Job Curtis

Job Curtis may have been murdered by his son-in-law, Reuben Henry Gale. Job had visited his daughter, Melissa and son-in-law, who were then living at Sardis where Gale was teaching school. Job ate lunch with them on August 27, 1858. While returning home that afternoon he became ill with stomach cramps and a severe headache. His condition continued to deteriorate during the afternoon and throughout the night. Job told Margery that he suspect Gale of poisoning his food. The following morning a doctor was summoned. After examining Job, the doctor stated that he had been poisoned. Job died that afternoon. The suspicion was that Gale wished to obtain his wife's part of her father's estate. Gale was not charged due to lack of evidence. Job was buried beside his father and mother in the old Overbey graveyard. After Job's death, the farm was divided between his heirs. Margery lived at the home place with her unmarried children.