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H0041 The study's number for this person. Cite it and it will always lead here, whatever the spelling.
· A life in the study

Nathan K. Curtis

Born at Indiana in 1852 and last recorded at Spencer in 1925.

born Jan 1852 at Indiana, United States died after 1 Jan 1925

Porter County, Indiana

Nathan K. Curtis was born in Indiana in January 1852.1 According to the Iowa state census of 1925, taken near the end of his life, his parents were Philander Curtis and Malinda Davis, who had married in Indiana; in 1880 he gave his father's birthplace as New York and his mother's as Kentucky.2–3 The family tree places his birth on 28 January 1852 at Hebron, in Porter County, in the northwest of the state, but cites no record.4 In the summer of 1870 a Nathan Curtis of eighteen, born in Indiana, was a domestic servant in the household of George Morgan in Westchester Township, Porter County, near Chesterton, and had been to school that year; he is probably Nathan.5

About 1872 Nathan married Louisa Thomas, who was a year or so younger than he.1–2, 6–7 In June 1880 they were living in Jackson Township, Porter County, where Nathan worked as a day laborer, with their daughter Viola, six.3 Four months later, on 20 October 1880, their son Arthur Garfield was born; his death certificate gives his birthplace as Valparaiso, the county seat, and names his parents as Nathan Curtis and Louise Thomas.7

Knox County, Illinois

By 1900 the family had moved west to Knox County, Illinois, and three more children had been born: Lewis O. about 1885, Jennie M. about 1888 and Edna about 1894. That June Nathan, forty-eight, was renting a farm in Ontario Township, with Louisa, Lewis, Jennie, Edna and a boarder. Arthur, now eighteen, was working as a farm laborer and boarding with another family in the same township.1, 8

Spencer, Iowa

By 1910 Nathan and Louisa had moved on to Spencer, the seat of Clay County in northwestern Iowa. That April they were renting a house at 801 North Grove Street and living on their own income, with sixteen-year-old Edna at home; they had been married thirty-eight years. Arthur had married and was farming at Gillett Grove, a few miles away.6, 9 Ten years later Nathan owned his home, at 715 East Fifth Street, free of mortgage, and Arthur's family was renting on East Fourth Street in the same town.10–11 On 1 January 1925, when Iowa took its state census, Nathan, seventy-two, and "Louisy", seventy-one, were still at Spencer; the census gives his parents' names and Louisa's maiden name, Thomas.2 That is the last record of him found. The family tree gives his death at Spencer on 22 January 1926, without a source.4

His grandson, born at Spencer in 1918, was named Arthur Nathan Curtis.12

What we know

Proven

  • Birth at Indiana, 1852
  • Occupation at Westchester Township, 1870
  • Marriage to Louisa Thomas, 1872
  • Occupation at Jackson Township, 1880
  • Occupation at Ontario Township, 1900
  • Death, 1925
  • 6 homes, from the census and other records

What's still open

  • Death. When and where he died is not yet known.
  • Sources. His censuses of 1870 (probable), 1880, 1900, 1910 and 1920 and the Iowa state census of 1925 were read as Ancestry index entries in the old-tree record pass of 27 Sep 2026; none of the images has been read.
  • Children. Five are known from the censuses: Viola (6 in 1880), Arthur Garfield (1880), Lewis O.

Sources

Source 1

1 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Ontario [Township], 1852

Sources 2–3

2 Iowa, U.S., State Census Collection, 1853
3 1880 U.S. Federal Census, Jackson [Township], 1852

Source 4

4 Hegnauer/Putt family tree, Ancestry.com, 1852

Source 5

5 1870 U.S. Federal Census, Westchester [Township], 1852

Sources 6–7

6 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Spencer Ward 3, 1851
7 Washington State Department of Health, Certificate of Death, 1966

Source 8

8 1900 U.S. Federal Census, Ontario [Township], 1881

Source 9

9 1910 U.S. Federal Census, Gillett Grove [Township], 2026

Sources 10–11

10 1920 U.S. Federal Census, Spencer Ward 3, 1853
11 1920 U.S. Federal Census, Spencer Ward 1

Source 12

12 Find a Grave, memorial 201422841, 1918

Life in time

Jan 1852

Birth , Indiana, United States

proven Sources 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10

How we know

  1. 1852 Birth Jan 1852 · Indiana, United States · proven

    Born Jan 1852 in Indiana (1900 census). His ages in the other censuses fit: 18 in 1870, 28 in 1880, 59 in 1910, 67 in 1920 and 72 on 1 Jan 1925. The family tree's 28 Jan 1852 at Hebron, Porter County, has no source (a lead).

