WILLIAM CURTIS 

William Curtis, rancher, was born in Watertown, Middlesex County, Massachusetts, August 11, 1831. His parents, John Thomas and Mary (Bailey) Curtis, natives of Lincolnshire, England, came two years previously to America. His father died May 1, 1850, and his mother, now nearly ninety-one years of age, is living with him, the subject of this sketch. She had made three trips from Massachusetts to California, twice by water and once by land. Of her family of five children, only two sons are living. At the age of sixteen years young William commenced driving a milk wagon to Boston, and continued in that business until he left for California. February 5, 1852, on the steamer Prometheus, he left New York City, and came by the Nicaragua route. Embarking on the steamer North America for San Francisco, the vessel was wrecked when four days out, near land, at night. She ran ashore about ninety miles below Acapulco. Mr. Curtis then traveled to Acapulco on Mexican ponies. Many of the passengers, however, had to walk, as there were 1,100 of them. No lives were lost by the wreck. From Acapulco Mr. Curtis came in a sailing vessel to San Francisco, arriving May 10. Where he now resides his brother was then living. After stopping with him a few days, he went to Beale’s Bar, on the North Fork of the American River, and tried gold-mining for two weeks, quitting then for want of water. His brother was taken sick and after his recovery returned to Massachusetts, and remained there until December 1888. In his absence William took charge of the place, and in the course of two years became the owner. Up to three years ago he kept a large dairy of eighty to 100 cows. During the past twelve years he has been engaged extensively in threshing, and during the past seven years he has had many cattle in Arizona; has 1,200 head there at present. He makes annual trips to that country to look after his interests. On his property in this county he has about ninety head of horses, young and old, and about forty head of cattle. He has 1,500 acres of land in cultivation on the Haggin grant, which he has been conducting for the past six years. Of the homestead tract, on the lower Stockton road, there are 200 acres. In the flood of 1852 he lost heavily in stock. With that exception he has been fortunate, and his management has been attended with great success. January 1, 1862, is the date of Mr. Curtis’ marriage to Susan W. Potter, of Ione Valley, this State. They have two sons and three daughters, but the sons are deceased. William Roland died at the age of seventeen years, and Frederick P. at the age of four years and four months. The daughters are Carrie M., Alice Louisa and Edna. Politically, Mr. Curtis has been a Republican ever since the party was organized, and has been an active worker for the advancement of its principles, participating in the conventions, etc.; but he has never aspired to any office. He has always thought that his own business, well attended to, would pay as well as any other he could ever hope to reach.