Enos Curtis biography

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE LIFE OF ENOS CURTIS 1783 - 1856


Enos Curtis, born 9 Oct 1783, died 1 Jun 1856, son of Edmond Curtis and Polly Avery. He was born in Kinderhook, Clmb., New York. Hattie Esplin Durfee notes that Enos Curtis, the eldest son of Edmond Curtis and Polly Avery Curtis, spent his boyhood days in the little town of Kinderhook, a few miles east of the Hudson River, in Columbia County, New York. A few miles farther east is the large town of Latham. Not much is known of his early life. The story is told by one of his descendants in Utah that Enos, at the age of 14, was apprenticed to learn a trade. His master was so cruel and unkind that he begged his father to let him return home. His father refused saying that the agreement was made, papers signed and that he must finish the contract. Young Enos had courage and an adventurous spirit. He planned to escape from this man and did make his escape by stowing away on a ship sailing down the Hudson River to New York City. He was discovered enroute but the crew learned to like him and asked him to stay with them.


Arriving in New York City, Enos met Ruth Franklin. They were married in that city on the 15th of December, 1805. Ruth was born on 14th November 1870 in Sterling, Windham, Connecticut.

After their marriage they went to Pennsylvania to seek a new home and settled in Tioga County. The northern boundary of the county is the state line between the Pennsylvania and New York state. It was a new county. The county having been formed in 1804. The Curtis' lived in Susquehanna County, Sullivan County, Rutland and Tiago, where their fourteen children were born and raised. Five died small while nine grew to marry and have families of their own.

In 1831, at the age of 48 Enos was baptized into the LDS Church [on a trip to Kirtland, Ohio] by Lyman Wight. According to Louise Durfee Rooney, shortly before the birth of their last child, Celestia Curtis Durfee, the family became converted to the restored church — the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Both Enos and his wife were endowed in Nauvoo Temple in 1846. They were devout in their religious convictions and went through the hardships of the early church pioneers. He was a farmer and carpenter by trade.

Brigham Young says in the fall of 1831 Alpheus Gifford, Elial Strong and others came to Mendon to preach Mormonism, which I heard and believed. "Five Mormon Elders, from an isolated branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, in Columbia Co., Penns. were making a tour through the state of New York. They visited the town of Mendon where Brigham Young met them. He had a copy of the Book of Mormon in his possession over a year. The actual contact with these Elders, their testimonies and personalities so impressed him, he began an extensive study of Mormonism."

From autobiography of Heber C. Kimball, p 6 "Heber C. Kimball says, about three weeks after I joined the Baptist Church in the fall of 1831, five Elders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints came from Pa. to the house of Phineas H. Young in Victor, N.Y. Their names were Eleazer Miller, Elial Strong*, Enos Curtis, Alpheus Gifford and Daniel Bowen. Hearing of these men, curiosity prompted me to go and hear them, when for the first time I heard the fulness of the Everlasting Gospel." These five Elders must have been very devout spiritual minded men. They so thoroughly impressed Brigham Young and Heber C. Kimball with the truth of their teaching, they decided to pay them a visit which they did in Jan 1832 at the branch in Columbia, Pa. They remained there one week. After they returned to their homes in Mendon and a family council was held. The father John Young and sons Joseph and Phineas planned a trip to the branch. This was the beginning of the family joining the Church.

*Note: Elial Strong was a son-in-law of Enos Curtis


Journal History Notes

29 Jan 1839. Because of persecution the Saints removed from Jackson to Clay Co., then Caldwell. 1836-1838. Here Enos filed a claim against the state of Missouri for 1856. 1 Sep 1844 at a Conference held in Quincy, Ill. at the home of Joseph Pine, it was voted that the Presidencey of the Branch remain as it had for the last three months, that is Enos Curtis as President with Moses Jones and John Riley as Counselors.

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25 Oct 1845, Enos Curtis appeared before the Justice of the Peace in Hancock Co. He swore that on or about 18 Oct 1845, in the settlement of Morley in said county, he saw two houses and three stables burning, and that he saw two mobbers armed with guns, running away from the fires. He also swore that he saw the house belonging to the Widow Boss, burning on Monday 21 Oct in same areaas the former fire.