    The 1900 census gives the month and year and Indiana; every census from 1870 to 1920, and the Iowa census of 1925, gives Indiana and an age that fits. The day and the town are only in the family tree.

    Sources 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 10

  2. 1870 Residence Westchester Township, Porter · proven

    Nathan Curtis, 18, born Indiana, a domestic servant who had attended school in the year, in the household of George Morgan, 40 (dwelling 2; post office Chesterton). Probable identification.

    His name, his age (18, fitting his 28 in 1880) and Porter County, where he lived in 1880, fit him; no relative is named, so the identification is probable (index read 27 Sep 2026; image not read).

    Source 5

  3. 1870 Occupation Westchester Township, Porter · proven

    Domestic servant (1870 census; probable identification).

    The occupation on the 1870 census line (index).

    Source 5

  4. 1872 Marriage, with Louisa Thomas about 1872 · proven

    No marriage record has been found. The 1900 census gives the year of marriage as 1872 (28 years married), and the 1910 census 38 years married. The old family tree gives Porter County, Indiana, 1872 or 7 Mar 1873, without a source.

    The censuses of 1900 (married 1872, 28 years) and 1910 (38 years) agree on 1872; Louisa is his wife in every census from 1880 to 1920 and in the Iowa census of 1925, which gives her maiden name as Thomas, as their son Arthur's death certificate does ("Louise Thomas").

    Sources 1, 2, 3, 6, 7

  5. 1873 Daughter born: Viola Jenet Curtis family event

    Their page →

  6. 1880 Residence Jackson Township, Porter · proven

    Nathan K. Curtis, head, 28, married, born Indiana, father born New York, mother born Kentucky (dwelling 184); with his wife Louisa, 27, and daughter Viola, 6. Four months later their son Arthur was born in Porter County.

    His full name with the initial K., his wife Louisa and Porter County, where Arthur was born in October 1880, identify him (index read 27 Sep 2026; image not read).

    Sources 3, 7

  7. 1880 Occupation Jackson Township, Porter · proven

    Day laborer (1880 census).

    His line of the 1880 census (index).

    Source 3

  8. 1880 Son born: Arthur Garfield Curtis family event

    Their page →

  9. 1884 Son born: Lewis O. Curtis family event

    Their page →

  10. 1887 Daughter born: Jennie M. Curtis family event

    Their page →

  11. 1894 Daughter born: Edna P. Curtis family event

    Their page →

  12. 1900 Residence Ontario Township, Knox · proven

    "Nathen Curtis", head, 48, born Jan 1852 in Indiana, married 1872 (28 years); a farmer renting his farm (sheet 5, dwelling and family 82). With his wife Louisa, 47, children Lewis O., 15, Jennie M., 12, and Edna P., 6, and a boarder. His son Arthur, 18, was boarding elsewhere in the same township.

    His wife Louisa, the year of the marriage and the children, and Arthur's presence in the same township, identify him (index read 27 Sep 2026; image not read).

    Sources 1, 8

  13. 1900 Occupation Ontario Township, Knox · proven

    Farmer, renting a farm (1900 census).

    His line of the 1900 census (index).

    Source 1

  14. 1910 Residence Spencer, Clay · proven

    801 North Grove Street, Ward 3 (E.D. 37, sheet 22A), rented. Head, 59, married 38 years, living on his own income; with his wife Louise, 57, and daughter Edna I., 16. His son Arthur was farming at Gillett Grove in the same county.

    His wife Louise, the length of the marriage (38 years, as 1872) and his daughter Edna identify him (index read 27 Sep 2026; image not read).

