Saturday, November 10, 2007

Friend Curtis newspaper articles

When searching for clues about Friend Curtis being the possible father of Benjamin Kingman Curtis, I discovered a few newspaper articles about Friend that were published in the 1850's. The Western Chronicle was the first newspaper printed in Saint Joseph County, Michigan and a name index to the paper for 1849-1864 is available on microfiche at the Family History Library in Salt Lake City (fiche 6332812). The original newspapers are on microfilm at the Three Rivers Public Library, located in Three Rivers, Michigan. I hired a researcher in the area to make copies of the newspaper articles for all the Curtis names in the index:

David W. Curtis (6 Dec 1860 news item)

Friend Curtis (deceased) Mottville, had the following legal notices in the paper:
  • 9 Nov 1850 through 1 March 1851
  • 1 Jan 1857 through 15 Jan 1957
Melissa Curtis (all legal notices)
  • 9 Nov 1850 through 4 Jan 1851
  • 1 Jan 1857 through 15 Jan 1857
Northrop Curtis and Hellen Schellhous (marriage announcement 21 Dec 1850)

Norton S. Curtis (legal notices during all of July 1850)

Seth Curtis (news item 12 Jan 1850)

T. M. Curtis (news item 14 Oct 1858)

There were two other names in the newspaper index that I obtained copies of:
  1. Rev. Herschel Foster was mentioned in a news article on 1 Jan 1857 and 29 Jan 1857. The reason I wanted copies of his news articles was because I was looking for church records that recorded the marriages performed by Rev. Foster. I discovered in Benjamin Kingman Curtis' Civil War pension papers that Benjamin filled out a form stating that he was married by "Rev. Hershel Foster." Several people have looked for Rev. Foster's church records but they have still not been located. We do not know what church Rev. Foster belonged to, so we are looking at all church records that are available in the area.
  2. Benjamin married Sarah Lavantia Card. Both Benjamin, Sarah and some of her family were living in Park township during the 1850 census. Sarah's father, William Fuller Card, died in Park twp on 20 Aug 1846, five years prior to Benjamin and Sarah's marriage on 24 May 1851. Legal news for William F. Card was published in the newspaper from 9 Nov 1850 through 12 April 1851. The articles mentioned that Cyrus W. Card was the administrator of the estate. Cyrus was the son of William, and brother to Sarah.

2 comments:

Fran Jensen said...

The legal notice for Friend Curtis and Sarah Curtis published on 9 Nov 1850 was as follows:

Probate Notice
State of Michigan, St. Joseph County
At a session of the Probate court for the county of St. Joseph, holden at the Probate office in Centerville, on Monday the 4th day of November in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and fifty. Present Benjamin Osgood Judge of Probate. In the matter of the estate of Friend Curtis deceased. On reading and filing the petition duly verified of Melissa Curtis, widow of said deceased, praying that a certain instrument in writing now on file in said court purposing to be the last will and testament of said deceased ___ be proven and admitted to Probate, and that the ___ thereof may be committed and the administration of the estate of said deceased granted to the executors named in said will. Thereupon it is ordered that the second day of December ___ at ten o'clock in the forenoon of said day, at the Probate office in Centerville be, and the same are hereby assigned for the hearing of said petition, and taking proof of said will, and the heirs at law of said deceased and all persons interested in said estate are hereby ___ to appear at the above mentioned time and place before the said Judge of Probate, and show cause if any there be why the prayer of said petitioner should not be granted. And it is further ordered that notice of the pendency of said petition and of the time and place of hearing thereof be given by publishing a copy of this order for three successive weeks previous to said day of hearing in the Western Chronicle a public newspaper printed in said county. A true copy. B. Osgood, Judge of Probate.

Fran Jensen said...

On 18 Jan 1851 there was a Commissioner's Notice in the newspaper: State of Michigan, St. Joseph, ss - Probate Court for said County, in the matter of the estate of Friend Curtis. The under ___ commissioners, appointed by said court for the purpose of receiving, examining and allowing claims of ___ against the estate of Friend Curtis, late of said county, deceased, will for such purposes meat at his late residence in the township of Mottville, on the 28th day of March 1851, and at the office of the Judge of Probate in said county on the 10th day of June 1851, at which times and places those having claims against said estate are hereby notified to present the same, duly authenticated, or allowance. Six months from and after the 22d day of December 1850, is allowed by said court for the purposes above named. S.C. Coffinbury and A. J. Brown, Commissioners. 4w17