"History of Cottonwood and Watonwan Counties of Minnesota, 1916"



Will Curtis, editor and proprietor of the St. James Plaindealer, and who also is actively engaged in the real-estate business in the city of St. James, is a native of Wisconsin, born on a farm in the vicinity of Patch Grove, Grant county, that state, January 18, 1865, son of J. A. Curtis and wife. He received his elementary education in the district school in the neighborhood of his home and remained on the home farm until he was nineteen years of age, after which he entered the Michigan Agricultural College, from which he was graduated in 1889. Previous to going to college, Mr. Curtis had taught school one year in his home county and was also engaged as a teacher during- his vacations from college. After his graduation he was employed as principal of the high school at Beetown, Wisconsin, and after one year of service in that capacity engaged in the newspaper business, which has been his calling ever since.

It was in 1890 that Mr. Curtis bought the Kewanee Star at Kewanee, Illinois, and entered upon his career as editor and publisher. Five years later the Kewanee Printing and Publishing Company was organized, with Mr. Curtis as manager. It took over the Kewanee Star, the Kewanee Courier and a job plant, and consolidated the two papers, under the title of the Star-Courier. Mr. Curtis continued as manager of that paper for thirteen years, at the end of which time, in 1908, he disposed of his newspaper interests in Illinois and came to Minnesota, locating at St. James, where he bought the Plaindealer, and has since been editor and sole proprietor of that excellent newspaper, which has become an influence for much good hereabout during the period of his able management. Mr. Curtis is an energetic, enterprising and public-spirited citizen and his newspaper is ever found on the right side of all public questions affecting the welfare and progress of this community. In addition to giving close attention to his newspaper interests, Mr. Curtis also is. actively engaged in the real-estate business at St. James and is regarded as one of the liveliest "hustlers" in that city. He gives thoughtful attention to local political affairs, but has never been an aspirant for public office.

In 1895, at Kewanee, Illinois, Will Curtis was united in marriage to Lida Jane Giffin, of that city, and to this union five children have been born, as follow: Harold, who is now a student at Hamlin College, St. Paul; Lucile, who was graduated from the St. James high school in 1916; Leslie, also a high-school student; Elizabeth, who is still in the grade school, and Bruce William, all of whom were born at Kewanee save the latter, who was born at St. James. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis are members of the Methodist Episcopal church and take a proper interest in the various social and cultural movements of their home town. Mr. Curtis is an Odd Fellow and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America and in the affairs of these two popular orders takes a warm interest.



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