John D. Curtis

Submitted by Doug Curtis Thanks Doug!

John D. Curtis, son of Amos Ferguson Curtis and Rachel Ellie Daniels, was born April 2, 1854 in Newton County, Arkansas, and died January 8, 1939 in Limestone, Newton County, Arkansas. His wife was Mahala Essex, daughter of Warren Essex and Rebecca Woodward. She was born December 10, 1857, and died June 14, 1939 in Limestone, Newton County, Arkansas.

Mahala wrote a letter October 21, 1894, to her cousin, George Dodson and his wife, Cynthia, who were living in Collin County, TX. In her letter, Mahala told about the hard times in Newton County. She wrote, 'Times the hardest I ever saw. Crops cut short by the drought. Cotton sorry...Hog meat the scarcest I ever saw. There is not enough bacon in Newton County to feed ten hungry men...I feel lonesome since Jim and Porilee has moved off. They stayed here all summer and feel if they ever had a short word, I never heard it. John has just finished sowing wheat.' She went on to say, 'George is the biggest, fattest boy you ever saw. The baby is nine month old. He is small. His name is Walter. He is just beginning to crawl. The whooping cough like to killed him.'

Mahala served as postmaster of Limestone Valley from June 1, 1894 to May 12, 1898. She also was a mid-wife. She was called upon to help deliver babies in the community and went to the home of the expectant mother who was in labor and stayed until the baby was born. She was also considered to be a "roving nurse" going to homes to help people who were sick because there were no doctors nearby.

John D. and Mahala are both buried in Curtis Cemetery in Limestone Valley.

Children of John D. Curtis and Mahala Essex are:
1. Dustie Curtis.

2. Susie Curtis

3. James Curtis, born 1876.

4. Ann Elizabeth Curtis, born February 1, 1878, died September 17, 1884 in Newton County, Arkansas. Buried in Essex Cemetery.

5. William 'Bill' Curtis, born September 18, 1879, married Bert Noe.

6. John Curtis, born September 28, 1882, died September 13, 1884 in Newton County, Arkansas. Buried in Essex Cemetery.

7. Alice Curtis, born January 25, 1885, died November 2, 1941 in Newton County, Arkansas. Married Goldie U. Rocole. Alice and Goldie are buried Curtis Cemetery in Limestone Valley.

8. Adaline 'Addie' Curtis, born January 15, 1889, died January 31, 1911 in Newton County, Arkansas. Married James Thomas Davis. Addie and James are buried Curtis Cemetery in Limestone Valley.

9. Scott Curtis born October 8, 1889, died April 16, 1891 in Newton County, Arkansas. Buried in Essex Cemetery.

10. George B. Curtis, born August 8, 1891, married Laura E. Heffley September 8, 1891.

11. Walter Curtis, born January 8, 1912, died December 10, 1962 in Newton County, Arkansas, buried Curtis Cemetery in Limestone Valley.

12. Grace Curtis, born November 17, 1898, died March 7, 1963 in Newton County, Arkansas. Married William Frank Bohannon. Grace and William Frank are buried Curtis Cemetery in Limestone Valley.

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