1.  John Warren Curtis   2. Mary Belle Curtis

John Warren Curtis, Sr.

JOHN WARREN  CURTIS was born December 25, 1819 in Jackson County, Tennessee, and died July 27, 1882 in Mineral Wells, Texas.  He married MARY COLLUM January 01, 1843.  She was born 1809, and died 1854.  He married Mary Amos July 27, 1858 in Weatherford, Texas, daughter of JOSEPH AMOS and SOPHIA DAVIS.  She was born April 07, 1840 in Marion County, Virginia, and died January 02, 1917 in Weatherford, Texas.

Children born to John Warren Curtis and Mary Amos are:

Occupation: Grocer, Mayor
Burial: Curtis cemetery, Weatherford, Texas

From history book at the Weatherford Public Library -- Third Annual Session, Distinguished Arrivals, page 78.

"In 1857, John W. Curtis (afterwards mayor), came to Weatherford, from Arkansas, and engaged in the grocery trade.  He built the store on the west side of the square, until recently the post office, which was the first brick building ever erected in the town".

The New Corporation, page 80.

"Town Council Meeting 1858.  There were present: John W. Curtis, the first mayor, ... The bonds of the several officers were approved, a code of laws adopted, and Constable Hall ordered to open the four main streets, from the center of the square, each 100 feet wide; and the eight streets from the corners of the square, each 50 feet wide.  A week later, Council passed an ordinance prohibiting any person from cutting down or carrying away "any timber from the public square, or any of the streets," without proper authority.  The wood cut from the square and streets was "piled at convenient places," and sold to the highest bidder.  All the fencing in the square and on or across the streets, was permitted to remain until the close of that year -- 1858.  May 21, a corporation tax of $75 was levied on all persons selling liquors in less quantity than a quart.  ...  Mayor Curtis, Alderman Richey, Constable Hall, and Recorder Layne, resigned August 13, and on the 20th, C. L. Jordan was elected mayor over John h. Phelps -- the former receiving 39 votes and the latter 4."

There is some discrepancy about whether John Warren Curtis (our family) was the first mayor of Weatherford, since the legend says that John Warren Curtis the former mayor was killed in a gunfight with Ashley N. Denton in 1858.  However, John Warren Curtis actually died in 1882.  Since the family has always said he was mayor, even before genealogy research became popular, I can only conclude that John Warren Curtis was NOT killed in the gunfight.

The John Warren Curtis cabin was located on the north side of Curtis Creek (the approximate site is the present football training field of Weatherford High School) John Warren gave to Weatherford 3 acres of land for what is now Curtis Cemetery.  

John Warren Curtis & brother (also J. W. Curtis?) came to Parker County from Missouri.  John Warren became the 1st Mayor of Weatherford when the city was incorporated in 1858.  He died 24 years later in 1882 age 63.  When in 1936 the suit for division of Curtis land, property of John Warren's wife, received appropriated ?  by the court designate 9.6 acres that included the original Cemetery.

More About JOHN CURTIS and MARY COLLUM:
Marriage: January 01, 18431

Family Stories  as told by Melvin Wilson Current.

Curtis Gold Mines

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