William "Willy" D. Curtis

ID: I15807 Name: William Wylie CURTIS Sex: M Census: C632 IL Birth: 06 FEB 1795 in IRELAND 1 Note: 1850 census gives DOB as 1793 in PA. Death: 10 NOV 1869 in Oblong, Crawford, IL Burial: Weaver Cemetery, Oblong, Crawford, IL Occupation: Farmer/preacher Note: Came to US at 6 weeks old.

1850 CENSUS - Not Stated, Crawford, IL roll 104 p 201 fam 494. 1860 CENSUS - Township 7 Range 14, Crawford, IL roll 171 p 525 fam 1122.

Marriage 1 Lorena Lovess INMAN b: 20 JUN 1798 in SC Married: 12 FEB 1818 in Miami Co., OH 2 Children

Asa CURTIS b: 02 DEC 1819 in Newton Twsp, Miami, OH

Eli CURTIS , Sr b: 22 APR 1820 in Newton Twsp, Miami, OH

Mary Ann CURTIS b: 28 FEB 1823 in Newton Twsp, Miami, OH

Daniel R. CURTIS b: 13 MAR 1825 in Newton Twsp, Miami, OH

Rebecca M. CURTIS b: 15 MAY 1827 in Newton Twsp, Miami, OH

Little Berry CURTIS b: 16 APR 1829 in Vermilion Co., IL

Martha Elizabeth CURTIS b: 10 JUL 1831 in Vermilion Co., IL

John H. CURTIS b: 24 DEC 1833 in Vermilion Co., IL

Elizabeth CURTIS b: 06 NOV 1836 in Vermilion Co., IL

Margaret CURTIS b: 07 MAR 1839 in Crawford Co., IL

Sources: Title: Census records. Title: Family History Library Film Publication: LDS Page: #0550177.

Source: http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=GET&db=inman_com...

