Saguache County CO Archives Biographies.....Curtis, Wilbur L. December 14, 1870 - ?
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net December 20, 2005, 10:13 pm

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     Among the leading citizens and most enterprising and prosperous ranchmen

and stock growers of Saguache county are the Curtis brothers, Wilbur L. and

George H., whose excellent ranch of six hundred acres, located not far from the

county seat, was one of the first opened up in the county and is now one of the

best.  Wilbur L. was born at Independence, Iowa, on December 14, 1870, and

George H. in Saguache county, Colorado, on November 25, 1874.  They are sons of

Lora D. and Eliza (Martin) Curtis, the former born in Geneva county, New York,

on February 25, 1838, and the latter in Trumbull county, Ohio, on June 26, 1858.

 The father was the son of Newman and Maria Curtis, who were natives of New York

state, the former of Scotch and the latter of Holland ancestry.  They moved to

Independence, Iowa, early in their married life, and there they passed the

remainder of their lives engaged in farming and raising live stock.  The father

was a Whig in politics until the death of that party, and after that an ardent

Republican.  Both died in Iowa.  Their son, Lora D. Curtis, received a

common-school education, and remained with his parents until July 1, 1876, when,

in order to restore his failing health, he came overland with a small train to

Colorado, and located in Saguache county.  Here he pre-empted a ranch ten miles

southeast of the county seat, which he improved and sold.  He then moved near

the town of Saguache, which was at the time a hamlet of rude dwellings and few

inhabitants, and devoted his remaining years to ranching and raising cattle in

that neighborhood.  He always took an earnest interest in the progress of the

county, and was largely instrumental in having good roads and other improvements

of a kindred character made.  He became one of the most prominent and

influential citizens of the county and one of its leading business men. In

political affairs he supported the Republican party with ardor and

effectiveness.  He died on April 22, 1898, and his widow now makes her home at

Saguache.  Like their father, Republicans in politics, and like him alert,

enterprising and far-seeing in business, the sons are highly esteemed citizens,

and very helpful forces in carrying on the general interests of the county, in

which they have a constant and earnest concern.  Wilbur, who was four years old

when the family moved to this state, has passed all his subsequent years in

Saguache county except the period from 1891 to 1896, inclusive, when he was

superintendent of construction for the Chicago Gas Light and Coke Company.  His

education was obtained in the common schools, and at the Western University and

Powers Business College at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, and his courses of study at these

has been supplemented by a wide and varied experience, which has made him a

broad-minded and well-informed man.  George L., who is wholly a product of

Colorado, attended only the common schools, the necessities of the work on the

ranch and the other interests in which his father was engaged, requiring his

presence at home from an early age.  Both are valued members of the Masonic

order in their locality, and both are actuated by a lofty and productive

public-spirit in all their citizenship.  Since their father’s death they have

managed the business affairs of the family with increasing success and profit,

and looking after every phase of its multiform activities with close attention

and excellent judgment.  Eighty acres of the tract are in grain and three

hundred and seventy-five in hay, and the rest is devoted to pasturing the large

herds of well bred cattle which form one of the staple products of the place,

which is known as the Andy Settle Ranch, and was one of the first located in the

county. It is improved with good dwellings and other buildings, plentifully

watered and near a good and active market at Saguache.  The sons, while

inheriting the business, inherited also the spirit of their father, and they

have exemplified in their career all the manliness, energy, elevated citizenship

and local patriotism that were conspicuous in his.  And as the country has

improved, they have kept pace with the spirit of progress, continuing in the

front rank of its business men and among the leaders of its thought and action

in every useful line of improvement.  

Additional Comments:
From Progressive Men of Western Colorado.  Chicago:  A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905

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