Will County IL Archives Biographies.....Curtis, W B 
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Deb Haines http://www.rootsweb.com/~archreg/vols/00003.html#0000719 February 6, 2008, 12:40 am

Author: Past and Present of Will County, IL; 1907

W. B. Curtis is a representative of the stone industry of Joliet, which is one 
of the most important business enterprises of the city. He was born in 
Huntsburg, Ohio, in 1863, and is a son of Charles Curtis, who came from Ohio 
to Illinois in 1867, settling in Lockport. He bought a farm north of the town 
and built upon it and carried forward the work of cultivating and developing 
the fields until his life's labors were ended in death in 1873. His wife, who 
bore the maiden name of Nancy Barnard, was born in New York and died January 
30, 1907, at the age of seventy-four years and five months. They had two 
children, W. B. and Irma. W. B. Curtis attended the district schools and was 
graduated from the Lockport high school. He started out in life for himself at 
the age of eighteen years. In 1881 he came to Joliet and for four years was 
clerk in a drug store. For fourteen years he was then connected with the 
Illinois Steel Company, becoming foreman of the rod mill. Gradually he worked 
his way upward and when his labors had brought him sufficient capital to 
enable him to engage in business on his own account, he formed a partnership 
with W. W. Ross in the stone business. They bought a quarry two and one-half 
miles southwest of the city and for three years were engaged in quarrying 
fluxing. They now quarry much stone for building and other purposes and employ 
about thirty men. Their trade has grown to large proportions and they are now 
conducting a successful enterprise. Mr. Curtis was married in Joliet in 1892 
to Miss Emma Patterson, a daughter of J. G. and Mary (Harris) Patterson, who 
were natives of the north of Ireland and were of Scotch descent. Mr. and Mrs. 
Curtis have one child, Willard, four years of age. Mr. Curtis is a Knight 
Templar Mason and is in thorough sympathy with the teachings and purposes of 
the order. He maintains an unassailable reputation in business circles and his 
energy and enterprise constitute the salient features of the success which has 
come to him. 

Additional Comments:
PAST AND PRESENT OF WILL COUNTY, ILLINOIS By W. W. Stevens President of the 
Will County Pioneers Association; Chicago: The S. J. Clarke Publishing 
Company, 1907

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