Newark post., 1911-03-08
DEATH COMES TO
FREDERICK W. CURTIS

FREDERICK William curtis, a member
Of the Board of Trustees o, Delaware
College, died at his residence III Will
mington, Saturday, March II. About
three weeks ago he underwent an op-
Grafton for an ulcer of the stomach,
and for a time daily reports from his
sick bed encouraged his friends to be-
lieve that his useful life would be
spared to the community. On Satur-
day morning it was found that he
woull have to submit to another oper-
alton on and Saturday evening he
breathed his last.
Mr.. Curtis was the son OF Frederick
Curtis. who, with his brother Minct
Curtis, came to Newark from New
| England before the middle of the last
century and carried on the paper maxi
ing business at the Nonantum Paper
| Mills. By uprightness and industry
| they prospertd and in the early nine
ties, after the death OF Frederick Cur
tbs. which had occurred some years
previously, and the retirement of Mi
not Curtis, the firm of Curtis & Bro
ther was composed Of the subject of
this sketch and his brother, Alfred A.
| Curtis.
| lhey proceeded to enlarge the plant
and to install improved machinery,
thus keeping the products of the Nom
antum Mills at the very front of the
paper making industry of this country.
| Born OF a family of paper makers
who for generations have been sue
| cesstul through their mastery OF the
| processes and through fair dealing. he
entered upon his life work as soon as
he was graduated by Delaware Col
| lege. BY his unceaSlng activity and by
| his constant study of the varying con-
| ditlOns OF the market he was enabled
to keep in close touch with it's needs.
He was just in all his dealings and
straightforward in his relations with
the business world.
| In 1897 he was elected a member of
| the Board Of Trustees of Delaware
college and at once entered upon his
duties with characteristic energy. He
was made member of the prudential
committee and by his keen business in
sight was soon able to put new life
into the operations of the College. He
served on a number of special com
mlttees appointed by the President of
the Board OF Trustees, and gave un-
stntlngly his time to any project that
might look to the betterment on the
College. He was specially interested
IN building I'D the Deartment of Me-
chsnical Engineering and his ripe ex-
erience was OF inca,culable benefit to
tiat side OF cur work. He was a
member OF the committee that was en-
trusted with the building of the new
brick mechanical hall that replaced the
Old wooden workshop that was burned
IN 1898, and also of the enlargement
that was made , few years later. He
was chairman of the committee that
built the new gymnasium. He was ever
watchtul to keep up the standard of
the College, and mucn that has been
done OF late years in the way of pro-
noting the efficiency OF the various
lines OF work met with his hearty ap-
proval. His dislike of any parade OF
generosity wa sthe only reason that
his numberess helpful gifts to the un-
fortunate were unconsciouslv used
He was positive man. and like all
with the slow order of the more Judi
clally minded, but when he was con-
!, | vinced that he was wrong in his judg-
! ment he lova,v worked to accomplish
the approved end. Everyone knew
where Mr.. Curtis stood, is heard on
all sides. In good deeds, however. his
" lett hand knew not what his right hand
v performed.
He will be greatly missed in the
y community where men OF his type are
rare. Ills life full of activity was spent
y IN helping to provide employment for
MS fellows. He was a socialist of the
highest type III that he recognized that
every one should perform some spec
u lal junction III society. but the social
J. members, Symbolicallv expressed as
c parts OF the human body. should work
together each in its own Office. Mr.
Curtis was loyal to the Church and
showed in his daily life the faith tha,
was in him. By his unnumbered an
/ unnoted good deeds he helped the weak
and erring without impairing their
o self-respect.
Oi him IT may truly be said that he
/ was not slothful in business, ferven1
;, IN spirit; serving the Lord. -
c He is survived by his aged mother
two sisters, Mrs Cooch and Mrs
q Clark, and by four brothers, Alfred A.
/ Curtis, Chancellor Curtis. Louis L
:, Curtis and Harlow H. Curtis.
q He was married June 18TH, 1897
u to Miss Sara Corbit, daughter OF Dan
l. iel w. Corbit of Odessa From this
union there are four children-Marv
Louise, Dorothy. Harriet L. and Dan
iel Corbit Curtis. About four years
ago he removed from Newark to 26oc
West Sixteenth street, Wilmington.
i The funeral services were held here
:. yesterday afternoon at 4 O'Clock, and
- his body was taken to Odessa this
: morning and laid away in the old Cor
| bit burial ground