Cache-Utah County UT Archives Biographies.....Curtis, George W. 1854 - ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/ut/utfiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Joy Fisher http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00001.html#0000031 September 1, 2011, 3:32 pm Source: See below Author: S. J. Clarke, Publisher GEORGE W. CURTIS. George W. Curtis is now living in Logan but for a long period was actively identified with farming interests in Cache county and through his industry along this and other lines he acquired a competence that now enables him to rest from further labor. He was born in Payson, Utah, January 30, 1854, a son of George and Emma (Whaley) Curtis. The father was born October 7, 1823, at Silver Lake, Oakland county, Michigan, near Pontiac, while the mother was born in Sheffield, England, and came to America in 1850. The father, George Curtis, arrived in Utah in 1848, first settling in Salt Lake, but after a time removed to Provo, later to Sanpete county and ultimately to Payson, where he spent his remaining days. In early life he devoted his attention to sawmill work and he became one of the promoters of the Salem canal, while otherwise he contributed to the development and upbuilding of the district. The Curtis family was one of the first twelve families to locate in Payson, and Joseph Curtis, brother of George Curtis, was active in the building of the Payson Tabernacle, which was in continuous use until a short time ago, when it was destroyed by fire. George Curtis was a member of the Quorum of Seventy, was also a high priest and was foremost in all plans and projects for the advancement of public work and the educational and moral development of the community. In 1849 Brigham Young called on him to go to Sanpete to establish a settlement, but after a short time he returned on foot to Salt Lake and a little later went to Provo, from which point he made his way to Payson. In connection with John Bellows and using an old harrow and a yoke of oxen, he made a road to Spanish Fork. Thus his activities brought him into close association with the work of early development and improvement of his district. He was the father of seventeen children, eleven of whom are stiii living, and he passed away February 5, 1911. Mrs. Mary (Openshaw) Curtis, the second wife of George Curtis, was born in Brightmet, Lancashire, England, March 25, 1839, and came to Utah in 1856, pulling a handcart all the way across the plains. In 1857 she became the wife of Mr. Curtis. George W. Curtis whose name introduces this review attended the schools of Payson, but the educational system was but slightly developed at that period. When a lad of seventeen years he took up the work of freighting from Salt Lake and Sandy to Pioche, Nevada. He also went with the first soldiers to Beaver, Utah, driving a six-mule team, and he continued in the freighting business for six years. During that period he likewise worked on the home ranch and in 1877 h£ entered the employ of the_ Ontario Silver Mining Company, working in its mill until December 28, 1897, or for a period of twenty years. In 1898 he began farming at Newton, where he resided until 1915, when he sold the property and removed to Logan, where he now occupies a large and beautiful modern residence. In 1880 Mr. Curtis was married to Miss Permelia Haws, a daughter of Nathaniel and Lucinda (Crockett) Haws, who were natives of Maine. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis became parents of three children: Dr. George Nathaniel Curtis, of Salt Lake; Emma L., now the wife of Dr. D. K. Allen, also of Salt Lake; and Zeeta. While connected with agricultural interests Mr. Curtis devoted his attention to general farming, producing diversified crops. He is now resting from further labors but is a stockholder in the Farmers Banking Company of Cache Junction. He was elected to the city council of Forks city to fill out an unexpired term of six months but otherwise has not held public office. While at Newton he was ordained a member of the Seventy. There is practically no phase of the development and settlement of the west with which he is not familiar and the work instituted by his father in the upbuilding of Utah and the reclamation of its arid lands has been continued by him and throughout his entire life he has followed constructive methods in the conduct of his business interests and is now the possessor of a handsome competence as the reward of his labors. Additional Comments: Extracted from UTAH SINCE STATEHOOD HISTORICAL AND BIOGRAPHICAL ILLUSTRATED VOLUME IV CHICAGO-SALT LAKE: THE S. J. CLARKE PUBLISHING COMPANY 1920 File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/ut/cache/bios/curtis7nbs.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.net/utfiles/ File size: 4.9 Kb