William Wiley Curtis

At the present time, the history of our family can be traced back the Curtis line to William Wiley Curtis. Family tradition says that William Wiley was born in Ireland and came to the United States as an infant and had several brothers. The 1850 Census shows that he was born in Pennsylvania in 1793 and the 1860 Census shows that he was born in Virginia in 1793. Calculating his birthdate from his gravestone produces a birthdate of February 6, 1795. A Greene County, Ohio history says that William Wiley was born in Greensville County, Virginia on February 6, 1793 and this is probably accurate. The ancestor who came from Ireland is possibly one or more generations further back in the family. The names of William Wiley's parents remain unknown but it is likely that his father died when he was young since it is reported that William came to Greene County, Ohio in November 1805 along with his stepfather and family. They arrived in Greene County after a "tedious and toilsome journey of seven weeks." William Wiley served in the military during the War of 1812. He left Greene County in 1817. The next record that has been found of William Wiley Curtis is his marriage to Lorena (Lovey) Inman on February 12, 1818, in Miami County, Ohio by James Haworth, Justice of the Peace. After their marriage they lived in Newtown Township of Miami County according to the 1820 Census. William is listed directly after his father-in-law, Asa Inman, and his brother-in-law, Eli Inman. An index of tax records for 1820 does not show William Wiley so it is possible that William and Lovey were living on land owned by Asa. See the next section for more information about Lovey's ancestors and background. Newton Township was first settled just after 1800 by Michael Williams and Marmaduke Coate. It was named after the famous English scientist and astronomer, Sir Isaac Newton. To its north was Newberry Township which was probably named after Newberry County, South Carolina, from which many of its original settlers came. To the south of Newton Township is Union Township which was formed in 1807 as one of the five original townships in the county. These three townships form the west side of Miami County and all of them were influenced by the large number of Quakers who came there, especially from Carolina and Georgia. Knowing that William may have had several brothers raises the possibility that James, Jacob, and Hiram Curtis who also lived in Miami County, Ohio for the 1820 Census might have been brothers or otherwise related although there is no proof other than their proximity and ages. James and Jacob Curtis were both living in Union Township. James was 26-44 years old, his wife was 16-25 years old and they had 2 boys and 2 girls all under 10 years old. If James is a brother, he would have been an older brother since William was about 25 at the time and James was probably in his upper 20's. Jacob was 26-44 years old, his wife was 26-44 years old, there were five girls under 10 years, one girl 10-15, and one male 16-18 with two people engaged in agriculture. Some of the older ones may not have been children of this family but there is no way of knowing for sure. Hiram Curtis lived on the opposite side of Miami County in Lost Creek Township. Hiram was 16-25 years old and there is one male child under 10 years old. Also living in the household were three females with one in each of the age groups 16-25 (probably the wife), 26-44, and 45-and-up. These could have been widowed mothers. While living in Ohio, William and Lovey had at least five children: Asa, born on December 2, 1817 (this date may be in error since recent evidence puts his birth in 1819); Eli, born on April 22, 1820; Mary Ann, born on February 28, 1823; Daniel R., born on March 13, 1825; and Rebecca M., born on May 15, 1827. Sometime after Rebecca's birth but before 1829, the family moved to Vermillion County, Illinois. Tax and land records of Love township show that Section 12-T17-R11 was owned by Cook, Smith and Curtis, William W. A History of Vermillion County published in 1879 reports that William Curtis owned a mill and some land. Records also show a land purchase on November 21, 1835 of 20 acres for $25 by William W. Curtis. Four more chldren were added to the family during this time in Vermillion County: Little Berry on April 16, 1829; Martha E. on July 10, 1831; John H. on December 24, 1833; and Elizabeth on November 6, 1836. Some family members have been curious about the origin of Little Berry's name. Lovey's sister, Mary (Polly) Inman was married to Little Berry Lewis in 1825. The name probably came from this brother-in-law since many of Lovey's children seem to be named after members of her family. Asa was Lovey's father's name and also the name of her brother, Eli was the name of her brother, Mary was her mother's and sister's name, Little Berry was her brother-in-law's name, Elizabeth was her step-mother's name and also the name of her brother Eli's second wife, and she also had a brother who married a Margaret. In a history of Crawford County, Illinois, it was reported that William Wiley Curtis and his family came to Crawford County in 1837. However, it is more likely that the family moved first to Pulaski County, Indiana for a few years and then moved on to Crawford County, Illinois. About 1838, several families from Miami County, Ohio started moving to land that was just opening up in Pulaski County, Indiana, including Asa Inman, the brother of Lovey. There is a record of a purchase of 40 acres by William W. Curtis on March 23, 1840 although the family had probably been in that area for over a year before that date. In August 1838 there is a record of W.W. Curtis voting in an election in Liberty Township. The youngest daughter Margaret was probably born in Pulaski County on March 7, 1839. The first marriage in Beaver Township (and some claim in Pulaski County) was Mary Ann Curtis and Robert White, Jr. in 1839. The birth of their child, Lovess, in October 1840 was the first birth in Beaver Township. William W. and Asa Curtis each voted in an election held in April 1840 and William W. voted again in November of that year in the presidential election. Asa Curtis voted in an election in August 1841 but his father did not vote in that election so he may have moved on to Crawford County by that date. There is no later record that has yet been found of Asa in Pulaski County. Crawford County, Illinois was William and Lovey's last residence. Crawford County, Illinois traces its history back to a French trading post located there in the 1680's. Fort Lamotte was built in 1812 to protect the early settlers in Crawford County from Indian attacks. In 1821, a Federal Land Office opened in Crawford County. At that time Crawford County encompassed the territory north to Wisconsin. The Curtis family settled in western Crawford County in what would soon be Oblong Township. They settled very close to the Jasper County line. Most of the Curtis children were married in the years after the move. Asa married Sarah Elizabeth Boyd on July 7, 1842, in Jasper County, Illinois. Eli Curtis and Margaret Curtis were married on February 27, 1845 in Crawford County by Dan F. Hale, Justice of the Peace. Also married during the 1840's were Rebecca Curtis and Washington Miller on October 12 1845 and Daniel Curtis and Mary Ann Heaton on March 23, 1848. It is also probably that Martha E. Curtis was married to a man named Miller during the later 1840's. She was not listed on the 1850 census with William Wiley's family and a second marriage lists her name as Mrs. Martha Miller. Details are sketchy and little is known about her husbands, but records indicate that this was the first of five marriages. There were also at least nine grandchildren born during the 1940's. The 1850 Crawford County Census lists Little Berry (21), John (16), Elizabeth (13), and Margaret (11) as still living at home with the younger three having attended school within the previous year. Lovey and Little Berry were noted as persons over 20 who could not read or write. William Wiley's property value was listed as $100. These four younger children all married for the first time during the 1850's. Little Berry married Mary Jane Maddox on November 14, 1851. Elizabeth married Joseph C. Curtis on November 28, 1853. Then in 1856, John married Elizabeth Ann Randolph on June 1 and Margaret married Isaiah Cramer on August 24. During the 1860's William Wiley and Lovey saw two of their children marry for the second time. Elizabeth married William Willis in 1865 and Margaret married George W. Jackson in 1866. This decade was also the time of the marriage of the first four grandchildren: John H., Mary, Emsley, and Lovey. By the end of the 1860's , at least fifty-four grandchildren had been born to William and Lovey. However, pioneer life was hard and there had also been many times of sorrow. Two of William Wiley and Lovey's children died during the 1860's. Daniel R. was killed on February 3, 1863 in Gallatin, Tennessee while serving in the Civil War. Daniel left at least two children under the age of 10 and his wife Mary Ann remarried a Michael Weck in 1865 in Jasper County, Illinois. Asa died on May 18, 1868 and was buried in Weaver Cemetery. Asa left a four-year-old son as well as several other older unmarried children. They also lost at least six grandchildren to death during the 1860's including a grandson William B. who died in the Civil War, a granddaughter Mary who died a year after her marriage at age 19 (probably childbirth related), and the others age two and under. William Wiley was a farmer and also a New Lite (Christian) preacher. A biographical sketch talks of his being a pioneer and says he "went through many hardships, privations and bodily afflictions in his removal farther west. He led a blameless and industrious life and was a devoted and zealous Christian." Lovey died in August 1869. William Wiley was distressed by the death of his wife of more than fifty years and it is said that he could not eat or sleep and was seized by a chill followed by lung fever. He died on November 10, 1869 in Crawford County and was buried in Weaver Cemetery northwest of Oblong on the east bank of the North Fork of the Embarras River in Jasper County. There is no record of the place where Lovey was buried but she was almost certainly buried in Weaver Cemetery also although no stone exists for her today.

