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Note: s wife. * 1810 Randolph Co NC, (P 10), 2001-2001. * 1820 Wayne Co TN census. (P 6) 001201-21101 * 1830 Wayne Co TN, (P 29). 00000001-000100001, age 50-60. Lived next door to son, William R. Curtis. * 1840 Wayne Co TN (P 70), 0000000001-00001, age 70-80. Lived next door to his a grandson , Thomas Curtis, son of William Riley Curtis, 10001-00001, age 20-30. * 1850 Wayne Co TN, Dist 7, (P 20), age 81 NC, with wife, living in household of his son, William Curtis. *From "Wayne County Historian" Volume 13, Number 1, March 2000, pages 36-39. THE CURTIS FAMILY OF WAYNE COUNTY, TENNESSEE *Compiled and submitted by Fred DENKER Editor's Note: This information was received by the Society from Mr. DENKER in three separate mailings between 1990 and 1992. It had been misfiled and thus was not published when received. Mr. DENKER was for many years a member of the Society, but it is believed that he is now deceased. If anyone has any additional information regarding Mr. DENKER, please contact the Society.] About 1817, John and Nancy CURTIS along with their son, William R. and his wife Nancy STAGGS, entered what would become Wayne County, Tennessee. They came from eastern Tennessee by way of Williamson County, W. R. and Nancy having been married in Williamson Co.,TN on 10 Nov 1815. W. R. was born in North Carolina about 1794. His father, John had been born in North Carolina about 1769. John CURTIS married Nancy ROBBINS about 1790. John and Nancy's other children were John CURTIS Jr.; Sarah Garner CURTIS HOLT; Nancy CURTIS HOLT, and maybe William D. CURTIS, Willis CURTIS and Amos CURTIS. The latter three are mentioned in land transactions and at least one joint law suit in Wayne County, Tennessee. The Curtis' settled on Big Cypress Creek and William R. began to assemble tracts of land. He had at one time about 800 acres in the southwest corner of Wayne County and land near Cromwell Mills. W. R. CURTIS served several terms as Justice of the Peace in Wayne County, as did his son, Thomas S. CURTIS. William R. and Nancy STAGGS CURTIS had ten or eleven children: 1. Thomas S. (STAGGS?) CURTIS, b. 1817, d. 1892, m. 2) Anna _____;, m. 2) Delila NICHOLS. 2. Polly CURTIS, b. 1819, m. _____ STAGGS. 3. Amos F. (Ferguson) CURTIS, b. 1823, d. 1907, was married six times. 4. Wade H. (Hampton) CURTIS, b. 1829, d. 1863, m. Sarah A. NELSON. 5. William CURTIS, b. 1833, m. Eliza McCRARY. 6. John D. CURTIS, b. 1838, m. Rebecca ______. 7. Sarah CURTIS, b. 1834, m. _____MARTIN. 8. Louisa CURTIS, b. 1836, m. Isaiah BLACKWOOD. 9. Alice (Alcy) CURTIS, b. 1837, m. 1) William S. MOORE; m. 2) Robert Hill. 10. Nellie (Ellen) CURTIS, b. 1841, m. Green STRICKLAND 11. Delila CURTIS, b. 1843.
