David Whitney Curtis (November 14, 1833April 18, 1897) was an
American farmer, businessman, and
Wisconsin
Wisconsin ( ) is a U.S. state, state in the Great Lakes region, Great Lakes region of the Upper Midwest of the United States. It borders Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michig ...
pioneer. He served one term in the
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Assembly is controlled by the Republican ...
, representing southern
Jefferson County. He also served as a
Union Army officer during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
.
Early life
Curtis was born on November 14, 1833, in
Chelsea, Vermont
Chelsea is a town in and the shire town (county seat) of Orange County, Vermont, United States. The population was 1,233 at the 2020 census.
Geography
Chelsea is located in a river valley in central Vermont. The First Branch of the White R ...
.
He received a common school education in Vermont before coming to the
Wisconsin Territory
The Territory of Wisconsin was an organized and incorporated territory of the United States that existed from July 3, 1836, until May 29, 1848, when an eastern portion of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Wisconsin. Belm ...
as a child with his parents in 1845. His parents settled on a plot of
timber
Lumber is wood that has been processed into uniform and useful sizes (dimensional lumber), including beams and planks or boards. Lumber is mainly used for construction framing, as well as finishing (floors, wall panels, window frames). ...
land in what is now the town of
Jefferson
Jefferson may refer to:
Names
* Jefferson (surname)
* Jefferson (given name)
People
* Thomas Jefferson (1743–1826), third president of the United States
* Jefferson (footballer)
* Jefferson (singer) or Geoff Turton (born 1944), British s ...
, in
Jefferson County, Wisconsin
Jefferson County is a county (United States), county in the U.S. state of Wisconsin. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the population was 84,900. Its county seat is Jefferson, Wisconsin, Jefferson. Jefferson County comprises the ...
.
David worked to help his father clear land and establish a farm and attended school in the Winters. When he reached adulthood, he apprenticed as a mason and earned a qualification as a teacher.
He worked as a teacher, plasterer, and bricklayer through the late 1840s and early 1850s.
Around 1856, he joined a company of young men from
Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin
Prairie du Chien ( ) is a city in Crawford County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. The population was 5,506 at the 2020 census. Often called Wisconsin's second-oldest city, Prairie du Chien was established as a European settlemen ...
, making an expedition to the
Nebraska Territory
The Territory of Nebraska was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from May 30, 1854, until March 1, 1867, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the state of Nebraska. The Nebrask ...
, and stayed for two years at
Nemaha County, Nebraska Territory, before returning to Wisconsin in 1859.
He married in 1860 and returned to his father's farmstead, where he remained until the outbreak of the Civil War.
Military career
During the summer of 1862, in the midst of the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
, Curtis assisted in raising a company of
volunteers
Volunteering is an elective and freely chosen act of an individual or group giving their time and labor, often for community service. Many volunteers are specifically trained in the areas they work, such as medicine, education, or emergenc ...
for service with the
Union Army.
He was elected
first lieutenant
First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment.
The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a se ...
of the company, which was enrolled as Company D in the
29th Wisconsin Infantry Regiment. The regiment mustered into service in September 1862.
The regiment proceeded down the
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...
to
Helena, Arkansas
Helena is the eastern portion of Helena–West Helena, Arkansas, a city in Phillips County, Arkansas, located on the west bank of the Mississippi River. It was founded in 1833 by Nicholas Rightor and is named after the daughter of Sylvanus Phil ...
, where they were engaged in a brief expedition up the
Arkansas River
The Arkansas River is a major tributary of the Mississippi River. It generally flows to the east and southeast as it traverses the U.S. states of Colorado, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. The river's source basin lies in Colorado, specifically ...
under General
Alvin Peterson Hovey
Alvin Peterson Hovey (September 6, 1821 – November 23, 1891) was a Union general during the American Civil War, an Indiana Supreme Court justice, congressman, and the 21st governor of Indiana from 1889 to 1891. During the war he played an im ...
.
They were subsequently engaged in several skirmishes and battles along the
Mississippi River
The Mississippi River is the main stem, primary river of the largest drainage basin in the United States. It is the second-longest river in the United States, behind only the Missouri River, Missouri. From its traditional source of Lake Ita ...
below
Vicksburg, Mississippi
Vicksburg is a historic city in Warren County, Mississippi, United States. It is the county seat. The population was 21,573 at the 2020 census. Located on a high bluff on the east bank of the Mississippi River across from Louisiana, Vicksburg ...
, in support of the
Vicksburg campaign
The Vicksburg campaigns were a series of maneuvers and battles in the Western Theater of the American Civil War directed against Vicksburg, Mississippi, a fortress city that dominated the last Confederate-controlled section of the Mississippi ...
.
They were heavily engaged in the
Battle of Champion Hill
The Battle of Champion Hill (aka Champion's Hill) of May 16, 1863, was the pivotal battle in the Vicksburg Campaign of the American Civil War (1861–1865). Union Army commander Major General Ulysses S. Grant and the Army of the Tennes ...
and were then entrenched in the
Siege of Vicksburg
The siege of Vicksburg (May 18 – July 4, 1863) was the final major military action in the Vicksburg campaign of the American Civil War. In a series of maneuvers, Union Major General Ulysses S. Grant and his Army of the Tennessee crossed th ...
through June. The regiment subsequently joined the
Jackson Expedition, then worked on consolidating the Union position in southern Mississippi.
The regiment suffered significantly from disease and a wave of resignations occurred at Vicksburg, including their colonel,
Charles R. Gill.
