the firm was known as Stewart & Company, Mr. Curtis still continuing as manager of their business. The mill has a capacity of fifty barrels, and does custom work exclusively, in connection with the stock and elevator business.

February 20, 1871, Mr. Curtis was united in marriage with Miss Mary E. Farber, who was born in Licking County, Ohio, February 20, 1852, a daughter of John Farber, and was brought by her parents to Iowa in 1858, locating about six miles south of Chariton, where her father still resides. Mr. And Mrs. Curtis have had five children, viz.: Hattie M., born November 28, 1873, is a musician of some ability, and is a stenographer and bookkeeper; Willie A., born December 4, 1876, is in the employ of his father; Geanor F. [sic, Leonore], born April 12, 1879; John D., May 24, 1883; Eva May, March 19, 1888; and Ernest E., born February 18, 1892, died July 3, of the same year. Mr. Curtis supports the Republican party, having cast his first presidential vote for General U.S. Grant, and served in the late war. He has served as a member of the city board in Chariton, Russell, and also in Nebraska. Mr. And Mrs. Curtis and children are members of the Baptist Church, in which they are active workers.