BIOGRAPHY PROJECT - GRAND TRAVERSE & LEELANAU

Harvey J. Curtis

Grand Traverse and Leelanaw Counties 1903
by E. L. Sprague of Michigan

Harvey J. CURTIS, janitor of the Central school building, Traverse City, is by no means the least.  He was born in the town of Grafton, Lorrain county,  Ohio, Oct  25 1843.  His father was Harvey A. CURTIS,  a native of Great Barrington, Massachusetts, born in 1801. 

In 1817 the family moved to Ohio and located at Grafton, where the subject's father engaged in agricultural pursuits until his death, in February, 1863.  The mother of the subject was Eliza (TURNER) CURTIS, also a native of Massachusetts, born in 1805.  Her parents moved to Grafton in 1816, and there she was reared and educated.  In 1824 she was united in marriage to Harvey A. CURTIS, and they established themselves on a farm near Grafton.  She died in May, 1901. 

They were parents of eight children, six of whom are still living, viz:  William, a farmer, who resided in Sandusky, Ohio, but who is now in the Soldiers' Home at Dayton; Mary, wife of Robert NEWTON, resides at Grafton; Milo, a farmer lives at Mason City, Iowa; Enos, a carpenter and joiner, is a resident of Findlay, Ohio; Harvey J., the subject of this review; Amanda, wife of Albert BARNES, a resident of Northport, Michigan.

The early years of Harvey J. Curtis were spent on his father's farm near Grafton.  He attended school during the winter months and assisted his father with the customary farm work during the other seasons of the year. 

When the war of the Rebellion had been in progress a little more than a year he enlisted, September 10, 1862, in Company D, One Hundred and Twenty-eighth Ohio Volunteer Infantry.  He served until the close of the war, the regiment being engaged doing garrison duty most of the time on Johnson's Island.  He was discharged June 4, 1865. 

On, May 23, 1868, at Traverse City, he was united in marriage to Miss Martha COOK, a native of New Your, born in 1847.  She was the daughter of John A. and Matilda (BANCROFT) COOK, natives of New York state.  John and Matilda were the parents of a number of children, seven of whom are still living. 

Mrs. COOK departed this life in 1886, while her husband is still living and resides in Traverse City.  To Mr. and Mrs. Harvey CURTIS four children have been born, viz: Henry, now in his thirty-third year, has been afflicted from birth with spinal disease, never having walked a step in his life; he is intelligent and well educated, spends much time reading, and has a horse, buggy and cutter, and drives out at his pleasure; Jennie is a teacher in the public schools and has followed the calling for a number of years, having been for the past two years employed at Holland, Michigan and is now employed there for another year; Winifred M. is the wife of Edward COURTHEAD, a machinist, and they are the parents of three children, Edith, Irene and Helen, all residing in Traverse City;  Charles C., a teamster, married Lizzie HUFFMAN, and they are the residents of Traverse City.  

In politics, Harvey is a active Republican.  He was deputy sheriff of Grand Traverse county for two years, but never aspired to or held any political office.  Mr. Curtis, wife and two daughters are members of the Congregational church.  He belongs to no fraternal society except the Grand Army post at Traverse City.  He is a kind, industrious, thrifty man, who by hard work and close application to his business has established for himself a character in the community of which he may well be proud.