In 1850, John and Nancy were living with William and Nancy in Wayne County, Tennessee. Thomas, Amos, and Polly were married and living on separate tracts in Wayne Co. About 1858, Thomas, Amos, John, Louisa, and Polly left Wayne County, Tennessee. They went via Rowlett, Missouri and ended up in Newton County, Arkansas where the three men settled within ten miles of each other in the southwest corner of the county. For those who haven't been to Newton County, Arkansas, it is very similar to Wayne County, Tennessee except it is much hillier and precipitous. However, anyone from one county would be very much at home in the other. These three men produced thirty-six children are buried in three Curtis Cemeteries in Newton Co., AR. See list of children following. Wade H. CURTIS, son of William R. and Nancy STAGGS CURTIS, married Sarah A. NELSON. He was a Sargent in the US Army during the Civil War and died of illness during the war. Amos CURTIS, served a one year enlistment in the Confederate Army, mustering out in 1862. In 1863, he enlisted in the Union Army and spent the rest of the war as a corporal. He and later his children, received a pension on his service. Thomas enlisted in the Confederate Cavalry only to desert a month later. He was a Justice of the Peace and Postmaster after the war. John D. CURTIS served in the Confederate Infantry. Alice (Alcy) CURTIS married William S. MOORE who was very unlucky. There are several versions of what happened, but the result was that William S. MOORE was executed. I have the text of a letter he wrote to Alcy the night before he was to die. It is a very emotional letter. One version has it that he had gone AWOL to see her and to check on his farm, a very common occurrence in the Civil War. A relative turned him in, and an example was made of his case. Anyway, the result was tragic. In general the CURTIS family trekked on westward ... to Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and the entire West Coast. I have about 250 family sheets covering about 500 people and have been in touch with "cousins" in Texas, Oklahoma, California, Montana, Arkansas and Tennessee. In search of information I have been to Wayne County, Tennessee and Newton County, Arkansas. Amos CURTIS' son, James Hiram CURTIS, had a two-story, log cabin in Newton County, Arkansas. It stood until a few years ago. I have a log from that house. James H. had 16 children, one of whom was William Lafayette CURTIS, my grandfather. W. L. CURTIS, born in that log house, educated by his mother, went on to be elected County Clerk, read law and passed the Arkansas Bar. He later became a county attorney in the Indian Territory (Oklahoma) and was on the Statute Committee for statehood and was elected to the Fourth Oklahoma legislature. Later, he became an attorney for the Missouri Pacific Railroad. His parents, as well as Amos and Rachel Ellen (Ellie) CURTIS and many other relatives are buried in the Curtis Cemetery adjacent to the old homesite in Newton County, Arkasnas.
Children and descendants of William R. and Nancy STAGGS CURTIS:
1. Thomas S. CURTIS, born 1817, d. 188_, married first to Anne _____? They had three children. A. Nancy I. CURTIS, who married Caleb WILSON in 1867. B. Mary Ann CURTIS, who married Jesse CAMPBELL in 1871 C. Martha Tennessee CURTIS, who married William MARSHALL in 1873. They had the following children: i. John MARSHALL, b. ca. 1874, AR. ii. Ida MARSHALL, b. ca. 1876, AR iii. William MARSHALL, b. ca. 1879. And possibly others. Anne CURTIS died and Thomas remarried to Mrs. Delitha Adeline McPHERSON NICHOLS on 23 June 1867. Delitha was 43 years old and had four children by her first husband: Daniel NICHOLS, Will NICHOLS, Sarah Caroline NICHOLS, and Tennessee NICHOLS. Sarah NICHOLS would later married Thomas' nephew, James Hiram CURTIS.
