Curtis - Daniel - Montgomery InGenWeb Project

Daniel CURTIS, a successful farmer and well-known manufacture of tile in Wingate, Montgomery County was born in 1853 in the immediate neighborhood of his present home. His family name is an honored one all over the land. Prominent citizens of varied professions and business, distinguished authors, judges, statesmen, soldier and farmers bear the name of Curtis and all alike, both rich and poor, are the descendants of English ancestry. More than two centuries ago the name of Curtis was a familar one among the struggling colonists who laid the firm foundation of our national independence. Mr. Curtis was undoubtedly named in honor of his paternal grandfather, Daniel Curtis, who was a native of Maryland and man of more than ordinary courage and ability. He served as a soldier in the early history of the US and afterward married a Miss Pocock, also a native of Maryland and lady of excellent family connections, transmitted to his descendants the love of his country and the ardent patriotism of the true American. Grandfather Curtis and his wife were the parents of 8 children, most of whom lived to marry and rare families of their own. The names of the brothers and sisters are Levi, Jane, Joseph, Mary A, James P, Temperance, Wesley and Nicholas. Jane married a mr. Wiley; James P. now lives in Middletown, Ohio; Temperance married William Moore of Bushnell, Ill. Levi, the eldest son was the father of our subject. He was born in BUtler County, Ohio in 1817. His wife, Elizabeth (Dick) Curtis was born in Hartford Co, MD in 1821. She was the daughter of Adam and Temperance Wadlow Dick. Adam Dick was a native of PA a worthy man and good citizen. Like Grandfather Curtis, this maternal ancestor also fought for his country and left a record of an honest, upright life. The parents of Mr. Curtis settled in Montgomery Co Ind at a very early day and were prosperous, the father leaving behind him at his death a comfortable estate. Daniel Curtis enjoyed the advantages afford by the district schools and grew up to manhood amid the scenes and early associations of his life. He exchanged single blessedness for matrimony at the age of 25 years. The lady whom he married was MIss Julia Stought and their marriage was blessed by the birth of two children, one dying in infancy. The surviving child, Etna B, is a bright, promising boy, the sunshine of a happy home. Mr. Curtis, although a successful manufacturer of tile, has devoted much of his time to farming. As a tiller of the soil he has had a wide experience and profitable results. His father left him an inheritance of 320 acres of valuable land, and, as a wise investment, our subject has added to his farming property a fine tract of 400 acres of land, well situated and susceptible of high improvement. In 1881 Mr. Curtis bought an interest with Maurice J. Lee in the tile mill business of which he has had the management ever since. At the expiration of 5 years he purchased Mr. Lee's interest and since 1886 has been sole proprietor of the business. Mr. Curtis is not a politician in the ordinary acception (sic - acceptance) of the word, but he is well informed as to the matters of the day, especially the conduct of local affairs and is a Democrat, adhering strictly to the principles of his party. Fraternally, Mr. Curtis is identified with the Knights of Pythias, and socially has a host of friends in his community where he has spent his life-time. - typed by kbz