    Sources 6, 9

  15. 1920 Residence Spencer, Clay · proven

    715 East Fifth Street, Ward 3 (E.D. 43, p. 2B), owned free of mortgage. Head, 67, married, born Indiana, father born USA, mother born Indiana; with his wife Louisa, 66. His son Arthur lived at 802 East Fourth Street, in Ward 1, the same winter.

    His wife Louisa and Spencer, Ward 3, as in 1910, identify him (index read 27 Sep 2026; image not read).

    Sources 10, 11

  16. 1925 Residence 1 Jan 1925 · Spencer, Clay · proven

    Ward 3, Spencer (Iowa state census of 1 Jan 1925, indexed as "Mathan Courtis"), 72, born Indiana, married; with his wife "Louisy" [Louisa], 71, maiden name Thomas.

    His wife Louisa, maiden name Thomas (as on Arthur's death certificate), and Spencer Ward 3, as in 1910 and 1920, identify him (index read 27 Sep 2026; image not read).

    Source 2

  17. 1925 Death after 1 Jan 1925 · proven

    He was living at Spencer on 1 Jan 1925. The family tree gives his death as 22 Jan 1926 at Spencer, Clay County, Iowa, without a source (a lead).

    The Iowa state census of 1925 is the last record of him found. No death record, obituary or grave has been read, so only the lower limit is recorded.

    Sources 2, 4

  • proven
  • family event

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Places in this life

5 places, in order
1 2 3 4 5
  1. 1 Indiana, United States Birth Jan 1852
  2. 2 Westchester Township, Porter County Residence 1870 · Occupation 1870
  3. 3 Jackson Township, Porter County Residence 1880 · Occupation 1880
  4. 4 Ontario Township, Knox County Residence 1900 · Occupation 1900
  5. 5 Spencer, Clay County Residence 1910 · Residence 1920 · Residence 1 Jan 1925

Hollow markers are placed approximately, at the town, county or region.

Family

Father Philander Curtis b. bef. 1836 Mother Malinda Davis b. bef. 1838
This page Nathan K. Curtis 1852–aft. 1925
Wife · m. about 1872 Louisa Thomas 1853–aft. 1925
Daughter Viola Jenet Curtis c. 1873–aft. 1880 Son Arthur Garfield Curtis 1880–1966 Son Lewis O. Curtis 1884–aft. 1900 Daughter Jennie M. Curtis 1887–aft. 1900 Daughter Edna P. Curtis c. 1894–aft. 1910
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The evidence 12 facts with their grades, 14 sources, and the research notes

Facts

Fact Date Place Grade Sources
Birth Jan 1852 Indiana, United States proven 1 , 2 , 3 , 5 , 6 , 10
Residence 1870 Westchester Township, Porter, Indiana, United States proven 5
Occupation 1870 Westchester Township, Porter, Indiana, United States proven 5
Marriage with Louisa Thomas about 1872 proven 1 , 2 , 3 , 6 , 7
Residence 1880 Jackson Township, Porter, Indiana, United States proven 3 , 7
Occupation 1880 Jackson Township, Porter, Indiana, United States proven 3
Residence 1900 Ontario Township, Knox, Illinois, United States proven 1 , 8
Occupation 1900 Ontario Township, Knox, Illinois, United States proven 1
Residence 1910 Spencer, Clay, Iowa, United States proven 6 , 9
Residence 1920 Spencer, Clay, Iowa, United States proven 10 , 11
Residence 1 Jan 1925 Spencer, Clay, Iowa, United States proven 2
Death after 1 Jan 1925 proven 2 , 4

