Willard Benjamin Curtis, Sr.

W. B. Curtis attended the district schools and was graduated from the Lockport high school. He started out in life for himself at the age of eighteen years. In 1881 he came to Joliet and for four years was clerk in a drug store. For fourteen years he was then connected with the Illinois Steel Company, becoming foreman of the rod mill. Gradually he worked his way upward and when his labors had brought him sufficient capital to enable him to engage in business on his own account, he formed a partnership with W. W. Ross in the stone business. They bought a quarry two and one-half miles southwest of the city and for three years were engaged in quarrying fluxing. They now quarry much stone for building and other purposes and employ about thirty men. Their trade has grown to large proportions and they are now conducting a successful enterprise. Mr. Curtis was married in Joliet in 1892 to Miss Emma Patterson, a daughter of J. G. and Mary (Harris) Patterson, who were natives of the north of Ireland and were of Scotch descent. Mr. and Mrs. Curtis have one child, Willard, four years of age. Mr. Curtis is a Knight Templar Mason and is in thorough sympathy with the teachings and purposes of the order. He maintains an unassailable reputation in business circles and his energy and enterprise constitute the salient features of the success which has come to him.

-- Information from Will County IL Archives Biographies

-- http://files.usgwarchives.org/il/will/bios/curtis2502nbs.txt