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BENJAMIN H. CURTISS,
Who passed from the afflictions of this earth to a celestial mansion February 22, 1882, was a native of the Empire
State, where he was born December 15, 1819. In his tenth year he came to Monroe county with his parents, Noble
Curtiss, who was born November 22, 1775, and Mary (Dunham) Curtiss, born January 28, 1784, and married in their
native State (New York) October 7, 1802. On their arrival in Michigan they settled in Monroe, and a few years later
moved to Raisinville, where they lived for three years, when they moved to Dundee, to which he afterward platted
an addition, and where for over half a century Mr. Curtiss lived the life of an honest, upright man, respected
by all his friends and neighbors. There being no educational facilities in Monroe county, be went to the common
schools of his native State for a short time and laid the groundwork of an education, which he afterwards built
upon by his own application and common sense until he became what might aptly be termed a self educated man, and
known by all his acquaintances as a careful and conservative business man, just in all his dealings with his fellow
men, and whose word was held as good as his bond by all who knew him. In politics he was a Democrat of the old
school, and while not a politician in any sense of the word was elected to many important offices, among which
was that of county treasurer, to which he was elected for two years, his brother in law, Amos T. Heacock, being
his deputy, and who was afterwards elected to the same office. For five years he was the shop keeper in the Michigan
State's Prison at Jackson, from which position he was promoted to that of deputy warden, which office he held for
five years, to the entire satisfaction of the State officials in charge of that institution. During his career
at Jackson be suggested many valuable improvements in the management of the prison, which are still cherished by
the State board.
His wife, Hannah M. Heacock, to whom he was married December 28, 1844, was born in Seneca county, New York, July
16, 1823, and is the mother of Sidney B. Curtiss, born in Dundee January 20, 1846, the husband of Jane R. Rawson,
who was born October 18, 1846. They also have one child, Chlpe M. Curtiss, born April 19, 1869. Mrs. Hannah M.
Curtiss is the daughter of Samuel C. and Catherine (Lynch) Heacock, both natives of New York, the former born in
1792, and dying November 29, 1850; the latter born in 1799, and dying in Dundee December 26, 1861. While not a
member of any church Mr. Curtiss lived an upright Christian life, and taking the golden rule as his motto was esteemed
by all his large circle of acquaintances as a good citizen, a warm friend and a kind husband and father, and his
death, which occurred February 22, 1882, was mourned by all who knew him. During his residence of over fifty years
in Dundee he was a witness of many of the changes wrought by the march of civilization, and which brought the little
hamlet of a few scattering log houses and a score or so of inhabitants into a thriving incorporated village of
nearly two thousand souls.
From:
History of Monroe County, Michigan
Talcott E. Wing, Editor
Munsell & Company, Publishers
New York 1890.
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