2. Amos Ferguson CURTIS, b. 24 Dec 1823, d. 21 Oct 1907, is a story unto himself. Known as "By Jacks", Amos was 5'8" tall with blue eyes and black hair. He was a farmer and he grew azalea, sold at Clarksville, AR and he grew a little apple jack. He also bred fine racing horses. One story has two of his stolen. Amos began to track the thieves as they made their getaway towards Missouri. As he got into Missouri, he found out that he was chasing the James Gang. Amos decided to give up the horses and returned home. He liked to race, and was arrested in Jasper, Arkansas for doing so. Amos also liked to consume his "apple jack" and would draw a circle in the dirt street in front of the Newton County, Arkansas Courthouse at Jasper and invite anyone to knock him out of it. That occasionally earned him some time in jail, but never slowed him down. Rumor has it that he killed a man in Clarksville, Arkansas, but was acquitted. Amos F. CURTIS was married six times! His first wife was Matine HAYS who died of pneumonia six months after they were married. He then married second to Rachel Ellen DANIELS about 1847.She died in 1864 and he married a third time in 1864/5 to Cecilia DANIELS who was no relation to the second wife. Cecilia died about 1886. Amos then married a fourth time in 1888 to Laura C. NEILL. They were divorced in 1890. A fifth marriage occurred in 1890 to Rebecca GREER, but Amos had the marriage annulled in 1892 on the grounds that she "fraudulently represented herself as a ?virtuous and chaste woman, of good moral character' when in truth and in fact, said defendant (Rebecca) was at the time of said marriage pregnant with a bastard and illegitimate child" by some man other than Amos. Amos, then 69, married Mary Elizabeth PARTEN, who was 18. This was on 19 May 1893. Together they would have eight children, the last of whom, Marvel, was born in 1907. Amos F. CURTIS and his first wife, Matine HAYS didn't have any children. Children of Amos F. CURTIS by second wife, Rachel Ellen DANIELS: a. Thomas CURTIS, who died before 1860 b. Elizabeth CURTIS, married Tee ROBINSON in Arkansas. c. James Hiram CURTIS, b. 1851, married Sarah Caroline NICHOLS in 1870. Their children were i. George Benton CURTIS, (1871-1901), m. Vinnie FAULKER ii. ArraBelle (Dollie) CURTIS, (1872-1949) m. 1) William SUTHERLAND in 1890. Married second to ____DURHAM, and third to ____REED. iii. William Lafayette CURTIS (1874-1944), married Haltie CURTIS. iv. Albert Garfield CURTIS (1785-1954) m. Sarah L. COWAN v. Joseph Alva CURTIS (1876-1958)m. Jessie BODKINS vi. Martha Adeline CURTIS (1877-1944) m. J. F. BRYNAT vii. James Monroe CURTIS, (1880 -?) M. Fannie GOODALL viii. Thomas Houston CURTIS (1881-1900), was killed when thrown from a horse. ix. Andrew B. CURTIS (1883-1884) x. Felix Wade CURTIS (1885- ?) Married 1st to Annie CRITZER, m. 2nd to Maud ADAIR. xi. Minnie Florence CURTIS (1886 -?) Married W. E. MARTIN xii. John Harse CURTIS (1888-1955) m. Ora RAMSEY xiii. Hugh Leroy CURTIS (1889 -?) Married Rosa SOUTHERAN xiv. Mertie CURTIS (1891 -?) Married Howard Jones xv. Sarah Emmaline (Sally) CURTIS (1893-1919) married Robert JUDKINS xvi. Evalyn CURTIS (1894-1894) d. John D. CURTIS, b. 1853, married Mahalia ESSEX in 1875. They had the following children: i. Louise Elizabeth CURTIS, b. 1876, m. A. B. CLAYBORN ii. Ann CURTIS, b. 1878. iii. William CURTIS, b. 1880 iv. John CURTIS, b. 1879. v. Susie CURTIS, b. 1883, m. William DAVIS vi. Alice CURTIS, b. 1885, m. Goldie R. COLE. vii. Adaline CURTIS, b. 1887, m. Thomas DAVIS viii. Scott CURTIS, died in infancy. ix. George CURTIS, b. 1892, m. Laura Elle HEFFLEY x. Walter CURTIS, b. 1894, never married. xi. Gracie CURTIS, b. 1895, m. Frank BOHANNON e. Nancy Paralee CURTIS,, b. 1854, married James P. PRUITT in 1871. f. Amos "Bud" CURTIS, Jr., b. 1857, married Harriett OWEN in 1885 and they had ten children: Adet, b. 1886; Jennette, b. 1889; Nancy Idet, b. 1890; J. Alfred (1892-1987); William R., b. 1893; Joseph, b. 1896; Lee, b. 1898; Troy, b. 1900; Elmer, b. 1901; and Arrall, b. 1906. g. William Riley CURTIS, was born 1860 and was married three times: 1) Allie LOVELL, 2) Elizabeth SMITH; and 3) Simmiers ______?. His children (mother not identified) were: Lewis Scott (1886-1952); Edward, b. 1889; John, b. 1891; Willie, b. 1895; Jesse, b. 1894; Samuel, b. 1894; and James M, (1893-1894). h. Joel (Joseph) CURTIS was born 1864 and was married four times: 1) Amanda BOWEN; 2) _____LEWIS; 3) Mrs. Elizabeth ADAMS REYNOLDS; and 4) _____PEOPLES. Joel had 7 children (mothers not identified): Robert Lewis; Ira, b. 1898; Dora; Cassie; Lawrence Douglas; Nellie; and Ardeth. Mrs. Elizabeth ADAMS REYNOLDS had two children by her first husband: Susie J. REYNOLDS, b. 1885; and Ida M. REYNOLDS, b. 1886.