Others were absent for months at a time. Due to the depleted ranks of officers in the regiment, Whitney was appointed acting captain of Company A, and served in that capacity until some of the ill Company A officers were able to return to duty in April 1864.
He led the company during their actions in the
Red River campaign into Louisiana.
In the fall of 1864, Curtis was detailed to cartography, quartermaster, and ordinance officer duties on the staff of Brigadier General
James R. Slack
James Richard Slack (September 28, 1818 – July 28, 1881) was an Indiana politician and a Union general during the American Civil War.
Early life
Slack was born in Bucks County, Pennsylvania in 1818. His family moved to Indiana in 1837 where ...
, where he remained through most of the remainder of the war, including the
Mobile campaign
A mobile campaign is a campaign, usually marketing, advertising, or public relations-related, through which organizations contact their audience through SMS (text messaging). This form of campaigning allows organizations to reach out and establish ...
.
He was promoted to
captain
Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...
and assistant quartermaster on May 30, 1865, before mustering out of service a month later, on July 28.
Business and political career
After the war Curtis became active in business and was a partner in Cornish & Curtis, a lumber, grain, and produce business. They prospered in the manufacture of farm machinery and dairy product packaging, with their key product being a rectangular
butter
Butter is a dairy product made from the fat and protein components of Churning (butter), churned cream. It is a semi-solid emulsion at room temperature, consisting of approximately 81% butterfat. It is used at room temperature as a spread (food ...
churn, which was exported around the country.
The partnership later extended to
Walter S. Greene, and continued to operate under the name Cornish, Curtis & Greene, beyond the deaths of all 3 original partners.
Curtis served as Secretary of the Wisconsin Dairymen's Association from 1875 to 1897.
Curtis was actively involved in the
Republican Party of Wisconsin
The Republican Party of Wisconsin is a conservative politics, conservative and Right-wing populism, populist political party in Wisconsin and is the Wisconsin affiliate of the Republican Party (United States), United States Republican Party (GOP) ...
was elected to the
Wisconsin State Assembly
The Wisconsin State Assembly is the lower house of the Wisconsin Legislature. Together with the smaller Wisconsin Senate, the two constitute the legislative branch of the U.S. state of Wisconsin. The Assembly is controlled by the Republican ...
from Jefferson County's 3rd Assembly district (the southern half of the county) in 1875.
He was not a candidate for re-election in 1876. After leaving office, he was appointed an aide on the
Wisconsin National Guard
The Wisconsin National Guard consists of the Wisconsin Army National Guard and the Wisconsin Air National Guard. It is a part of the Government of Wisconsin under the control of the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs. The Wisconsin Nation ...
staff of Governors
William E. Smith and
William D. Hoard as Chief Engineer with the rank of
colonel
Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations.
In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...
. Curtis was active in the
Grand Army of the Republic
The Grand Army of the Republic (GAR) was a fraternal organization composed of veterans of the Union Army (United States Army), Union Navy (United States Navy, U.S. Navy), and the United States Marine Corps, Marines who served in the American Ci ...
, and served as assistant quartermaster general of the Wisconsin Department. In 1894-95 he was a member of the Republican State Central Committee.
Death and burial
Curtis died in
Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
Fort Atkinson is a city in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. It lies along the Rock River (Illinois), Rock River a few miles upstream from Lake Koshkonong. The population was 12,579 at the 2020 census. Fort Atkinson is the largest city ...
, on April 18, 1897. He was buried at Evergreen Cemetery in Fort Atkinson.
Personal life and family
David W. Curtis was a descendant of several pioneer families of Vermont and Massachusetts. He was named for his maternal grandfather David Whitney of
Pepperell, Massachusetts
Pepperell is a town in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 11,604 at the 2020 census. It includes the village of East Pepperell. Pepperell is home to the Pepperell Center Historic District, a covered bridge, and ...
.
On November 16, 1860, he married Jane A. Howard, who was born in
Albany, New York
Albany ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of New York (state), New York. It is located on the west bank of the Hudson River, about south of its confluence with the Mohawk River. Albany is the oldes ...
, but was then residing at
Hebron, Wisconsin
Hebron is a town in Jefferson County, Wisconsin, United States. The population was 1,043 at the 2020 census. The census-designated place of Hebron is located in the town.
History
The first steps toward the settlement of the town of Hebron, sta ...
. They had two children together:
* Harry H. Curtis (1866-1938) worked in his father's business as a plant manager, and, after inheriting his father's ownership stake in the company consolidated with other interests as the Creamery Package Company. He also was president of the James Manufacturing Co. and director of the First National Bank of Fort Atkinson.
* Anna Belle Curtis (1870-1925) married Anthony F. Haumerson.
Legacy
His home, the
David W. and Jane Curtis House was added to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the Federal government of the United States, United States federal government's official United States National Register of Historic Places listings, list of sites, buildings, structures, Hist ...
in 2009.
Electoral history
Wisconsin Assembly (1875)
, colspan="6" style="text-align:center;background-color: #e9e9e9;", General Election, November 2, 1875
References
External links
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Curtis, David
1833 births
1897 deaths
People from Chelsea, Vermont
People from Fort Atkinson, Wisconsin
Republican Party members of the Wisconsin State Assembly
People of Wisconsin in the American Civil War
Union army officers
Businesspeople from Wisconsin
Farmers from Wisconsin
Grand Army of the Republic officials
19th-century members of the Wisconsin Legislature