Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1916-01-11


by the announcement of the death of
one of our leading and best known
public men-Cornelius S. Curtis. 1t
could not be fully realized, nor is
il vet, that one who was only
few hours before, in the very vigor
of strong manhood. is to be with US
no more. 1t has cast gloom over our
city and especially throughout the
day, men gathered with sorrowful
faces, and paid respect in thought,
word and gesture, to their departed
friend and co-Worker in everything
which tended to the advancement of
Wausau and the community. The large
Curtis & Yale Co. factory was closed
and the stars and stripes hung at half
mast from its flagstaff. On the First
National Bank, of which Mr.. Curtis |
was vice-president, the flag was placed |
at half-mast and on other public |
buildings of our city. There are ex-
Uressions of great sorrow on every
hand.
Cornelius S. Curtis was in the very
best of health, seemingly, up to the
time of his death. He had spent
Wednesday evening at the Wausauclub
in social converse with old friends. |
AT lO:3O o'clock, with his son
Walter, he went home, and was
in his usual good spirits. Mrs. Curtis |
and other members of the household |
had retired. Mr.. Curtis seldom re- !
tired early, and usually would peruse |
the papers and magazines or play |
game of solitaire and smoke a cigar |
after the others had retired. He did
this on his return home Wednesday |
evening. 1t was ascertained that he |
went to the pantry, ate light lunch,
emptied the ash tray into the fire |
place and then sat down again at the
table. Just at what hour the end |
came is not known, but Mrs. Curtis, |
awaking at about 3 O'Clock, MOTTO
ing the hall light still turned on and |
becoming anxious, went down stairs p!
She found her husband sitting in his |
chair his body leaning forward and |
his head pillowed on his arm upon
the table. She was unatle to arouse |
him and called her sister, Mrs. Martin, |
the family physician and her sons. |
John and Walter. Mr.. Curtis had |
passed away as quietly and peacefully |
as one dropping off to sleep. All
were helpless. Loving hands could |
do nothing to bring back the spark of
life The immediate cause of death |
was apoplexy. The death of his
brother, Chas. f. Curtis, at Clinton.
Iowa. two weeks previously, had deep !
ly affected him and in measure, |
perhaps, hastened the end.
Mr.. Curtis had lived in Wausau for |
nearly 35 years and every moment OF
that time, he was strong factor in
IFS business and social movements. |
His energies were not especially con-
lined to his home city but rather ex-
tended to the borders of our state
and into Iowa and Minnesota, where
A4- AAeAA A1A AhbNAOSSoi NhN@ 49, @--s 1
of the large cities of our country
where he had built up branches to his
extensive industry. He accomplished
things of such magnitude that it was
difficult for the average man to fol-
low him. In all his undertakings he
was eminently successful. In men OF
such a large business capacity there is
invariably conflict between temper
ament and training. 1t was so with
Nj Curtis. BY temperament he was
impulsiye; by training, judicial and
calm. By superior ability he had
built uD one of the largest sash, door
and 5lind industries in this country.
There has not been an important
movement, which tended to the ad-
Yancement, betterment or improve
ment Of Wausau, during his life here
but in which Mr.. Curtis was interested
and gave his time, his means and his
ability TO bring about results. Many
of our institutions have grown strong
ana thriyed under his fostering care,
and he had been a most potent factor
IN making WauSau what it is today
If Nr. Curtis had any trait of charac-
ter, which one might call predomln-
ant. it was that which would lead a
Young man into the higher, compe-
teut and the more efficient business
lie. He had a method of his own;
he selected the best and most promis-
ing Young men of our growing city;
he watched and cared and trained
t"ese young men and by so doing was
enabled, not only to rear an enormous
business, but also to establish one OF
The most thorough efficiency systems
ID his plant, that there is in existence.
lie had probably started more young
lien on the right road TO a higher
business life of integrity and worth,
'-an any man in our state.
tn the social life OF our city he was
ever active. He was a member OF the
-lFee Masonic bodies and was q Past
commander of st. Omer Commandery
No. l9, h. l., thirty-second degree
III aSon and 4 member of the Wisconsin
NonSistory Milwaukee. He belonged
To the WauSau Club and for many
Years was its president, and it was
owing to his loyalty and energy TO
mat institution that it has proven 50
popular and so successful. He was a
member of the Wausau Country Club
ana > member of the First Baptist
church. No one will ever know OF
.le many generous and kindly acts OF
MT Curtis. He was man of charity
III every sense of the word. Wausau
mas sustained an irreparabIe loss, and