John Henry Curtis, son of Henry, was born on January 2, 1847 at Kelly Township, Warren County, Illinois. He died August 2, 1918 at Chanute, Kansas. However, he is buried in Graceland Cemetery at Avoca, Iowa. From his Civil War pension file, we learn that John was about five feet nine and a half inches tall, weighted about one hundred seventy-five pounds, had a dark complexion, dark eyes and hair. He is reported to have been nearsighted.
John married on November 25, 1869 at Knoxville, Illinois to Appollina Anne Evans, daughter of Charles Evans and Dorothy Ann Wilbur. Appollina was born about 1848. The place of her birth is presently unknown. She died on April 5. 1928 at Chanute, Kansas where she lived at 222 East Eleventh Street. She is buried in Graceland Cemetery at Avoca, Iowa.
John was a farmer by profession, owning a large tract of land near Avoca, Iowa. John and Appollina moved from Knoxville, Illinois to the area of Avoca, Iowa early in the 1870's where they lived, except for a period of six months when they lived on a “claim” in the Scott Bluff, Nebraska area. They migrated to Chanute, Kansas about 1902.
While living in Iowa, John acquired a parcel of land on February 22, 1882 from Hoyt Sherman, who was acting as receiver for B.F. Allen. The land was located in Shelby County and cost him $800. This parcel was described as “the North half of the North West quarter of Section thirty-three (33) Township seventy-eight (78) Range thirty-nine (39) West situated in the County of Shelby and State of Iowa.”
After his father's death, John, on 13 May 1891, purchased from his brother and sister their interest in the lands formerly held by Henry and Margaret.
On 4 April 1893, John sold forty acres located in Shelby County, Iowa to Jens Chris Nelson for the healthy sum of $1,300. This parcel of land was described as “the South west quarter of the South east quarter of section thirty three (33) in Township seventy eight (78) Range thirty nine (39).”
On 10 February 1902, John executed a quitclaim for lands owned by the estate of John Bunge. This parcel of land was described as “the south east one fourth of the south east one fourth of the north east quarter of section twenty nine in township seventy eight in range thirty nine west of the 5th. PM.”
It is not presently known what lands John and Appollina owned in Kansas.
John served, as a private, in the Union Army during the Civil War. He enlisted at the age of seventeen on May 11, 1864 in Company D, 139th Regiment, Illinois Infantry. One questionnaire reports that he enlisted at Peoria, Illinois. A second questionnaire reports Buzzardsville, near Galesburg, Knox, Illinois and a third reports Galesburg itself. He was honorably discharged on October 28, 1864 at Peoria, Illinois having served five months, eighteen days.
John applied on March 26,1891 for and received a disability pension. He originally received $8 per month. This was increased to $12 in 1909, $15 on January 6, 1916, then to $18 on January 2, 1917. It was to have been increased to $22 on January 2, 1922 if not for John's death in 1918.
After John's death, Appollina applied for a widow's pension. It was granted to her on August 21, 1918. The amount was $25 per month. It was subsequently increased to $30 on May 1, 1920. However, her March 22, 1924 request for an increased was denied
John and Appollina had four children.
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