Village President William L. Curtis was the fourth to serve Petoskey from 1884-1885. His biography is forthcoming. In the meantime be sure to read the Greenwood Cemetery Historical account and his obituary. They both can be found at:
http://www.gwood.us/
Name: Curtis, William Lovinus
Age: 70
Date of Birth: 0/0/1842
Date of Death: 1/24/1913
Cemetery: Greenwood, Petoskey
Newspaper Obituary
History Memo: An early banker, owned the First National Bank, Petoskey's main bank for many years. Gave much to establish the young community.
History File
History F
THE FOLLOWING ARE EXCERPTS FROM GREENWOOD CEMETERY HISTORICAL ARTICLES WRITTEN BY SUPERINTENDENT K. CRAWFORD. WE URGE TO GO TO THE ON-LINE SITE AND READ IT IN ITS ENTIRETY.
WILLIAM LOVINUS CURTIS
(January 29, 1842 – January 24, 1913) Section F, Block 84, Lot 15
While it seems a fitting description to say that whatever William L. Curtis touched turned to gold, it is likewise true that his heart of gold touched many lives in the Petoskey area. Born in 1842 in Gull Prairie, Michigan to Morgan and Isabella (Monteith) Curtis, Mr. Curtis was educated at Prairie Seminary (his father was one of the founders of the school) and later taught at the seminary before taking over the family farm in Richland, Michigan. He managed the farm for 10 years, earning a reputation for being an honest, hard-working, progressive farmer. In 1866, he met Mary Eliza Wooding and they married on October 23rd of that year. Four children were added to the family while living in Richland, three of whom survived to adulthood – Chalmers, Morgan and Heber.
An invitation to be a guest on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad’s new line to Petoskey, which Mr. Curtis received while serving as a grand jury member in Grand Rapids, changed the course of his life. The train made its way from Grand Rapids to Petoskey in November of 1873. It was during this trip that one of the newspaper reporters on the train coined the phrase “Million Dollar Sunset” after viewing the setting of the sun as seen from the rough hewn little community. Mary Curtis returned to Petoskey in 1880 with her sister-in-law and her father-in-law who was eager that the two women and their families might consider making Petoskey their home.
In 1882, nine years after this first visit to the area, Mr. Curtis, his wife Mary and their three children moved to Petoskey. With some financial help from his father, Mr. Curtis and his brother-in-law, James Wylie, bought out Thomas Quinlan in the local bank and began his long career as a banker. Wachtel and Quinlan became Curtis, Wachtel, and Wylie, Private Bankers. Several years later, Mr. Curtis organized the Petoskey City Bank, which later became the First National Bank of Petoskey. Mr. Curtis was extremely successful, eventually holding majority stock in multiple banks, and with his success grew a reputation for generosity and compassion. He regularly gave personal loans to those who failed to qualify for bank loans. As a 1905 publication of the Biographical History of Northern Michigan states:
The Petoskey City Bank has not only saved numbers of busIness men from disaster by timely backing and help, but it has helped out many farmers who were threatened with foreclo- sure of mortgages, and no man of known honesty, energy and economy has been refused financial accommodation in time of need. In short, the Petoskey City Bank under the wise and liberal management of its president, William L. Curtis, has been a tower of financial strength and credit during the years of Petoskey’s youth and development, and hundreds of Emmet County people are grateful for the favors and confi- dence of Mr. Curtis.
Like so many pioneers, Mr. Curtis took his leadership skills and forward thinking well beyond his private business interests. He served the com- munity as president of the Village of Petoskey in 1884, only two years after coming to town. He was president of the school board, a member of the Masonic Lodge, and a dedicated Presbyterian. He served the state as a republican representative in the Michigan House for one term and as state senator for two terms.
Mr. Curtis purchased 12,000 acres of hardwood forest in the Upper Peninsula (near the town which now bears the name Curtis, Michigan), built the Cook, Curtis and Miller Lumber Company in Grand Marais, and had a large working cattle ranch (13,000 acres with 1,700 cattle) in South Dakota.
