The Mitchell capital. (Mitchell, Dakota [S.D.]) 1879-1918, 1906-01-05
AN AGED CITIZEN DEAD

1AlpueuS .. CurClS EaSSeQ Away AZ
ter a Residence in Mitchell of
Over % Years.
Monday afternoon the funeral SER
vices over the remains Of the late
Alpheus S Curtis, we're held a
the Baptist church at 3 O'Clock.
The services were attended by the
Odd Fellows and Grand Army of the
Republic i'm a body, the representa-
tion from each being large. Odd
Fellows FROM Fulton and Alexandria
were also present. These two lodges
marched to the residence of the de-
ceased and accompanied the remains
to the church. The floral tributes
sent by the friends and societies were
numerous and bespoke IA reverence
and loved friendship for the aged
gentleman. The services were con-
Quoted by Rev. Ldker Burton, whose
sermon was in close touch with the
life OF the deceased. The music was
furnished 10y the Baptist choir.
The remains were taken to Grace
land cemetery for interment and
placed besides those of his wife, who
died a lutte over a year ago. The
last sad rites Of the Grand
Army OF the Republic were given at
the grave. The following were the
pail bearers: DIR. NJ. Halplide, L..
q. Thomas, M. D. Clark, o. d.
Stearns. James Mckinley and A. j..
Parshall.
MIR. Curtis passed away Saturday
morning at 3 O'Clock at the home Of
his son, A. j. Quits. with whom he
has passed his declining years in
peace and auietude. He has teen
slowly failing in health as the result
of old age and when death calne he
yielded quietly and peacefully to the
call from on high. Had Mr.. Curtis
lived until next April he would have
been 81 years old.
Alpheus S. Curtis vas born in Sgd
ney. N. Y, April Z, 1919. The earl
Ter years Of his life were spent on a
farm and when he attained the g
of l6 years he was apprenticed to
learn the blacksmith trade, and after
working at it a year OF two gm;-
grated to Asbtabula county, Ohio,
and continued to work at his trade.
in lS4l he went to Michigan and To-
Gated in Hillsdale county, where he
finished learning his trade OF black
smlthing.
Mr.. Curtis vas united in marriage
to the wife who died in November.
1904. at Hillsdale. Mich, July "A,
1912. They lived there until lS4s,
and then moved to Aurora. Ill.,, Inv
ing there until 1852. when Mr.. Curtis
got the California fever and left for
that western country in the fall of
that year. going by the way Of New
York and a:1oss Central America,
and was twenty-one days making the
trip. During his absence Mrs. Curtis
went back to Michigan and remained
with her parents. Mr.. Curtis worked
at his trade and also did some mining
for gold, returning at the end Of two
years. They got the western fever
in that year and started for MARSHALL
town, Iowa. They made part Of the
trip TO Chicago by boat and cars and
then covered the rest of the distance
to the Iowa town by team. They
had many adventures on their jour
ney, as the country through which
they passed was entirely new and
there " re very few settlers along
their rou They got along very
nicely in llle.r Iowa home and made
money while MI. Curtis WORKED at
the blacksmith %tia,ir. During those
years there was a settlement of Mus
Quaka Indians living Within a half
mile of their town, but tilny were of
a friendly nature and never caused
any trouble With the whites. After
y residence CT eight yelrs 81 Mar.
shalltowll. MI. Curtis went 10 the
defense of his country's flag. He en-
listed in Co. X, 18th Iowa infantry,
and followed the fortunes Of his reg
iment Cor a year.. lie was in
southern Arkansas and Missouli
most of the time, and at the end OF
the year was incapacitated from
duty by reason of sickness, and was
granted an honorable discharge, re-
turning to Marsllalltown. Owing TO
the condition of his health then he
was unable to follow his trade and
for four years he was the deputy
Sheriff of his county.
lie afterward bought asawmill and
operated it several years and then
engaged in blacks,nithing and wagon
making.
Mr.. AMI Mrs. Curtis decided to go
still farther west and IN 1877 they
turned their steps toward the then