Encyclopedia of Connecticut biography, genealogical-memorial ...

CURTISS, Charles Edson,
Manufacturer, Legislator.
For the past forty years Mr. Curtiss has
been connected with the Ensign-Bickford
Company of Simsbury, Connecticut, and
has gained the esteem and respect of his
fellow-citizens, having been active in promoting
the prosperity of the town physi-
cally and morally.
(I) He is a descendant of one of the
oldest Connecticut families, founded by
Thomas Curtiss, who was born in Eng-
land in 1598, and settled at Wethersfield,
Connecticut, with his wife Elizabeth in
1639. There he died November 13, 1681.
(II) Joseph Curtiss, third son of
Thomas Curtiss, was born March 31, 1644,
in Wethersfield, died there, December 31,
16S3, leaving an estate of £717 13s. iod.
He married, February 8, 1674, Mary Dem-
ing, who was probably a daughter of
Thomas and Mary (Scheafe) Deming, the
latter a daughter of John Scheafe, an early
resident of Connecticut.
(III) Joseph (2) Curtiss, eldest son of
Joseph (1) Curtiss, was born January 10,
1675, in Wethersfield, made his home in
that town, and died December 31, 1765,
lacking ten days of being ninety-one years
of age. He married, December 7, 1708,
Dorothy Edwards, born in September,
1681, in Wethersfield, that part now
Rocky Hill, died April 18, 1760, daughter
of Joseph and Sarah Edwards, of that sec-
tion.
(IV) Josiah Curtiss, youngest child of
Joseph (2) Curtiss, was born September
12, 1 72 1, in Stepney Parish, now Rocky
Hill, and was buried October 4, 1800. In
1777 he was a member of Captain Henry
Champion's company, of Colchester, which
served in the Revolutionary army. He
married, December 3, 1747, Mary Hilborn,
born March 4, 1725, in Newington, died
October 7, 1799, third daughter of Lieu-
ENCYCLOPEDIA OF BIOGRAPHY
40
tenant Ebenezer and Eunice (Hale) Hil-
born, of that town.
(V) Ebenezer Curtiss, third son of
Josiah Curtiss, was born January 31, 1760,
in Stepney, went in old age to Simsbury,
probably with his son, and died there
March 21, 1819. He married, April 1,
1781, Rebecca Latimer, born December
12, 1754, in Wethersfield, daughter of
John and Anna (Grimes) Latimer.
(VI) Timothy Hale Curtiss, third son
of Ebenezer Curtiss, was baptized March
9, 1788, settled in Simsbury, Connecticut,
where he died March 19, 1864. He was
married in Simsbury, by Benjamin Ely,
justice of the peace, April 5, 1814, to Sarah
McCombs, a descendant of an old family
of that section. Her birth is not recorded
in Windsor or Simsbury.
(VII) Ebenezer G. Curtiss, son of Timothy
Hale and Sarah (McCombs) Curtiss,
was born November 15, 1822, in the sec-
tion of Simsbury near the Canton line,
known as the "Bushy Hill" District. He
spent his boyhood in Southwick, Massa-
chusetts, where his parents were living
for some time ; in early manhood engaged
in farming and later became interested in
the cattle business, residing in that part
of Simsbury known as Weatogue. He
was accustomed to purchase stock in the
West, which he drove to Connecticut and
there disposed of to advantage. He was
a prominent citizen of the town, which he
represented at one time in the State Legislature,
and was active in the Masonic
fraternity, affiliated with St. Mark's
Lodge, No. 36, Free and Accepted Ma-
sons, of Simsbury, with which his son is
now identified. He died September 16,
1890, and his body was laid to rest in
Simsbury. He married, October 11, 1846,
Mary Amne Norton, who was born Octo-
ber 29, 1827, in Avon, Connecticut, a descendant
of a very old Connecticut family,
founded by John Norton, who appears