William and Mary Curtis’ generosity can be appreciated even today as we enjoy the many acres they donated to the city for parks. They do- nated acreage for what now is known as Curtis Park and also donated land to enlarge Pennsylvania Park. The present day clock tower at the waterfront was built with the repaired clock faces and 800-lb. bell (a rep- lica of the Liberty Bell) that Mary Curtis had donated to the city in 1902, originally atop the former courthouse building. Indeed, the Curtis’ investments in Petoskey continue to draw interest a century after they were made.
http://www.gwood.us/
Name: Curtis, William Lovinus
Age: 70
Date of Birth: 0/0/1842
Date of Death: 1/24/1913
Cemetery: Greenwood, Petoskey
Newspaper Obituary
History Memo: An early banker, owned the First National Bank, Petoskey's main bank for many years. Gave much to establish the young community.
History File
History F
THE FOLLOWING ARE EXCERPTS FROM GREENWOOD CEMETERY HISTORICAL ARTICLES WRITTEN BY SUPERINTENDENT K. CRAWFORD. WE URGE TO GO TO THE ON-LINE SITE AND READ IT IN ITS ENTIRETY.
WILLIAM LOVINUS CURTIS
(January 29, 1842 – January 24, 1913) Section F, Block 84, Lot 15
While it seems a fitting description to say that whatever William L. Curtis touched turned to gold, it is likewise true that his heart of gold touched many lives in the Petoskey area. Born in 1842 in Gull Prairie, Michigan to Morgan and Isabella (Monteith) Curtis, Mr. Curtis was educated at Prairie Seminary (his father was one of the founders of the school) and later taught at the seminary before taking over the family farm in Richland, Michigan. He managed the farm for 10 years, earning a reputation for being an honest, hard-working, progressive farmer. In 1866, he met Mary Eliza Wooding and they married on October 23rd of that year. Four children were added to the family while living in Richland, three of whom survived to adulthood – Chalmers, Morgan and Heber.
An invitation to be a guest on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad’s new line to Petoskey, which Mr. Curtis received while serving as a grand jury member in Grand Rapids, changed the course of his life. The train made its way from Grand Rapids to Petoskey in November of 1873. It was during this trip that one of the newspaper reporters on the train coined the phrase “Million Dollar Sunset” after viewing the setting of the sun as seen from the rough hewn little community. Mary Curtis returned to Petoskey in 1880 with her sister-in-law and her father-in-law who was eager that the two women and their families might consider making Petoskey their home.
In 1882, nine years after this first visit to the area, Mr. Curtis, his wife Mary and their three children moved to Petoskey. With some financial help from his father, Mr. Curtis and his brother-in-law, James Wylie, bought out Thomas Quinlan in the local bank and began his long career as a banker. Wachtel and Quinlan became Curtis, Wachtel, and Wylie, Private Bankers. Several years later, Mr. Curtis organized the Petoskey City Bank, which later became the First National Bank of Petoskey. Mr. Curtis was extremely successful, eventually holding majority stock in multiple banks, and with his success grew a reputation for generosity and compassion. He regularly gave personal loans to those who failed to qualify for bank loans. As a 1905 publication of the Biographical History of Northern Michigan states:
The Petoskey City Bank has not only saved numbers of busIness men from disaster by timely backing and help, but it has helped out many farmers who were threatened with foreclo- sure of mortgages, and no man of known honesty, energy and economy has been refused financial accommodation in time of need. In short, the Petoskey City Bank under the wise and liberal management of its president, William L. Curtis, has been a tower of financial strength and credit during the years of Petoskey’s youth and development, and hundreds of Emmet County people are grateful for the favors and confi- dence of Mr. Curtis.
Like so many pioneers, Mr. Curtis took his leadership skills and forward thinking well beyond his private business interests. He served the com- munity as president of the Village of Petoskey in 1884, only two years after coming to town. He was president of the school board, a member of the Masonic Lodge, and a dedicated Presbyterian. He served the state as a republican representative in the Michigan House for one term and as state senator for two terms.
Mr. Curtis purchased 12,000 acres of hardwood forest in the Upper Peninsula (near the town which now bears the name Curtis, Michigan), built the Cook, Curtis and Miller Lumber Company in Grand Marais, and had a large working cattle ranch (13,000 acres with 1,700 cattle) in South Dakota.
William and Mary Curtis’ generosity can be appreciated even today as we enjoy the many acres they donated to the city for parks. They do- nated acreage for what now is known as Curtis Park and also donated land to enlarge Pennsylvania Park. The present day clock tower at the waterfront was built with the repaired clock faces and 800-lb. bell (a rep- lica of the Liberty Bell) that Mary Curtis had donated to the city in 1902, originally atop the former courthouse building. Indeed, the Curtis’ investments in Petoskey continue to draw interest a century after they were made.