6 Feb 1846 Enos Curtis had his Endowments in Nauvoo.
26 Apr 1848 emmigration records say Brigham Young left Winter Quarters and assembled a group on the west side of Elkhorn River and organized a company in three divisions for emmigration across plains and mountains from Missouri River to Salt Lake City. Enos Curtis, Theodore Curtis and Joseph Curtis were numbered in one of these groups. They left the Elkhorn River 1 Jun 1848 and arrived in Salt Lake City, Sep 1848.

Enos Curtis had his share of troubles and grief. He lost six of his fourteen children before he lost his wife Ruth. She was probably burried in Iowaville on the plains in 1848. He came on to Utah with the rest of his family and their children.

In 1850 Enos Curtis met and married Tamma Durfee Miner. They moved on a farm owned by Lorenzo Snow in Willard, Utah. Tamma had a large family, having buried her husband Albert Miner 3 Jan 1848 on the trip across the plains. The two families lived together and got along very well. Moroni Miner (now 100 yrs. old in 1935) a step-son of Enos, speaks very highly of him. He said Enos always treated us as a kind, loveable and patient father.

John White Curtis, David Avery Curtis, Ozias Strong, Albert Starr with others were sent out by Brigham Young as surveyors for new settlements. They reported the conditions in and around Springville. Moroni Miner, when telling this incident, was greatly moved by memories of this period. His mind was clear and keen. He said he well recalled how hard the two families struggled to build a home, they were so anxious for a home of their own, they were willing to go through any hardships. They built two large rooms with a shop and patio between them.

Enos was an excellent carpenter and an expert chair maker, also made all kinds of furniture. Moroni said he and his brother Mormon became very efficient and helpful in carpentery and building business. They all said Enos was like their own father. He was ready to help anyone, regardless of weather conditions, went any our of night to administer to and help the sick.

Enos Curtis was ordained a Patriarch in 1852 by Heber C. Kimball, Parley P. Pratt, George A. Smith and John Taylor. He died 1 Jun 1856 and was burried in Springville beside his wife Tamma,who died 30 Jan 1885.
This story was told by Ezra H. Curtis:

After the meeting where Brigham Young heard the five missionaries including Enos, bear testimony of the Gospel, he hurried home to his wife who was sick in bed. He went to his room

and in praying to the Lord, he asked: "If this religion is true, to send the missionaries to his home, that they might pray for his sick wife and also explain the Gospel to her." The next night as the Elders were passing his home, they were impressed with the tidiness of his yards and said any man that has that much pride in his home must be worth visiting, so they went in. Brigham was watching from the window to see if his prayer would be answered. He hurriedly opened the door and welcomed them in. They administered to his wife and she seemed more at ease. Brigham then told them he had prayed for them to come and that he had faith she could be healed through their administration.

A Nauvoo Incident At The Time Of The Presecution And Martyrdom:

The sons of Enos were out on the prairies putting up wild hay and things were bad, Enos being worried about his sons, rode out in the night to get them. They were asleep, but were awakened by the noise of a horseman coming toward their camp. They were much afraid as they knew the anxiety and nervousness to all the Saints who constantly feared the mob. Enos had a peculiar cough and as he rode toward them he coughed, they gave a sigh of relief and said 'do not fear, it is father'. They had a real race with the nearby mob, who were in ambush and chased them all the way home.
A Story From Chloe Spencer,

Daughter Of Celestia Curtis Durfee and Grand Daughter Of Enos Curtis:
When the mobs were in some of the vicious raids two or three families would gather together in one home for protection. On one such occasion the mob came to the home of Enos Curtis, the men were away. The mob ordered the occupants out of the house. The family told them that Grandmother Ruth Franklin Curtis was ill and could not leave the house. The mob left, but came back the second and third time and finally set fire to the house. The women carried Grandmother away out on a sheet. As the men folks heard about the raid, they rushed back and carried Grandmother away in a wagon as she could not walk. The mob even chased the wagon, but they finally got away.

Enos Curtis, family and a family by the name of Stowell were on the ferry crossing the river from Montrose, Iowa to Nauvoo. A terrific wind came up and as some people had previously gone down the rapids below the ferry crossing there was much anxiety and excitement. People on shore shouting and screaming for help. It was so strong it looked as if it would break the cable that controlled the ferry when Enos Curtis raised his arm to the square and commanded the wind to take them to shore. It ceased its velocity and changed so the ferry drifted to shore and both families were saved. As soon as they were on shore, the gale began as fierce as before.

