TERLING P. CURTIS, senior member of
the firm of Curtis & Reel, who are successfully engaged in general merchandising at
Oakland, is well known to people of the
village, as he has lived here all his life, and this also
was his birthplace. He was born June 19, 1858,
and is the son of Philander and Elizabeth (Modrell) Curtis, natives respectively of Ohio and Kentucky. Philander Curtis was born in Somerset
County in October, 1825, came to Illinois when a small boy and resided in Coles County: he followed
farming nearly all his life. He was a good man in
even sense of the word, and a consistent member
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. Although
quiet and unobtrusive in his life, mixing but little
in public matters, he uniformly voted with the
Republican party, and was a stanch believer in its
principles. He served in the Civil War, and after
that spent his declining years in Oakland, this State.
and rested from his earthly labors in February, 1879.
The mother of our subject was born Sept. 12,
1825, the same year as her husband, and died in
July, 1879, six months after his decease. She also
was a devoted member of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Of their six children the record is as follows: Carlos C. married Miss Abigail Fickett, and
is a resident of Wellington, Kan.; Belle J. is the
wife of A. N. Chapman, of Oakland: Catherine
married E. C. Brown, of Tuscola. Ill., who died
leaving two children: her second husband was E.
A. Pearce, and they reside in Lamont, Ill. Orcelia
was married in Iowa to John Glasburner, who died
leaving one child, and she then married Dr. Elmer
Booth, of Waynetown, Ind.; Walter A. married
Miss Estella Strange, and lives in Oakland, Ill.;
Sterling P., of our sketch, married Miss Susan
Taber, in August, 1879.
Mr. Curtis was educated in the common schools
and worked on the farm part of the time until four-
teen years of age. He then began clerking in a
store, and was variously employed until 1881, when
he became a member of the firm of Lippincott &
Curtis, which continued until January 1886 and
our subject then became associated with Mr. Reel.
The firm of Curtis & Reel carries a stock of drygoods, boots and shoes, and everything pertaining
to the needs of a family either in the town or
country. They occupy two large storerooms, a
part of which is devoted to drugs and groceries,
and probably transact the largest amount of business of any firm of the kind in the county, their
sales averaging annually about $50, 000. They are
live business men, and valued members of the community. Contributing their full share toward its
trade interest and its progress and advancement
morally and intellectually.
The wife of our subject was born in Edgar
County, in March, 1858 and is the daughter of
James C. and Hester A. (Norton) Taber, natives
respectively of Indiana. Of her marriage with
Mr. Curtis there has been one child, a son. Herbert,
who was born in March, 1881, and died in July
following. Mr. Curtis is a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and has
taken much interest in Sunday-school work, having
officiated as Superintendent for some years. He
has also served as Alderman, and upon becoming
of suitable age identified himself decidedly with
the Republican party. He is one of the valued and
enterprising young citizens of Oakland, from whom
much is expected in the future.
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