William Wiley Curtis's Will

In the name of God Amen: I, William Wilie Curtis of the County of Crawford and State of Illinois, being of Sound mind and memory, and considering the uncertainty of this Transitory life do therefore make ordain and publish and declair this to be my last Will and Testament that is to say first after lawful debt are paid and discharged the residue of my estate. I give bequeath and dispose of as follows, to wit,: To the heirs of My son Asa Curtis the sum of one dollar, to Eli Curtis the Sum of one dollar, to my daughter Mary Ann White the Sum of one dollar to the heirs of my Son Daniel Curtis the sum of one dollar, to my Daughter Rebecca Miller My Cook stove and vessels thereto, to my Daughter Martha Curtis one dollar to my Son John Curtis my loom all the hay and all the farming tools and all other tools belonging to me and at my old place, to my Daughter Elizabeth Willis one cow one bed and bedding, to my Daughter Margaret Jackson the sum of one dollar, to my beloved grandaughter Lovey Jane Curtis one bed and beding one Bureau, one trunk, two Spinning Wheels and one (seal?). And after my death and burial and after the Burial and Funeral expenses are paid and discharged, all the residue of my money dues notes and interest whatever, I give and bequeath to Little Berry Curtis, John Curtis, Rebecca Miller and Elizabeth Willis Equally between them so that each one will get or receive the same amount. Likewise I Constitute my Son Little Bery Curtis to be my lawful Executor of this my last Will and Testament and he is hereby constitued and empowered to close up my Estate after my death and I hereby revoke all former wills and Testiments. In Witness whereof I have hereunto Subscribed name and affixed my Seal this the sixth day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand Eight hundred and Sixty nine. Sined Sealed and Subscribed in the presence of

John Musgrave William W. Curtis

Elizabeth Chapman (her mark)

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