CURTIS, Moses H. (1864 - 1949(

CURTIS, GOSSLER

Posted By: County Coordinator (email)
Date: 2/28/2025 at 21:44:21

MOSES H. CURTIS
Moses H. Curtis, son of Amos and Mary Smith Curtis, was born Nov. 9, 1864, in Monroe County, Ohio. He was the last of a family of seven brothers and sisters. His death occurred Friday, March 11, at the age of 84 years, three months and 28 days.

He received his early education in Ohio where he began teaching in a one room school, his pupils often numbering 60 or more.

At the age of 23, in the spring of 1887, he came to Iowa to see his oldest brother who had come west to Ida County several years earlier. Moses liked the new country and not until 25 years later did he return to Ohio and then only for a visit.

He worked on farms summers and taught school winters. On March 17, 1889 he married Josephine Gossler, also a school teacher.

They rented a farm and established a home, but he continued to teach winter terms until 1907. Two sons were born to this couple, H. Emmett, now deceased, and Glenn D. In 1893, the Curtises bought the first 80 acres of the farm he later added to and built up.

In 1920, Mr. and Mrs. Curtis moved to Cherokee where they lived until Mrs. Curtis’ death in September 1925. Since that time, Mr. Curtis made his home with his son, Glenn, and his family.

Mrs. Floyd Cochran of Ignacio, Colo., was reared to womanhood in the Curtis home and Victor Carlson of Afton township spent a few of his younger years in the kindly fellowship of the Curtis home.

A public spirited citizen, he was a profound teacher of the golden rule. He was first and foremost a teacher and for more than 20 years instructed the youth in neighboring schools.

He was rightly proud of his long American ancestry, being a child of the 8th generation of the Curtis family in America. “A Note of Ye Estates and Persons of Ye Inhabitants of Roxbury,” written between 1638 and ’40, records William Curtiss as owning 39 acres, value 13 plus pounds. He came to the colony in 1632. Sarah Eliot Curtis, his wife, was a sister of John Eliot, who is remembered in history as the “Apostle to the Indians.” He translated the old and new testaments into the language of the Indians, carrying on this work along with the ministry of Roxbury First Church which he served from 1632 until 1690.

Moses H. Curtis is survived by a son, Glenn D., of Cherokee; six grandchildren; five great grandchildren; a nephew, H. H. Curtis of Quimby; several other nephews and nieces in Ohio and southern Iowa and a host of friends.

Funeral services were held for him Tuesday at the old Curtis farm home in Pilot township. Interment was in Oak Hill cemetery, Rev. J. E. Feller officiated.

Acting pallbearers were John Bridles, C. A. Bugh, Bert Heinen, Harry Dewar, Fred J. Ritchie and Lew McDonald.

Honorary pallbearers were John McDonald, C> A. Banister, Jerome Clow, Thomas H. Fee, Earl Clark, Perry Boughton, Tom Fairweather, James H. Fee, Thomas J. Patterson and Dick Hallbauer.

Out of town relatives and friends attending the rites included: Mrs. Emmet Curtis, Superior, Wis.; Mr. and Mrs. William Curtis, Albert City; Mr. and Mrs. Dale Curtis, Bend, Ore.; Mrs. Richard Worthby, Minneapolis; Herman H. and Catherine Curtis, Lucas; Curtis Thorn, Indianola.

Mr. and Mrs. Fred Falkenbuner and Frances, Mr. and Mrs. Irwin Hagan, Des Moines; Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Hagan, Storm Lake; Gust R. and Eldon Dahlgren, Sutherland; Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Johnson, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Johnson, Fred Ritchie, Marcus.

Mr. and Mrs. Otto Jensen, Mrs. Norman Jacobsen, Meriden; Mr. and Mrs. James R. Fee, Washta; Mr. and Mrs. James H. Fee, Aurelia; Mr. and Mrs. Earl Clark, Quimby; Mrs. Chet Middleton, Mrs. Harold Carlson, Sioux City.
(Source: Cherokee Daily Times And Cherokee Chief, Cherokee, IA, Sat., March 19, 1949, pg. 2)