Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Curtis, William H. December 24, 1817 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com February 10, 2006, 2:45 am

Author: "History of Grundy County, Illinois", 1882

WILLIAM H. CURTIS, retired, Morris. The subject of this sketch is a native of 
Rutland, Vt., born December 24, 1817, son of Thaddeus and Charlotte (KIMBALL) 
CURTIS, who came to Grundy County, 1848. His father died in Grundy County, 
September 3, 1857, in his sixty-sixth year. The mother died in Grundy County, 
January 9, 1862, in her seventy-fifth year. Subject came to Grundy County in 
1846, and bought land in Vienna Township, where he made his home until coming 
to Morris, January, 1880. Raised and educated in Vermont. Married June 12, 
1860, to Mrs. Jane A. HOLLENBECK, widow of Abraham HOLLENBECK. She is a native 
of Dutchess County, N. Y., February 13, 1817, and came to Grundy County about 
1850. Mr. CURTIS is now retired and is living in a beautiful residence on 
corner of Benton and Spruce streets. Besides his large landed interest in 
Vienna Township, of this county, he owns a farm of 112 acres in Section 25, of 
Brookfield Township, La Salle County. "Wolves!" said Mr. CURTIS, "I can tell 
you a big one, but nobody will believe it." "Let us have the benefit of the 
story," said the interviewer. "I was aroused one morning to find a wolf with a 
chicken. I had no dog of my own, but Dr. ANTIS' dog happened to be under my 
shanty. He gave chase, and was soon joined by William HINCHMAN's dog. In order 
to encourage the dogs, I got on a horse, not stopping to put on a bridle, and 
followed after. They overhauled him on a pond which had a considerable 
thickness of ice, but they were not equal to the wolf, not being used to his 
method of defense. Thinking to help the dogs, I got off my horse and caught 
the wolf by the tail. No sooner had I done so than the dogs left me to engage 
the wolf while they indulged in a fight with each other. In this dilemma I 
conceived the idea of killing my game by swinging it over-handed and bringing 
its head in contact with the ice. This proved a failure, for the first 
impression broke the ice, letting us into three feet of water. Now my only 
chance was to drown him, and after several attempts, coupled with the 
pitchfork in the hands of a boy, the wolf was numbered with the slain."

[Source: "History of Grundy County, Illinois", Chicago: O. L. Baskin & Co., 
Historical Publishers, Lake Side Building, 1882]

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