Village President William L. Curtis was the fourth to serve Petoskey from 1884-1885. His biography is forthcoming. In the meantime be sure to read the Greenwood Cemetery Historical account and his obituary. They both can be found at:
http://www.gwood.us/
Name: Curtis, William Lovinus
Age: 70
Date of Birth: 0/0/1842
Date of Death: 1/24/1913
Cemetery: Greenwood, Petoskey
Newspaper Obituary
History Memo: An early banker, owned the First National Bank, Petoskey's main bank for many years. Gave much to establish the young community.
History File
History F
THE FOLLOWING ARE EXCERPTS FROM GREENWOOD CEMETERY HISTORICAL ARTICLES WRITTEN BY SUPERINTENDENT K. CRAWFORD. WE URGE TO GO TO THE ON-LINE SITE AND READ IT IN ITS ENTIRETY.
WILLIAM LOVINUS CURTIS
(January 29, 1842 – January 24, 1913) Section F, Block 84, Lot 15
While it seems a fitting description to say that whatever William L. Curtis touched turned to gold, it is likewise true that his heart of gold touched many lives in the Petoskey area. Born in 1842 in Gull Prairie, Michigan to Morgan and Isabella (Monteith) Curtis, Mr. Curtis was educated at Prairie Seminary (his father was one of the founders of the school) and later taught at the seminary before taking over the family farm in Richland, Michigan. He managed the farm for 10 years, earning a reputation for being an honest, hard-working, progressive farmer. In 1866, he met Mary Eliza Wooding and they married on October 23rd of that year. Four children were added to the family while living in Richland, three of whom survived to adulthood – Chalmers, Morgan and Heber.
An invitation to be a guest on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad’s new line to Petoskey, which Mr. Curtis received while serving as a grand jury member in Grand Rapids, changed the course of his life. The train made its way from Grand Rapids to Petoskey in November of 1873. It was during this trip that one of the newspaper reporters on the train coined the phrase “Million Dollar Sunset” after viewing the setting of the sun as seen from the rough hewn little community. Mary Curtis returned to Petoskey in 1880 with her sister-in-law and her father-in-law who was eager that the two women and their families might consider making Petoskey their home.
In 1882, nine years after this first visit to the area, Mr. Curtis, his wife Mary and their three children moved to Petoskey. With some financial help from his father, Mr. Curtis and his brother-in-law, James Wylie, bought out Thomas Quinlan in the local bank and began his long career as a banker. Wachtel and Quinlan became Curtis, Wachtel, and Wylie, Private Bankers. Several years later, Mr. Curtis organized the Petoskey City Bank, which later became the First National Bank of Petoskey. Mr. Curtis was extremely successful, eventually holding majority stock in multiple banks, and with his success grew a reputation for generosity and compassion. He regularly gave personal loans to those who failed to qualify for bank loans. As a 1905 publication of the Biographical History of Northern Michigan states:
The Petoskey City Bank has not only saved numbers of busIness men from disaster by timely backing and help, but it has helped out many farmers who were threatened with foreclo- sure of mortgages, and no man of known honesty, energy and economy has been refused financial accommodation in time of need. In short, the Petoskey City Bank under the wise and liberal management of its president, William L. Curtis, has been a tower of financial strength and credit during the years of Petoskey’s youth and development, and hundreds of Emmet County people are grateful for the favors and confi- dence of Mr. Curtis.
Like so many pioneers, Mr. Curtis took his leadership skills and forward thinking well beyond his private business interests. He served the com- munity as president of the Village of Petoskey in 1884, only two years after coming to town. He was president of the school board, a member of the Masonic Lodge, and a dedicated Presbyterian. He served the state as a republican representative in the Michigan House for one term and as state senator for two terms.
Mr. Curtis purchased 12,000 acres of hardwood forest in the Upper Peninsula (near the town which now bears the name Curtis, Michigan), built the Cook, Curtis and Miller Lumber Company in Grand Marais, and had a large working cattle ranch (13,000 acres with 1,700 cattle) in South Dakota.
William and Mary Curtis’ generosity can be appreciated even today as we enjoy the many acres they donated to the city for parks. They do- nated acreage for what now is known as Curtis Park and also donated land to enlarge Pennsylvania Park. The present day clock tower at the waterfront was built with the repaired clock faces and 800-lb. bell (a rep- lica of the Liberty Bell) that Mary Curtis had donated to the city in 1902, originally atop the former courthouse building. Indeed, the Curtis’ investments in Petoskey continue to draw interest a century after they were made.
http://www.gwood.us/
Name: Curtis, William Lovinus
Age: 70
Date of Birth: 0/0/1842
Date of Death: 1/24/1913
Cemetery: Greenwood, Petoskey
Newspaper Obituary
History Memo: An early banker, owned the First National Bank, Petoskey's main bank for many years. Gave much to establish the young community.
