Representative George Martin Curtis View All Years

HON. GEORGE M. CURTIS

MR. SPEAKER—Your committee, appointed to prepare an appreciation of the life, character and public service of a former member of this body—Honorable George M. Curtis, whose death occurred at his home in Clinton, Clinton county, Iowa, February 9, 1921, beg leave to report the following:

IN MEMORIAM

George M. Curtis was born in Chenange county, New York, in April, 1841. He came, with his parents to Ogle county, Illinois, a few years later, where, as a boy and young man, he worked on the farm, clerked in a store, and taught school, In 1867 he came to Iowa, purchasing an interest in a small sash, door and blind factory just being started, in the then, village of Clinton, by a brother, who had preceded him only a short time. He became the directing head of the business, and, with good team work, from this humble beginning, there developed one of the largest and most successful manufacturing enterprises, in its line in the world, and he lived to see “The Curtis Companies Incorporated,” with mills, factories, distributing ware houses and offices in ten states, widely separated, known to every one, where the march of civilization demands dependable products for constructing homes and public buildings, but notwithstanding the vast amount of work necessary in so large a business, he was interested in other enterprises, the success of which was largely due to his advice and sagacity. Business, however, did not engross all of his time and attention. He was a good citizen in all that appellation applies; his work for the betterment of his home city, the improvement of its public schools, and the intelligent dispensation of charity, was untiring and effective. In politics he was an active and aggressive Republican, and, entering the arena, as a candidate for state representative in 1886, when his county was considered hopelessly Democratic, he was triumphantly elected, and, was an influential member of the Twenty-second General Assembly. In this service he formed the close personal friendship with Senator Albert B. Cummins, which lasted, with increasing mutual appreciation, to the hour of his death.

In 1894, without his consent, he was nominated for Congress, which from the insistance of the active party men, all over the District, he finally accepted, and, after a characteristic campaign, was elected, overcoming a supposedly unimpregnable Democratic majority of more than nine thousand. He was re-elected to a second term, serving his district—the Second—with honor and distinction. He declined a third term for business reasons, and later ill health prevented him from becoming the Republican candidate for the nomination for Governor of Iowa, which was urged from all parts of the state. He was a delegate to several national conventions, serving twice after his physical condition was such, that his family had insisted that he curtail his business activities to the minimum.

His home life was perfect, as he was a devoted husband and a fond father, and it was at his own fire side, that his genial nature was at its best. He will be missed by all, but mostly by those who knew and loved him best—his faithful wife and two sons, his worthy successors, in business, to whom, his life will be an inspiration. His passing is a distinct public loss; to his home city, because he was ever alert to its best interests; to the state and nation, because his influence was always exerted to make and keep them what they are—the best state and nation in the world, therefore

Be It Resolved by the House of Representatives of the Thirty-ninth General Assembly of the State of Iowa, that the foregoing “In memoriam” be, and the same hereby is adopted as its appreciation of the life, character and public service of Honorable George M. Curtis, a distinguished former member, that the same be spread upon the records and printed in the House Journal, and a copy, properly engrossed, signed by the speaker and the chief clerk, transmitted to the family of the deceased, at the home in Clinton, Iowa.

DR. GEO. A. SMITH,

W. F. SCHIRMER,

H. B. MOORHEAD,

Committee.

Adopted March 23, 1921.