Research notes

  • Sources: His censuses of 1870 (probable), 1880, 1900, 1910 and 1920 and the Iowa state census of 1925 were read as Ancestry index entries in the old-tree record pass of 27 Sep 2026; none of the images has been read. His son Arthur's Washington death certificate (1966) was read on the image. The family tree's dates of birth and death have no source and are kept as leads.5, 3, 1, 6, 10, 2, 7, 4
  • Identity: The records are linked as one man as follows. (1) In 1880 Nathan K. Curtis, 28, born Indiana, is in Jackson Township, Porter County, with his wife Louisa and daughter Viola; Arthur was born in Porter County four months later.3, 7 (2) In 1900 "Nathen" Curtis, born Jan 1852 in Indiana, married 1872, is in Ontario Township, Knox County, Illinois, with Louisa, born May 1853, and three children; Arthur G., 18, is a boarder in the same township.1, 8 (3) In 1910 Nathan Curtis, 59, married 38 years (that is, since 1872), is at Spencer, Clay County, Iowa, with Louise and their daughter Edna, whose age fits the Edna of 1900.6 (4) In 1920 Nathan Curtis, 67, is at Spencer, Ward 3, with Louisa.10 (5) The Iowa census of 1925 gives Nathan (indexed "Mathan Courtis"), 72, at Spencer, Ward 3, with his wife Louisa, maiden name Thomas.2 (6) Arthur's death certificate names his parents Nathan Curtis and Louise Thomas.7 The 1870 entry is probable only: the name, the age and Porter County fit, but no relative is named.5
  • Parents: The 1925 Iowa state census index names his father "Phelander" (Philander) Curtis and his mother Malinda Davis, married in Indiana.2 This is the first record of them in the study, but it is an informant's statement at the end of Nathan's life, known only from the index; the census card should be read. The Hegnauer/Putt tree offers them as DNA "potential parents", Philander Augustus Curtis and Malinda J Davis, which is not evidence.4 The parents' birthplaces conflict: New York and Kentucky in 1880, Indiana for both in 1900, the United States and Indiana in 1920.3, 1, 10
  • Birth: Jan 1852, Indiana (1900 census); the ages in 1870 (18), 1880 (28), 1910 (59, "born 1851"), 1920 (67) and 1925 (72) fit within a year.1, 5, 3, 6, 10, 2 The family tree's day (28 Jan) and town (Hebron, Porter County) are unsourced.4
  • Marriage: About 1872: "married 1872, 28 years" in 1900 and 38 years in 1910.1, 6 No record has been found. The old family tree gives Porter County, 1872 or 7 Mar 1873, without a source; the Porter County marriage records of 1872–73 should be searched.4 A "Soiza [Louisa?] Wolf", 16, in the same household as Nathan in 1870 is worth checking, but Louisa's maiden name was Thomas (1925 census; Arthur's death certificate), so she is probably not Louisa.5, 2, 7
  • Children: Five are known from the censuses: Viola (6 in 1880), Arthur Garfield (1880), Lewis O. (15 in 1900), Jennie M. (12 in 1900) and Edna P. or Edna I. (6 in 1900, 16 in 1910).3, 7, 1, 6 Their birthplaces have not been read on the images; the move from Indiana to Illinois was between Oct 1880 and 1900.
  • Death (lead): He was living on 1 Jan 1925.2 The family tree gives 22 Jan 1926 at Spencer, without a source.4 Iowa death records for Clay County, a Spencer newspaper of January 1926 and the Spencer cemeteries are the next places to look.
  • Relationship to Arthur Garfield Curtis (proven): Arthur's Washington death certificate (1966; his wife the informant) names his father Nathan Curtis and his mother Louise Thomas.7 The censuses agree: Arthur was born in Porter County in Oct 1880, four months after Nathan and Louisa were enumerated there; he boarded in Nathan's township in Knox County, Illinois, in 1900; he farmed in Clay County, Iowa, from 1910, when Nathan and Louisa were living at Spencer; and his only son, born at Spencer in 1918, was named Arthur Nathan.3, 8, 6, 9, 12
  • Randolph Curtis rejected: WikiTree showed Arthur (Curtis-3938) as a son of Randolph Curtis (Curtis-3943) of Logan County, Illinois, with Randolph's wife, Adelia Jane Briggs (Briggs-2726), and their children Chester, Melissa, Laura and Viola, all born in Illinois from 1883.13 That family does not fit Arthur, who was born in Indiana in 1880 to Indiana-born parents (1920 census) and whose death certificate names Nathan and Louise.11, 7 The coincidence of the given names Arthur Garfield (1880) and Chester (1883), both from the Republican ticket of 1880, does not outweigh that evidence.
  • WikiTree: No profile for Nathan was found, so one was created on 27 Sep 2026 (Curtis-24801), and Arthur (Curtis-3938) was moved from Randolph Curtis to him, citing Arthur's death certificate.14, 7
  • This profile is part of the Hegnauer one-name study, as a great-grandfather of the children of Robert Lucius Hegnauer Jr. and Adelaide Louise Curtis.

