What Happened To Arthur?

My Grandfather died a very long time ago. He died when my Dad was only 11 months old, so they never knew each other. Whatever I learned about my Grandfather, I received from my Aunts who were young women when he passed in 1925.
There were many family stories and beliefs about Arthur D Curtiss that I have found not to be true. Over the last 15 years I have dug into my family genealogy and history following the paper trail to where ever it took me. I discovered the true facts about the death of Arthur because I actually contacted the hospital where he passed away and had them photo copy his records for me. What I found dispelled one very mysterious family legend as to the cause of his death.
I have also discovered things that I think my dear deceased Aunties didn't even know. Things that occurred before they were born. It seems that my Grandparents possibly started their marriage on a very shaky foundation.
As per my usual searching routine, I happened upon I newspaper article dated Wed, May 23, 1906 from the St. Joseph News-Press/Gazette. Page 5
"A. D. CURTISS LEAVES
Street Railway Conductor Deserts Wife of Ten Months"
Oh my gosh. This was a shocking article to say the lease. Here it was for all of St Joe, Missouri to read about. After 10 months of marriage something caused Arthur to temporarily bolt from his wife and run away. He was almost 25 years old. He had a good job working as a Streetcar Conductor. Why would he write a note and leave it under the door saying he couldn't live happily with his wife anymore?
The article said the my Grandmother was very sick at the time. I returned to my family tree and found that she wasn't sick in any sense of the word. She was however very pregnant and about to give birth to her first daughter in July. I was beginning to get the picture of what was really going on with Arthur. This was all happening too fast for him to process. A new wife added more responsibility. Now a baby on the way adding even more pressure and responsibility. He must have been feeling somewhat overwhelmed and possibly trapped. He couldn't take the pressure.
But there was a twist to the story. The article also said that his friends thought he had committed suicide! He had told a friend recently he wanted to throw himself into the Missouri River and end it all. Maybe he could go into a state hospital if he acted crazy enough. His friends tried to make light of his talk by teasing that he might not actually be able to stay out of the asylum the way he is!  Running away and committing suicide are two different things! I believed something more than the normal pressures of a new family were at work here. I'm happy to report that he did not commit suicide but returned home at some point as I have census records and photos of them together. There was no follow-up article.
Arthur did in the end die in a State Hospital. His cause of death: Paralysis of the Insane.

PERCY WILLIAM CURTISS (1883 - 1969)

Percy W. Curtiss was Arthur's younger brother.

He was the fifth child out of nine children born to Alfred LeRoy and Mary Ella Curtiss.
Born Janurary 22, 1883 in Saint Joseph, Missouri.
He married Claudia Francis Basser (b. 1888 Missouri) and they had 3 children.

Donald Oliver Curtiss (b.1907)
William LeRoy Curtiss (b.1914)
Virginia Dale Curtiss (b.1918)

Percy was tall and slender with blue eyes and black hair.

He worked as a printer and the Manager of the Linotype Dept. at Combe Printing Co.

Percy lived his whole life in St. Joseph, Missouri and died in March 1969.

Arthur Darby Curtiss Marries

Upon completion of his service in the US Army Hospital Corp, Arthur D. Curtiss returned to St. Joseph, Missouri and married Lata LaVesta Launder in 1905. They were married in the Westminster Presbyterian Church in St. Joseph, Missouri located at Jule & 21st Street. The Minister who signed their Marriage Certificate was Rev. Henry Nelson Bullard dated August 22, 1905.




By the 1910 US Federal Census they had two childern, Ethelyn N. (1906) and Ruby L. (1907), both daughters were born in St. Joseph, Missouri.

I love this old photo. All these women! Arthur doesn't look very happy. Included in the photo (l to r) dauthter Ruby, mother Mary Ella, in front sitting next to Arthur on the step is sister Hellen, daughter Ethelyne, sister Ruth, behind him is wife Lata LaVesta (Vesta), sister-in-law Alice Leota. (Possibly taking the photo is his brother Edwin H. who was professional photographer.)

Move to Nebraska

Between the 1910 Census and the birth of daughter Helen F. in May 1912, the Curtiss family, including Arthur's mother Mary Ella (Darby), brothers Floyd R. and Edwin H. with their families, all moved to Omaha, Nebraska. Mary Ella was a widow in the 1910 Census. In Omaha, Arthur's occupation was now florist. He worked for Charles Ederer at 308 Bristol St., and he worked in greenhouses and did landscaping.















Arthur is pictured here (at the far left) with his mates at Ederer .


World War I Draft Registration Card (1918)

We find some interesting facts about Arthur Darby Curtiss from his September 12, 1918 draft registration card. We learn that he lived at 3513 N. 30th, Douglas Co., Omaha, Nebraska. He lists his occupation as Florist employed by Chas Ederer at 308 Bristol St. Most interesting is the spelling of his wife's name, which he spells Lata LaVesta Curtiss. (Everyone has always believed her name was Lita LaVesta!) He is a natural born American. He was 5-ft 7 1/2-in tall with brown eyes and black hair.


By the 1920 US Federal Census the Arthur D. Curtiss family is still living in Omaha, Nebraska and now has another daughter, Helen Francis Curtiss born in 1912.



Elmwood Park - The family enjoyed their time together in the beautiful 55 acre park along Leavenworth Street that fit the report’s description as a “wild and romantic place,” containing a wooded ravine that followed the course of a small stream.” “There are all manner of shady nooks in this dell, and some of the largest forest trees in this section of the country are to be seen in it,” the story continued. Most impressive along the trees were the huge elms that prompted the Commissioners to give the park the name Elmwood.

Arthur D. Curtiss Family in Omaha, Nebraska (1910 - 1920)
Lata LaVesta (Launder) - Wife
Ethelyne N. - Daughter
Ruby L. - Daughter
Helen F. - Daughter
Mary Ella (Darby) - Mother
Hellen D. - Sister
Edwin H. - Brother
Alice L.(Reeder) - Sister-in-law
Floyd R. - Brother
Estella L. (Boulware) - Sister-in-law