Résumé

Principal, John M. Curtis, Architect, San Francisco, CA, 1887-1896. Curtis rented Rooms 14 and 15 at 528 California Street in 1887. (See Langley's San Francisco Directory, 1887, p. 376.) Between at least 1891 and 1896, Curtis maintained his office at 126 Kearny Street, Room #51. (See Langley's San Francisco Directory, 1891, p. 426 and Crocker-Langley San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1896, p. 472.)

Partner, Curtis and [William H.] WIlcox, Architects, San Francisco, CA, c. 1902-1936.

Relocation

John Morrison Curtis was born in 09/07/1852, likely in IL. (Some sources credit his birthplace as in MO, but most censuses and other documents listed it as IL.) A US Census agricultural survery taken in 08/22/1850 in District #2 of Mason County, KY, indicated that James Curtis (a Mason County native) owned 100 improved acres and 77 unimproved acres, land worth about $4,175. In addition, he owned $40 worth of farm implements, $465 of livestock, and an unassessed sum in wheat, corn and oats. This made him a moderately prosperous farmer for the time. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation National Archives at Washington, DC; Washington, DC; Copies of Nonpopulation Census Schedules for Kentucky, 1960-1964; NAID: 2791276; Record Group Number: 29; Record Group Title: Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, accessed 02/12/2024.) This survey was taken of his land in KY, just before he relocated his family to the State of MO.

On 10/04/1850, a little less than two years before John's birth, the US Census located his parents James and Drusilla, sister Ann and brother William living on a farm in District #46 of Lafayette County, MO. Another family member lived in the household, Colden Curtis (born c. 1800 in KY). (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M432; Residence Date: 1850; Home in 1850: District 46, Lafayette, Missouri; Roll: 403; Page: 204b, accessed 02/12/2024.)

The 1860 US Census found John living with his family in Clay, MO. The census did not contain any information as to whether the Curtis family owned the farm or not, but given that James had owned land earlier in Mason County, KY, it is likely that he owned property here, too. The census reported that his father James, and siblings Ann, William, and Ben dwelled at the farm, but his mother was not listed. Most families in the near vicinity of the Curtises had moved here from VA or KY, and some owned large amounts of land, with four nearby estates valued at $20,000, $14,000 and $12,000 and $8,800. Most of the largest farms in the vicinity were owned by middle-aged and older people who migrated from VA. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Clay, Lafayette, Missouri; Roll: M653_628; Page: 666; Family History Library Film: 803628, accessed 02/12/2024.)

In 1883, John M. Curtis lived at 1205 Washington Street in San Francisco. (See the San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1883, p. 357.)

Curtis dwelled at 2321 Webster Street in San Francisco's upscale Pacific Heights neighborhood between 1891 and 1896, at least. (See Langley's San Francisco Directory, 1891, p. 426 and Crocker-Langley San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1896, p. 472.)

He and his wife Belle lived at 408 Post Street according the 1900 US Census. In addition, Belle's sister Elizabeth "Lizzie" Muir (born c. 03/1863 in CA) lived with them. The census indicated that Curtis and his wife owned the house without a mortgage. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 106; Page: 10; Enumeration District: 0261, accessed 02/12/2024.)

The architect made his residence at 2501 Buchanan Street, also in Pacific Heights. (See Crocker-Langley San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1908, p. 515.)

In the 1910, the Curtises rented either an apartment or a duplex unit at 1124 Page Street in San Francisco's Panhandle neighborhood. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1910; Census Place: San Francisco Assembly District 37, San Francisco, California; Roll: T624_99; Page: 2b; Enumeration District: 0168; FHL microfilm: 1374112, accessed 02/12/2024.)

In 1917, the year of his death, he and Belle were listed as living back at 2501 Buchanan Street. (See San Francisco, California, City Directory, 1917, p. 568.)

Curtis died on 09/06/1917 and was buried at the Lexington Cemetery, Lexington, KY. His wife Belle died 25 years later ans was interred at the Cypress Lawn Cemetery in Colma, CA.

Parents

His mother was Drusilla Sarah Coleman (born 03/03/1826 in Cynthiana, KY-d. 05/29/1857 in Lafayette County, KY). She married John's father James Curtis (born c. 1813 in Mason County, KY) on 10/19/1847 in Harrison County, KY. Drusilla was 14 years younger than her husband.

James worked as a farmer in 1860. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation The National Archives in Washington D.C.; Record Group: Records of the Bureau of the Census; Record Group Number: 29; Series Number: M653; Residence Date: 1860; Home in 1860: Clay, Lafayette, Missouri; Roll: M653_628; Page: 666; Family History Library Film: 803628, accessed 02/12/2024.)

Drusilla Coleman had a wealthy brother, lawyer and San Francisco Committee of Vigilance (incarnations of 1851 and 1856) member William Tell Coleman(02/29/1824 in Cynthiana, KY-d. 11/22/1893 in San Francisco, CA), who left Drusilla's four children one-fortieth of his substantial estate. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Kansas City and Jackson County, Missouri Wills and Administrations; Author: Missouri. Probate Court (Jackson County); Probate Place: Jackson, Missouri, p. 8, accessed 02/12/2024.)

John had the following siblings: Ann Clinton Curtis Proctor Bryan (born 07/03/1848 in Wellington, MO-d. 08/10/1931 in Lexington, KY), William Tell Curtis (born c. 1849 in KY) and Ben Kirk Curtis (born 12/12/1850 in MO-d. 12/03/1934 in Maysville, KY).

Ben worked as a businessman in New York City from about 1880 until 1920, including as a shipping broker and President of the Manacea Water Company in New York.

Spouse

He wed Isabel Helen "Belle" Muir (born 07/27/1858 in CA-d. 04/23/1942 in San Francisco, CA) in Sacramento, CA, in 1887.

Children

The 1900 US Census indicated that John and Belle had no children. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation Year: 1900; Census Place: San Francisco, San Francisco, California; Roll: 106; Page: 10; Enumeration District: 0261, accessed 02/12/2024.)

Biographical Notes

In 1892, at age 40, Curtis was described as being Caucasian with a fair complexion, hazel eyes and brown hair. He stood 5-feet, 9-and-½-inches tall. (See Ancestry.com, Source Citation California State Library; Sacramento, California; Great Registers, 1866-1898; Collection Number: 4-2A; CSL Roll Number: 88; FHL Roll Number: 977606, accessed 02/12/2024.)