A Wilson Family Tree
Notes for Benjamin Marion Curtis
Some sources say he had two middle names. I have seen him listed as Benjamin Franklin Marion Curtis.
Following is an obituary obtained from Glen Gathright. The original source (presumably a newspaper) is unknown.
B. M. Curtis Dead.
The death of B. M. Curtis, which occurred on Thursday, Feb. 17, at his home in Ames, Cloud county, marks the passing of a rather unusual character. Coming to Kansas as a young man fresh from years of service for his country in the Civil war, he settled in Smith county, near Gaylord, in the earliest seventies. He was active in the business affairs of that town prior to and at the time of the building of the Missouri Pacific raidroad [sic]. Later and for many years he lived with his family on a farm, but moved to Ames some years ago. In the days when Grand Army reunions were popular Ben Curtis was a prominent figure, appearing with his seventeen husky children as one of the feature attractions. Moulded in the rough pioneer days, his somewhat uncouth manner and stormy habits were taken as a matter of course. The writer of these lines has been a lifelong friend and associate and notes his passing with regret. Men of his kind are not made in these later days. Benjamin Marion Curtis was born in Gallatin, Davis county, Missouri, on Jan. 22, 1846, being the eldest son of John and Louisa Curtis, and departed this life at Ames, Kansas, on Feb. 17, 1927, at the age of 81 years and 27 days. He served three and a half years as a soldier in the Civil war with the 43rd Missouri Volunteer Infantry. In 1865 he was united in marriage with Jennie Baltz, to which union six children were born, two of whom died in infancy, the mother dying a few years later. He was again united in marriage on July 5, 1879, with Belle Vanderoof, to which union were born eleven children, all of whom grew to manhood and womanhood. The eldest son of this latter union died on Jan. 27, 1902. Mr. Curtis leaves to mourn his death his aged wife, fourteen children, one sister, two brothers and several grandchildren and great grandchildren. The wife, one sister, one brother and eleven of the children were present at the funeral services. One son and two daughters living in Oklahoma were unable to be present on account of sickness in their families. For almost twenty-five years Mr. Curtis has been a faithful worker in the Church of the Latter Day Saints, and a minister of that faith was present at Gaylord, Sunday afternoon, to conduct the final service in the M. E. church, which was crowded with old-time friends and neighbors. Interment was in the Gaylord cemetery.
The following appears to have been a separate notice, probably also in a newspaper.
Uncle Ben Curtis, a familiar figure here many years ago, died at his home at Ames, Kans., last Friday. The body was brought here for burial, arriving here Sunday morning and the funeral was held from the M. E. church, Sunday afternoon, interment being made in the family lot in the Gaylord cemetery. Uncle Ben, as he was familiarly called, was one of the earliest settlers here, homesteading a place southwest of town where he lived many years. He was a veteran of the Civil war and active in Grand Army circles. At his funeral only two of his old comrades of the Gaylord Post, G.A.R,. S. T. Mitchell and J. N. Gearhart, were left to attend. A brother, D. S. Curtis, and a sister, Mrs. L. C. Jenkinson, still live in Gaylord.
WFT 45, 2098 did not have middle name (only middle initial).
The name on his death certificate is Benjamin Marion Curtis (hard to read the middle name; it actually looks more like Marian or Murian). Cause of death was cerebral hemorrhage. Place of death is given as Ames, Shirley Twp., Cloud Co., KS. It says he had been living there for 7 years 4 months.
Note: Some of the information in these pages is uncertain. Please let me know of errors or omissions using the email link above. ...Mike Wilson
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