Working notes

  • PROBABLE father of H0054; tree dates unsourced; WikiTree's Randolph Curtis (Curtis-3943) as Arthur's father rejected
  • Father of H0054 PROVEN by Arthur's 1966 WA death cert
  • 1925 Iowa census: parents Philander Curtis and Malinda Davis; m. Louisa 1872; residences 1870 (probable), 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1925 saved in Hegnauer/Putt
  • Tree dates 28 Jan 1852 Hebron and 22 Jan 1926 Spencer are leads

Sources

  1. 1

    1900 U.S. Federal Census, Ontario [Township], Knox County, Illinois, sheet 5, dwelling and family 82: "Nathen Curtis" [alternate reading "Custer"] (white, male, 48, born January 1852, Indiana; head, married 1872, 28 years; parents born Indiana; farmer, rents a farm), Louisa (47, wife, born May 1853), Lewis O. (15, son), Jennie M. (12, daughter), Edna P. (6, daughter) and Osker C. Swanson (26, boarder) (record 900446; index read 27 September 2026; image not read).

    Ancestry

  2. 2

    "Iowa, U.S., State Census Collection, 1836–1925," database with images, Ancestry.com, 1925 Iowa state census, Spencer Ward 3, Clay County, 1 January 1925: "Mathan Courtis" [alternate reading Nathan Curtis] (white, male, 72, born about 1853, Indiana; head, married); spouse "Louisy" [Louisa] (71; given in the index as Louisy Thomas); father "Phelander" [Philander] Curtis; mother Malinda Davis; parents married in Indiana (record 757286; index read 27 September 2026; the census card image has not been read).

    Ancestry

  3. 3

    1880 U.S. Federal Census, Jackson [Township], Porter County, Indiana, E.D. 137, p. 415D, dwelling 184: Nathan K Curtis (white, male, 28, born about 1852, Indiana; head, married; day laborer; father born New York, mother born Kentucky), Louisa (27, wife) and Viola (6, daughter) (record 27903628; index read 27 September 2026; image not read).

    Ancestry

  4. 4

    Hegnauer/Putt family tree, Ancestry.com, tree person 102708297160, Nathan K Curtis: born 28 January 1852, Hebron, Porter County, Indiana; died 22 January 1926, Spencer, Clay County, Iowa; entered as the father of Arthur Garfield Curtis (tree person 102705343023); no record is cited for either date. The profile shows "potential parents" Philander Augustus Curtis and Malinda J Davis from a DNA feature, and an image titled "dna" copied on 4 November 2025 from another member's tree (tree 157860921), not viewed. The old tree (165462681) gives his marriage to Louisa Thomas in Porter County, 1872 or 7 March 1873, without a source.

  5. 5

    1870 U.S. Federal Census, Westchester [Township], Porter County, Indiana, post office Chesterton, dwelling 2, household of George Morgan (40), with Mariah (33), Arthur (4) and William Morgan and "Soiza" [Louisa?] Wolf (16): Nathan Curtis (white, male, 18, born about 1852, Indiana; domestic servant; attended school); NARA M593, roll 351, p. 170A (record 20810801; index read 27 September 2026; image not read).

    Ancestry

  6. 6

    1910 U.S. Federal Census, Spencer Ward 3, Clay County, Iowa, E.D. 37, sheet 22A, 801 North Grove Street, rented: Nathan Curtis (white, male, 59, born 1851, Indiana; head, married 38 years; own income), Louise (57, wife) and Edna I. (16, daughter) (record 7206603; index read 27 September 2026; image not read).

