Daily Kennebec journal., 1922-04-06

SF1AHLGS w. COh 10
For many years Mr.. Curtis was
connected with the banking business,
beginning in his home town, Dexter,
as a promoter and trustee of the
Dexter Savings bank and later was
the promoter of the National Bank
of Dexter of which he was elected as
cashier. lie Nllcd this position for
ii years. lie then resigned and was
elected president of the same bank
for nine years. Again he was pro-
motcd to the Office of National bank
examiner, after having resigned as
president. lie held the latter posi-
ton for IL Years. rcsigning at the
age of 50. after very satisfactory
and successful term of office. Since
that time up till within two years,
Mr.. Curtis has enjoyed working in
his garden in Dexter where he made
speciality of raising fruit. including
apples and small fruit. Two years
ago he came to Waterville TO live
and he now spends much of his time
in solving mathematical problems
for which he. has great aptitude.
For over 20 years. Mr.. Curtis has
had the distinction of being a con-
tributor to the mathematical depart
m6nt of the Farmers Almanac.
over 40 years ago he solved prob
lem by quadratic equation which
Harvard college mathematicians
supposed at that time to require ar
equation of the 9th degree. Mr.. Cur
tis said that he did not know at the
time that it was a hard problem. if
he had he would have had it pub
.lishcd years ago. but it was not pub
lished til year or two ago. He
solves his problems i'll the quiet OF
the night while lying in bed.
Mr.. Curtis was born in Dexter.
which he still claims as his home and
where he has always paid his taxes.
lie is the oldest living native of tie
town. He was the son of Caleb Il.
and Iavinia II. Curtis. He was edu-
Gated at the public schools and the
High school of Dexter and later at
tended the Waterville Institute and
the academy at Monson and the High
school in Bath. lie taught in the
High school in Dexter at the age of
10. supplanting n Colby graduate,
who was unable 10 handle the pupils.
lie was twice married. his first wife
being Miss Sarah T. Higgins. daugh-
ter OF Rev. Josiah Higgins. pastor of
the Methodist church at Union at
that time. His second wife was Miss
Annie Nicle. daughter of a mission
airy in Japan. This marriage took
mace in San Francisco. For time
he was in the hardware business in
Dexter. leaving that 70 so into bank
ing. The business is still carried on
at the same place.
MIR. Curtis was also closely idcnti-
fed with the business interests OF
Dexter. He was the sole promoter of
the wood working machine shop
which is now conducted by Eldrldge
Brothers. Inc. He was also active in
the educational and civic life of the
community. From Il to "a he was a
teacher in the public schools and nigh
school of the town. He was a men,
ber of the school board for many
wears: he was for two years chair
man of the special board of asses
sors to revise the valuation or the
town. He was also chairman of a
committee to investigate the problem
of n water system, which proved
successful enterprise. He has also
served as selectman, town auditor,
trustee of the town memorial librae
~. trustee of the Dexter school fund
for 40 years. trustee and sole Gu
todian of a private fund, disbursing
s!cmi-annual interest for 20 years.
That his integrity was unquestioned
is shown by the fact that no bonds
were required in any case and no
compensation was asked for his SER
vices.
Mr. Curtis is Cniversalist by
faith, a Republican by politics ana q
total abstainer. having never smoked
or drank n glass of liquor in his life.
He belongs TO the Odd Fellows and
Rebekahs and attended the last
grand lodge of the order in Bangor.
He has one daughter, Mrs. NJ.
Adele Jones of Portland: one Sis
ter. Mrs. Manly Bacon of Rathdrum.
Idaho and five grandchildren. Harold
+. aud Charles w. Curtis. both of
California: Carl c. Jones of Portland
and Miss Helen Curtis and Charles
Laroy Jones of this city.
Mr.. Curtis has one great pleasure
and that is fishing. For so years,
with very few exceptions. the spring
has found him at Moosehead lake,
where he angles for salmon and
trout. Then.too. he visit Wassokeag
lake quite often. later in the sum-
mer. In his life he has taken four
trips to California, the first one in
ls5l. lust behind the forty miners"