Born near Oxford , New York , to John S. and Elizabeth ( Carpenter ) Curtis , Curtis moved to Ogle County , Illinois , in 1856 with his parents , who settled on a farm near Rochelle , Illinois . He attended the common schools and Rock River Seminary , in Mount Morris , Illinois . Curtis was a clerk in Rochelle from 1863 to 1865 , and subsequently for two years in Cortland , Illinois . He moved to Clinton , Iowa , in 1867 and engaged in the manufacture of lumber , founding the Curtis Companies , a conglomerate of associated sash , door , and millwork companies that eventually consolidated into a single corporation based in Clinton , Iowa . He was also one of the incorporators of the City National Bank of Clinton in 1880 . After initially serving as one of its directors , Curtis was elected vice president of the bank in 1890 and served in that capacity until his death . He also served as director in a number of lumber companies . George Martin Curtis married Etta Lewis ( 1850 – 1924 ) on 4 Sept. 1872 . They had two sons – George Lewis and Eugene Judson . Etta Lewis was a native of the State of New York . She was the only child of William Lewis . Both parents died in her early childhood . An aunt adopted the orphan girl and took her to Michigan , where she was educated . When she was nineteen years of age , the family moved to Clinton , Iowa . Here she met George M. Curtis , an energetic young business man , afterward prominent in the political affairs of his state , and they were married . They had three sons and one daughter ; the daughter and second son died when quite young . Etta Lewis was a member of the Presbyterian church and deeply interested in church and benevolent work . As President of the Associated Benevolent Society of Clinton for five years , she was instrumental in doing much to alleviate the sufferings of the poor of that city . In 1887 , he was elected to the Iowa House of Representatives , serving in 1888 and 1889 . He served as delegate to the 1892 Republican National Convention
1892 Republican National Convention
1892 Republican National Convention
George M. Curtis