    Ancestry

  7. 7

    Washington State Department of Health, Certificate of Death, state file no. 4718 (1966), registrar's no. 72, Arthur Garfield Curtis: died 8 March 1966, Cowlitz Valley Nursing Home, Longview, Cowlitz County (six years there); usual residence 202 Ross Road, Kelso; male, white, married; born 20 October 1880, Valparaiso, Indiana; age 85; farmer; father Nathan Curtis; mother's maiden name Louise Thomas; not in the armed forces; informant Hazel Lucille Curtis, Kelso, Wash.; cause pneumonia (4 days) due to cerebral vascular arteriosclerosis; removal 10 March 1966 to the Anderson Mortuary, Montevideo, Minnesota; funeral director Ditlevsen-Moore Funeral Home, Kelso; received 10 March 1966; "Department of Health, Death Certificates, July 1, 1907–2001," image, Washington State Archives, Digital Archives (digitalarchives.wa.gov/Record/View/7C4B11A317BB239C8E7D14827BAACFDC), accessed 27 September 2026.

  8. 8

    1900 U.S. Federal Census, Ontario [Township], Knox County, Illinois, sheet 3, dwelling and family 42, household of Otto F. Rylander: "Aurther G Curtis" [his son Arthur Garfield], boarder, 18, born October 1881 [sic], Indiana, father and mother born Indiana, farm laborer (record 900244; index read 27 September 2026; image not read).

    Ancestry

  9. 9

    1910 U.S. Federal Census, Gillett Grove [Township], Clay County, Iowa, E.D. 33, sheet 6A: "Athur Curtice" [his son Arthur], head, 29, married 1 year, born Indiana, farmer, with Hazel (18) and Verna (0) (record 7204802; index read 27 September 2026; image not read).

    Ancestry

  10. 10

    1920 U.S. Federal Census, Spencer Ward 3, Clay County, Iowa, E.D. 43, p. 2B, 715 East Fifth Street, owned free of mortgage: Nathan Curtis (white, male, 67, born about 1853, Indiana; head, married; father born United States, mother born Indiana) and Louisa (66, wife) (record 28794627; index read 27 September 2026; image not read).

    Ancestry

  11. 11

    1920 U.S. Federal Census, Spencer Ward 1, Clay County, Iowa, E.D. 41, sheet 4B, 802 East 4th Street, household of A. G. Curtiss [his son Arthur] (39, born Indiana, parents born Indiana; farmer; rented), with his wife Hazel (28) and children Verna (9), Dorothy (8), Madge (4) and Arthur (1), born in Iowa; NARA T625, roll 483; database with images, Ancestry.com (index read; image not read).

    Ancestry

  12. 12

    Find a Grave, memorial 201422841, Arthur Nathan Curtis [his grandson] (born 10 May 1918, Spencer, Clay County, Iowa; died 7 November 1984, Klamath Falls, Klamath County, Oregon), Alturas Cemetery, Alturas, Modoc County, California (findagrave.com/memorial/201422841), as cited on his profile in the Hegnauer/Putt Ancestry tree; the memorial page has not been viewed.

  13. 13

    WikiTree, Arthur Garfield Curtis (Curtis-3938), born 20 October 1880, Valparaiso, Indiana, with his father shown as Randolph Curtis (Curtis-3943), born 13 August 1853, Logan County, Illinois, died 20 August 1925, Logan County, Illinois, a son of Jonathan Henry Curtis and Hannah Angleman; and Adelia Jane (Briggs) Curtis (Briggs-2726), born 18 December 1851, Cozaddale, Warren County, Ohio, died 17 May 1935, San Jose, Logan County, Illinois, the mother of Chester (born August 1883), Melissa (November 1888), Laura (March 1891) and Viola (June 1894) Curtis, all born in Illinois (as found in the study's WikiTree reconciliation, 26 September 2026; the profiles' own sources have not been read).

  14. 14

    Hegnauer one-name study, WikiTree reconciliation of 26 September 2026: searches for a Nathan or Nathaniel Curtis born 1850–1854 found no profile that fits (candidates rejected: Nathaniel Willard Curtis of Massachusetts, died 1896; Nathaniel Coleman Curtis of Mississippi, died 1923; Nathan Sylvester Curtis of Grant County, Indiana, died 1929; Jonathan H. Curtis of Logan County, Illinois, died 1911).