History of Lucas County, Iowa - 1881

History of Lucas County, Iowa
Des Moines, State Historical Company, 1881.

Unless otherwise noted, biographies submitted by Dick Barton.

CLINTON, J. H., Merchant, post-office, Russell. Born March 18, 1823, in Warren county, Ohio, where he remained until eleven years of age. He then moved with his parents to Warren county, Indiana, where he was educated in the common schools. When twenty-one years old, he began teaching school, and was thus occupied until 1864. He then went to Lodi, Illinois, and engaged in mercantile pursuits. He moved to Russell in 1877, and now has a fine stock of general merchandise, and does a thriving business. He was married in 1853, to Miss S. H. Foster, of Warren county, Indiana, by whom he was the father of one child: Mary. Mrs. C. died in about fifteen months after her marriage. He was married a second time in 1861, to Mrs. Martha E. Knowlton, of Warren county, Ohio. They are the parents of three children: DeWitt, Bruce and Edward. Mr. and Mrs. C. are members of the Presbyterian Church.

CURTIS, J. H., of the firm of L. Curtis & Sons; post-office Lucas. Proprietors city mills, Chariton, and Lucas mills. Mr. Curtis was born in Belmont county, Ohio, March 24, 1850. At the age of ten years, his parents moved to this county, where he resided on a farm until sixteen years of age, at which time he engaged in the business of milling. The city mills, at Chariton, were built in 1872, the Lucas mills in 1875. Mr. Curtis was married December 24, 1874, to Miss Electa Farber, a native of Ohio. Arthur B., their only child, was born August 14, 1879. Mr. Curtis owns a good house in Chariton, and one in Lucas. He is also engaged in buying and shipping grain.

CURTIS, LOT, section one, post-office, Chariton. Born August 23, 1822, in Belmont county, Ohio, where he grew to man's estate, receiving his education in common schools, and raised on a farm. In 1840, he commenced to learn the carpenter's trade, working thereat four years. He then went into a grist mill. Was married August 20, 1844, to Miss Mary, daughter of William and Biddie Cheynoweth, born December 27, 1821, in Frederick county, Maryland; educated in common schools and learning the tailor's trade. In 1860, he came to Iowa, locating where he now resides, having a good farm with all the necessary buildings. In 1862, with M. J. Burr, he put up a steam saw mill, which they run some three years, when he bought Mr. Burr's interest and converted it to a grist mill. In 1873, he moved the mill to Chariton, where he enlarged it to the dimensions of four run of burrs, doing merchant and custom work. He has given his two eldest boys an interest in the mills. They have also, a grist mill at Lucas, in this county. Mr. Curtis has served as county supervisor, and is a member of the I. O. O. F. He is the father of nine children, seven of whom are living: William T., Elizabeth T., Elizabeth A., Joseph H., Cyrus B., Frank B., Asberty C. and Iva. Ann E. and George deceased.

CURTIS, MOSES H., farmer; post-office, Norwood. Born May 15, 1826, in Monroe county, Ohio, where he was reared on a farm and educated in the subscription schools. He worked as a farm laborer until he had earned sufficient means to begin business for himself. He then commenced the cultivation of tobacco, and was engaged in that business successfully several years. He came to Iowa in 1857, and arrived in this county April 26th of that year. He now owns a well improved farm of 200 acres. Mr. Curtis has contributed largely to the moral and religious advancement of the community in which he resides. He was married December 28, 1848, to Miss Sarah A. Spence, of Monroe county, Ohio, by whom he is the father of sixteen children, twelve of whom are still living: William N., Emory W., Jonathan B., Hiram, Charles L., Zaccheus, Eliza, Mary E., Sarah A., Martha, Elmer and Ellis Centennial. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have been members of the U. B. Church since their arrival in this county.