San
Joaquin County
Biographies
FORNIA S. CURTIS
To the honor of being a native of
the beautiful state of California Fornia S. Curtis
adds the distinction of being the son of one of the state’s sturdy pioneers, Bradner Curtis, who survived thirty-two years after
locating here, yet lived to see many marvelous strides in civilization and to
enjoy many of its benefits. He was born
on the parental homestead in San Joaquin County, May 26, 1859, the youngest of
four children born to Bradner and Kezia
(Benton) Curtis, both natives of New York.
Fornia S. Curtis was educated in the schools
of his native county and remained at home assisting with the care and responsibility
of the home ranch until his father’s death in 1881. In 1882 the property was divided and Mr.
Curtis raised grain on his and his mother’s portion for a few years, then he
raised garden truck on his share until he leased it for that same purpose and
came to town. He still owns thirty-five
acres of the old homestead which is farmed to truck produce and he is living in
Stockton practically retired from business cares.
On February 8, 1893, Mr. Curtis was
married to Miss Trinnie M. Helmer,
a native of San Francisco, born October 29, 1873, the daughter of William and Trinnie Helmer, natives of Canada
and San Jose, California, respectively.
Three children have blessed the home of Mr. and Mrs. Curtis: Benton F., is a prominent Odd Fellow, being a
past noble grand of Truth Lodge No. 55; past patriarch of Parker Encampment and
a member of Canton Ridgely; he is a mechanical
draftsman with the Stockton Iron Works; he married Miss Harriet Glover, a
native of Stockton. Vernon W., the second son, is secretary of Meisner & Sons, Sacramento, a large manufacturing firm;
he married Miss Frances McConlogue, born in Benicia,
and they have one daughter, June Frances. Helmer B. is office
manager for the National Cash Register Company in Stockton; he married Miss
Hazel Allen of Healdsburg, California.
In his political sentiments, Fornia S. Curtis
is a Democrat, but notwithstanding this he never lets party lines prevent him
from voting for the best candidate for the office in question. He was reared in the faith of the Episcopal Church
and has ever adhered to its teachings, and with his family is a communicant of
St. John’s Episcopal Church at Stockton, and one of its staunchest supporters. Mrs. Curtis is a member of the Woman’s
Auxiliary of the Y. M. C. A. and the Woman’s Relief Corps G. A. R. Personally Mr. Curtis is a man of much worth,
integrity and earnestness of purpose, and throughout San Joaquin County, where
his entire life has been spent; he is esteemed as one of its best citizens.
Transcribed by Gerald Iaquinta.
Source: Tinkham, George
H., History of San Joaquin County, California , Pages
367-368. Los Angeles, Calif.: Historic
Record Co., 1923.
© 2011 Gerald Iaquinta.
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