Amos F. CURTIS and his third wife, Cecilia DANIELS had ten children: i. Delia CURTIS, b. 1865, m. John H. HARRIS j. Martha CURTIS, b. 1866, m. Samuel OWEN k. George W. CURTIS, b. 1869, m. Amanda Bryant in 1889 and they had four children: Willia, b. 1891; James, b. 1892; Dora, b. 1896; and Lullie, b. 1898. l. Ellen CURTIS, b. 1870, married Edward LOVELL in 1887. m. Frances CURTIS, b. 1871, m. Henry D. STRICKLAND in 1888. n. Garland CURTIS, b. 1874, married Vashti DAVIS and had five children: May, b. 1892; Marion, b. 1895; Elsie, b. 1898; Rosa I., b. 1901; and Malissa, b. 1903. o. Mittie CURTIS, m. Aaron SPARKS p. Mary CURTIS, m. George CLAYBORN q. Alice CURTIS, m. Tom BAILY r. Horace CURTIS, b. 1874, m. Elizabeth BAILEY in 1892 and had four children: Mandy, b. 1894; Oscer, b. 1896; Claudie, b. 1898; and Lillie, b. 1899.
Amos F. CURTIS and his sixth wife, Mary Elizabeth PARTEN had eight children: s. Laura CURTIS, b. 1895, never married t. Christopher Columbus CURTIS, b. 1897, died young. u. Cordelia CURTIS, b. 1898, m. Fred ROBB. v. Pearlie CURTIS, b. 1900 w. Roy Marvel CURTIS, b. 1907, d. 1917.
x. infant y. infant z. infant
When the Civil War came to Arkansas, Amos, then age 38, enlisted on 17 July 1861 in Co. E, 14th (Powers) Arkansas Infantry, CSA for one year. This unit was self-armed, carrying a variety of shotguns, muzzleloaders, Kentucky rifles, etc. It must have been a nightmare to provide ammunition. The year seems to have passed peacefully and on 21 July 1862, Amos was discharged. The tempo of the war was changing by then and a year or so later, Amos enlisted again. This time in Co. E, Second Arkansas Infantry, USA. As a Union soldier, Amos saw action in skirmishes at Clarksville and Jacksonport, Arkansas and battles at Prairie D'Ann and Jenkins Ferry. He was promoted to Corporal, a rank he retained even though , as many men did in the Fall of 1864, Amos deserted in order to go home and look after things. The guerillas were roaming that part of Arkansas and it was dangerous for families left behind. In addition, Rachel Ellen, his second wife, died 20 Oct 1864. Amos was discharged on 8 August 1865 when the unit was disbanded. Amos was 42.
The next of the children of William R. and Nancy STAGGS CURTIS was Wade H. CURTIS who was born in 1829. He married on 11 May 1854 in Wayne Co., Tennessee to Sarah A. NELSON. They had five children: John S., b. 1855; William James, b. 1856; Nancy J, b. 1858; Mary A., b. 1860; and Sarah W., b. 1863. Wade also served in the Union Army from Wayne Co., TN. He enlisted in Co. A, 10th Tennessee Infantry, USA, serving as Sargent. He died from illness while on active duty and was buried at Nashville, TN. Sarah A. NELSON CURTIS died in Lewis Co., TN in 1870.
The next child of William R. and Nancy STAGGS CURTIS was William CURTIS, born in 1831. He married Eliza ______ and had at least four children: Wade, b. 1853 (may have married Catherine WEAVER on 14 Sep 1876); Nancy, b. 1855; Caroline, b. 1857; and Martha, b. 1858. This writer has lost track of William after the 1860 census.
Next in line is John CURTIS, b. 1832, d. 187_, married Rebecca ______, b. 1837. Their children were Nancy, b. 1852; William M, b. 1854; Amanda I, b. 1857; Thomas R., b. 1860; Amos, b. 1861; Phebe, b. 1865; Martha A., b. 1868; and Mary L., b. 1869 who married R. J. MATHIS in 1891. The family moved to Arkansas in the 1870's with the other CURTIS family.
Note: * 1790 Randolph Co NC, (P 21) 1-1-1. Lived near James & Joshua Robbins; no doubt kin to hi
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