The William Riley and Mary Pruett Curtis Family
Curtis Family impacts Lead Hill Community Life, History, and Religion. For over 150 Years.
Two pioneer widows, after the death of their husbands, chose to bring their families to Sugarloaf township. Both of those pioneer families have now impacted Sugarloaf history for nearly 150 years.
We have already told the story of the John Thomas and Lucy Jane Blalock Gaines family. They moved from Georgia to Madison County, to homestead a 40-acre farm following the Civil War. Sadly however, John Thomas met his death in 1890 at the age of 43. Upon his death his wife Lucy Jane moved with their 8 children to the Lead Hill area joining her brothers William and Franklin Blalock who ran a cotton gin in the Locust area. Lucy Jane met and married Frances Marion Wilmoth and he raised the Gaines children on his family farm.
William Riley Curtis like John Thomas Gaines never lived in Sugarloaf Township and never knew the tremendous impact that his descendants, would have on the Lead Hill School, Community and Churches. William Riley Curtis born in North Carolina moved to Independence County, AR near Batesville and married a widow Mary (Morris) Pruett born in Indiana in 1832. William, a farmer was also a soldier. He fought in the Mexican War, and also served during the Civil War for the South, and after the death of family members chose to serve with other family members in the Union Army.
After surviving his time during the war, William Curtis returned to Independence County an continued farming. Sadly he caught pneumonia while waiting in the rain at the Batesville Cotton Gin, and died in 1871.
Shortly after William’s death his widow Mary Curtis moved with her 6 living children 1. Allen Morris, 2. Mark Curtis, 3. Emily Curtis, 4. James Washington 5. Mary Jane, & 6. Kisziah. first to Bellefonte and then with the purchase of a farm moved on to Sugarloaf Township near Lowery.
By the 1880 census:
Mary’s son 1. Allen Morris lived near her in the Lowery area. He married Minnie" Argina Harrelson and they had 8 children. Moving to Texas Allen died at the age of 43.
Mary's son, 2. Mark had married Josephine Foresee and they had 10 children all born in Lead Hill. Mark and Josie moved to Oklahoma after 1910 and he died there at the age of 80. Only two of Mark’s 10 children remained in the Sugarloaf area: Mark's son Jesse lived his life outside Lead Hill at Elixer. Jesse’s only daughter married John Gross and their descendants live in the Green Forest area. Mark’s daughter Annie married Dock Whitney and their descendants some of their descendants have also remained in Boone County.
Mary's daughter, 3. Emily had married the circuit riding Preacher Tom Hall. Tom & Emily's children have been active in all phases of LH School and Community life. Granddaughters Marie Chor and Helen Tillman were teachers in Lead Hill and other schools in the area. Both were admired and loved for their dedication. Great Grandson Mike Chor was a gifted brick and stone craftsman. Grandson Don Foresee spent his life farming on the Black Ranch Road.
Still at home were 4. James age 13, 5. Mary age 11 and 6. Kisziah or Kit age 9.
Mary's son 4. James Washington Curtis married Emily Lucretia Victoria Elizabeth Foresee on April 11, 1885. They had eleven children in 15 years. He died on January 28, 1903, in Lead Hill, Arkansas, at the age of 36. James's grandson Ervin Curtis is a dedicated Church of Christ minister in the Sugarloaf area.
Grandson Billie Curtis was a dependable bus driver keeping LH students safe for over 25 years. Great Granddaughter Joy Curtis Press is a contributing of our Sugarloaf.
Mary's daughter 5. Mary Jane married William Buckley and lived in Lead Hill until her death at 44. Mary Jane and William’s only daughter Clara Belle married Robert Walton Raley son of Baptist preacher Regus Raley.
Mary's daughter 6. Kisziah or (Kit) married Levy Matlock an moved to Oklahoma around before 1900. She later died in Oklahoma after having 5 children.
A part of Curtis land is still retained by family members and part was sold to the Black Brothers around 1900 when the Black Ranch was established. When she was no longer able to live alone, Mary Pruett Curtis lived with her daughter Mary Jane Curtis Buckley. She died in Sugarloaf Township in 1910 and is buried in the Foresee Cemetery on Black Ranch Road off Hwy 281.
In my years as Lead Hill School Principal, many of the students who were descendants of James Riley and Mary Curtis attended. . I list a few and hope to not offend by missing any students who are also family members, if so, please accept my apology add those names in the comments section. I think James Riley and Mary Curtis would have been proud to have these students in their linage. All were intelligent, hardworking, honest, and respectful to others. Roger Curtis, Lesia Foresee, Steve Chor, Brent Curtis, James Curtis, and Michelle Curtis you have represented your ancestors well.
A Special Thanks to James Curtis for providing the information for this post!
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