CURTIS: Of Curtis District.
William Walker Curtis, later Captain William W. Curtis, was born in Lewis County, W. Va., August 29, 1832, son of John and Prudence (Cutright) Curtis. In Lewis County, July 18, 1850, William W. Curtis and Rebecca Wetzel were married. She was born in Lewis County, June 4, 1830, daughter of David and Regina (Fultz) Wetzel, both born in Shennanadoah County, Virginia, and were pioneer settlers in the Monongahela Valley, Rebecca being a near relative of Lewis Wetzel, or Whetzel, as sometimes spelled, of "Border Warfare" fame, as also are the Cutrights, of the Monongahela settlements.
William W. and Rebecca Curtis made their home in Lewis County for the first six or seven years after marriage, coming to the upper Reedy country in the year 1857.
William W. and Rebecca acquired a large farm on upper Reedy Creek and soon made a home of ample repose for those days. The names of their several sans and daughters who grew up are as follows:
Francis M., born May 7, 1851, made his first home at Alkiers Mills, Lewis County.
Rulina, June 19, 1853, marricd Thomas J. Hardman, October 13, 1869, made their first home at Peniel, Roane County.
Albert Lee, December 10, 1854, first home at Wolfe Summit, Harrison County.
Martha, lived at Spencer in 1882.
Nathan, born June 7, 1858, married Miss Samantha Elizabeth Lucas, November 14, 1878. She is a native of Noble County, Ohio. Two brothers of hers resided in Curtis District for a time. See at end of these Curtis paragraphs.
A.J. Lyda Curtis, son of Captain W. W. and Rebecca, was born March 14, 1861; married Miss Sarah R. Parks May 7, 1891. His age 30, hers 28.
Albert Lee and A. J. Lyda both became popular preachers of the Methodist Episcopal conference. A. J. L. returns to
Roane occasionally on business or to visit his relatives.
L. Ordway Curtis, born September 7, 1879, son of Nathan and his wife, Samantha E., grew up in Roane, a fair product of good ancestry and the free schools; taught school a few terms; was elected by the people and served one term as Clerk of the Circuit Court of Roane; at close of his term launched into the general Auditors office at Charleston, year 1924, and removed himself and family to the capital city and is yet there.
L. Ordway Curtis and Virginia Ingram, daughter of Lycurgus Ingram, were united in marriage at the M. E. Parsonage in Spencer, W. Va. on August 21, 1905. His age 25, her age 20. To this union were born some children, the names of two of whom are Hal and Helen Virginia, both youths yet.
The career of Captain Curtis can be gathered from Chapters I, II and IX of this book, showing how his appreciative contemporaries named a magisterial district of this county in his honor. He was in the Battle of New Creek, August 4, 1864, received his mortal wound there and died on the way home. Some two years later the widow married James Riddle. See "Riddle, James."
Source: History of Roane County, West Virginia, 1774-1927 William H. Bishop, Esq. p 495-497
Submitter: Sandy Spradling, November 28, 1999
