The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-03-29
0. A. CURTIS DEAD
Father of Congressman Curtis
of This City,
Passes Away at His Home Near
NeWkirk, Okla.
HE WAS SO YEARS OLD.
Came to Kansas More Than 40
Years Ago.
Four Children and His Mother
Survive Him.
HE WAS SO YEARS OLD.

Capt o. A Curtis. father of Con-
gresham Charles Curtis and Mrs Eliz-
abeth Colvin, died at 3 o'clock Monday
afternoon. on a farm six miles from
Newkirk. Oklahoma.
No particulars of his death have been
received by the members of the family
in Topeka and the first information re-
eeived was a dispatch that was deliv-
cred to Mrs Colvin this morning which
had evidently been sent Monday. 1t
said:
Your father died at 3 O'Clock"
Nothing more definite was received
from any source though several dis
patches were sent. A telegram was re-
ceived from Congressman Curtis say
ing that he will leave today for Topeka
Mrs. Curtis who was seen at her home
said that she does not expect Congress-
man Curtis and his sister Miss Dolly
who acts as his secretary, until Thurs
day.
The mother of Capt Curtis still lives
on the family homestead on Curtis
street in North Topeka and the news Of
the death of her eldest son, il was
feared might be a serious menace to
her health but she bore the shock with
out hinching and when seen today at
the home of her granddaughter. Mrs.
CoIvin she appeared perfectly calm and
talked about her son with perfect con-
troll Of her feelings. She is 81 years
old.
I always tried to do everything
could for Orrin, said she. 1T is too
bad that I could not be with him He
always knew that when he wanted his
mother to do anything she would do it
if she could. The last time he was at
home he said. Mother, 1 wish I had
pair of double mittens like you used to
make. Do you think you would be
able to knit them for me?' I told him
/ would be glad to knit them but I had
no money to buy the yarn and he went
hTr Tc-ht ha var md Ia h.a
mittens for him before he left That
is the last thing I ever did for him"
This last trip made to Topeka to
which the aged mother of Capt Curtis
alludes, was at pension time last Feb
ruary He was in Topeka several
days and then returned to Oklahoma
and little has been heard from him
since He appeared as well as usual
when he was in Topeka and Mrs. Col
vim says that she spoke to him about
looking so well.
Capt. Curtis was a born rover. He
made frequent trips through the coun-
try, and when last heard from
he was making arrangements for a
wagon trip during the coming summer
through Arkansas
capt. Curtis was known as-one of the
oldest citizens of Shawnee county. and
he has been a familiar figure in Topeka
for years. He was born in Indiana in
1929 and was therefore SO years old. He
was married five times. Only one of
these wives is now living. and he was
Mrs. Hatch, who lost a suit in the dis
trict court Monday for a part of the
Curtis property. The first wife was
Miss Quick. and there was one child
by this marriage, John Curtis, who is
now a brakeman on the Rock Island
Capt. Curtis was divorced from his first
wife and soon afterWard married Miss
Helen Pappan, who was the mother of
Congressman Curtis and Mrs COlvin.
She died 81 years ago, and Mrs. Hatch
was the next wife The last wife was
Miss Lucy Jay, who was the mother of
Miss Dolly Curtis, who is secretary to
Congressman Curtis
Capt. Curtis served as a captain in
the Thirteenth Kansas and also spent
several years in the Indian wars. He
came to Topeka in 1855. At one time
he owned the greater part of North To-
peka. but Through bad management and
improvident habits. he lost everything.
At the time of his death he occupied a
farm six miles from Newkirk. O. T,
which belongs to the children of Con-
gresham Curtis and Mrs. CO1vfn- Their
mother. who was Miss Pappan, was a
half breed Indian, and the children are
entitled to the property through their
Indian blood
Capt. curtis was the eldest of IA chill
dren. and Il of them still survive. Those
in Topeka are Mrs Cynthia Smith. Mrs.
Eunice Wise and Mrs. Elizabeth Brown.
Another brother. CharIes Curtis lives
at Lawrence, and William Curtis is in
California
Congressman Curtis telegra pied A.
Hurd of the Santa Fe to have the body
brought to Topeka.
The arrangements for the funeral will
not be made until it is known when the
held at the home OF Congressman Cur
tbs and the burial will be in what is
known as the Curtis graveyard. in a
little bend of Soldier Greek. north of To-
peka. where all the deceased members
OF the family have been buried