History File
History F
THE FOLLOWING ARE EXCERPTS FROM GREENWOOD CEMETERY HISTORICAL ARTICLES WRITTEN BY SUPERINTENDENT K. CRAWFORD. WE URGE TO GO TO THE ON-LINE SITE AND READ IT IN ITS ENTIRETY.
WILLIAM LOVINUS CURTIS
(January 29, 1842 – January 24, 1913) Section F, Block 84, Lot 15
While it seems a fitting description to say that whatever William L. Curtis touched turned to gold, it is likewise true that his heart of gold touched many lives in the Petoskey area. Born in 1842 in Gull Prairie, Michigan to Morgan and Isabella (Monteith) Curtis, Mr. Curtis was educated at Prairie Seminary (his father was one of the founders of the school) and later taught at the seminary before taking over the family farm in Richland, Michigan. He managed the farm for 10 years, earning a reputation for being an honest, hard-working, progressive farmer. In 1866, he met Mary Eliza Wooding and they married on October 23rd of that year. Four children were added to the family while living in Richland, three of whom survived to adulthood – Chalmers, Morgan and Heber.
An invitation to be a guest on the Grand Rapids and Indiana Railroad’s new line to Petoskey, which Mr. Curtis received while serving as a grand jury member in Grand Rapids, changed the course of his life. The train made its way from Grand Rapids to Petoskey in November of 1873. It was during this trip that one of the newspaper reporters on the train coined the phrase “Million Dollar Sunset” after viewing the setting of the sun as seen from the rough hewn little community. Mary Curtis returned to Petoskey in 1880 with her sister-in-law and her father-in-law who was eager that the two women and their families might consider making Petoskey their home.
In 1882, nine years after this first visit to the area, Mr. Curtis, his wife Mary and their three children moved to Petoskey. With some financial help from his father, Mr. Curtis and his brother-in-law, James Wylie, bought out Thomas Quinlan in the local bank and began his long career as a banker. Wachtel and Quinlan became Curtis, Wachtel, and Wylie, Private Bankers. Several years later, Mr. Curtis organized the Petoskey City Bank, which later became the First National Bank of Petoskey. Mr. Curtis was extremely successful, eventually holding majority stock in multiple banks, and with his success grew a reputation for generosity and compassion. He regularly gave personal loans to those who failed to qualify for bank loans. As a 1905 publication of the Biographical History of Northern Michigan states:
The Petoskey City Bank has not only saved numbers of busIness men from disaster by timely backing and help, but it has helped out many farmers who were threatened with foreclo- sure of mortgages, and no man of known honesty, energy and economy has been refused financial accommodation in time of need. In short, the Petoskey City Bank under the wise and liberal management of its president, William L. Curtis, has been a tower of financial strength and credit during the years of Petoskey’s youth and development, and hundreds of Emmet County people are grateful for the favors and confi- dence of Mr. Curtis.
Like so many pioneers, Mr. Curtis took his leadership skills and forward thinking well beyond his private business interests. He served the com- munity as president of the Village of Petoskey in 1884, only two years after coming to town. He was president of the school board, a member of the Masonic Lodge, and a dedicated Presbyterian. He served the state as a republican representative in the Michigan House for one term and as state senator for two terms.
Mr. Curtis purchased 12,000 acres of hardwood forest in the Upper Peninsula (near the town which now bears the name Curtis, Michigan), built the Cook, Curtis and Miller Lumber Company in Grand Marais, and had a large working cattle ranch (13,000 acres with 1,700 cattle) in South Dakota.
William and Mary Curtis’ generosity can be appreciated even today as we enjoy the many acres they donated to the city for parks. They do- nated acreage for what now is known as Curtis Park and also donated land to enlarge Pennsylvania Park. The present day clock tower at the waterfront was built with the repaired clock faces and 800-lb. bell (a rep- lica of the Liberty Bell) that Mary Curtis had donated to the city in 1902, originally atop the former courthouse building. Indeed, the Curtis’ investments in Petoskey continue to draw interest a century after they were made.
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