ALFRED LEROY CURTISS (1852 - 1900)

Alfred L. Curtiss was born in Pennsylvania in 1852.

First census he appears in is 1860 in Allegheny Township, Venango Co. Pa. He was 7 years old. He appears as Leroy. This is probably because his father was also Alfred. His mother is listed as S.E. Curtiss. (In the 1870 Census she is listed as Ellen.)

In the 1870 Census the family had moved to Howard County, Maryland. They lived in the 6th Election District. (If someone knows where that is please reply.)

By the 1880 Census they had moved to St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., Missouri.

Leroy was a carpenter for the entire time he lived in St. Joseph, Mo. He co-owned a business in 1898-99 called Carson & Curtiss - 1821 Frederick Ave. The Carson of Carson & Curtiss was S.M.Carson 'contractor'.

Leroy Curtiss was married to Mary Ella Darby in 1875. They had nine children. The first two, born in Maryland, died within the first few months of their little lives. The third child Edwin H. was also born in Maryland just before they moved to St. Joseph, Mo. He was only 11 months old in his first Census in 1880. Then Arthur Darby, child number 4, my grandfather was born. After that Percy W., Floyd R., Frederick (d. 8 mo.), Hellen D., and Ruth L.

When Leroy, Mary Ella and Edwin H. first moved to St. Joseph, they lived with a relatives of Mary Ella. A senior couple listed as C. & M.A. Darby. I discovered their names to be Chauncy and Mary A. Darby. Mr. Darby lists his occupation as Baptist Minister.

Alfred Leroy died before the 1910 Census as Mary Ella is listed as a widow.

ARTHUR DARBY CURTISS (1881 - 1925)

The first place we find Arthur D. Curtiss is in the 1900 US Census - Buchanan County, St. Joseph, Missouri. (He was listed incorrectly as Arthur B.)
Born in 1880, he was 18 years old at the taking of the Census. He is the 2nd living child of Alfred L. and Mary E. (Darby) Curtiss. He is the first child born in Missouri. They lived at 1802 N. 22nd Street.

The family must have moved to Missouri some time around 1879 because the 1880 census has Arthur's older brother, Edwin H. being born in Maryland, and 11 months old. Since the little family had just moved from Maryland, they stayed with relatives of Mary Ella's named Rev. Chauncy Darby and wife Mary A.
Darby was a 64 yr. old minister. One census states he as a Baptist Minister.

Arthur grew up in Saint Joseph, Missouri. Where he went to school I haven't found yet.


The 1898-99 City Directory has Arthur D. Curtiss listed as "shoemaker" at N.N. & Co.

His father co-owned a carpentry business called Carson & Curtiss at 1821 Frederick Ave.
Mr. S.M. Carson is listed as a "contractor".

Arhtur's father, Alfred L. Curtiss died some time around 1900-01. About nine months after his father died, Arthur joined the Army and left St. Joseph.

Military Service
Arthur D. Curtiss joined the U.S. Army in 1901 and served at Camp Skagway, Alaska for 3 years. He was a Private First Class in the Hospital Corp. At age 21 ½ he was 5-ft. 7 ½ -in., with brown eyes and black hair. His discharge certificate listed his character as "Excellent” and was signed by Rodney D. Smith, Contract Surgeon, U.S. Army, Commanding Det. H.C.