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THE FAMILY OF ENOS CURTIS AND RUTH FRANKLIN

Enos Curtis, b. 9 Oct 1783 in Kinderhook, Clmb., New York, son of Edmund and Martha or Polly Avery, he md. 1st Ruth Franklin 15 Dec 1805, she was b. 14 Nov 1790 in Starling, Windham, Conn., dau. of (Col.) John Franklin & Abigail Fuller, she died 6 May 1848 in Council Bluffs, Iowa.

To this union the following children were born:

1- Lydia, b. 5 Feb 1808 in Southerland, Penn., d. 5 Jul 1809.

2- Maria, b. 22 Mar 1810 in Southerland, Penn., she md. 1st Abram Brown 13 Sep 1844 [?]; md. 2nd Milo Everett, she died 5 May 1841.

3- Martha, b. 12 Aug 1812 in Southerland, Penn., she md. 1st Elial Strong; she died 22 Dec 1834.

4- Edmund, b. 5 Nov 1814 in Southerland, Penn., d. 6 Jun 1815.

5- Jeremiah, b. 12 Nov 1815 in Southerland, Penn., he died 22 Feb 1816.

6- Seth, b. 8 Mar 1817 in Southerland, Penn., d. 8 Mar 1817.

7- Simmons Philander, b. 28 Mar 1818 in Rutland, Penn., md.1st Emaline Buchanan 4 Jul 1840; 2nd Asenath Lawrence, he died 10 Apr 1880.

8- David Avery (twin), b. 10 Aug 1820 in Rutland, Penn., md.1st Amanda Starr 10 Oct 1841; md. 2nd Lettia Shearer 28 Aug 1852; md. 3rd Sarah Harriet Howard 2 Oct 1857; md. 4th Harriet Howard 2 Mar 1869, he died 5 Oct 1885.

9- John White (twin), b. 10 Aug 1820 in Rutland, Penn., md.1st Almira Starr 13 May 1841; he md. 2nd Matilda Miner 21 Oct 1855; md. 3rd Tamma Durfee 3 Apr 1857, he died 7 Aug 1902.

10- Ezra Houghton, b. 19 Feb 1823 in Rutland, Penn., he md. 1st Lucinda McKenney Carter 18 Dec 1846; md. 2nd Juliaette Everett in 1855, sld. 21 May 1856 EH, he d. 28 Aug 1915.

11- Ruth, b. 4 Jan 1825 in Rutland, Penn., she d. 4 Oct 1825.

12- Ursula Curtis (x), b. 14 Dec 1826-7 in Rutland, Penn., md.1st Abraham Durfee in 1846; she md. 2nd Samuel Kendall Gifford, she died 20 Jan 1902.

13- Sabrina, b. 3 Apr 1829 in Rutland, Penn., she md. 1st David Abram King; md. 2nd Thomas Harwood 6 Apr 1851, she died 27 Jun 1890.

14- Celestia, b. 21 Apr 1832 in Rutland, Penn., she md. Jabez Durfee 25 Dec 1850, she died 17 Jun 1883.

THE FAMILY OF ENOS CURTIS AND TAMMA DURFEE

Enos Curtis, md. 2nd Tamma Durfee 20 Oct 1850, she was born 6 Mar 1813 in Lennox, Mdsn, New York, dau. of Edmund and Delaney or Magdalena Pickle, she md. 1st Albert Miner Aug 1831; md. 2nd Enos Curtis 20 Oct 1850; she md. 3rd John White Curtis 3 Apr 1857, she d. 30 Jan 1885 in Springville, Utah.

To this union the following children were born:

1- Clarissa, b. 13 Oct 1851, she md. Chauncey Harvey Cook.

2- Belinda, b. 23 Feb 1853, she died 15 Nov 1873.

3- Adelia (twin), b. 12 Jun 1855, she died 2 Feb 1856.

4- Amelia (twin), b. 12 Jun 1855, md. Samuel James Bartlett.

Enos Curtis, died 1 Jun 1856 in Springville, Utah, Utah, he was burried in Provo, Utah, Utah.

Tamma Durfee's 1st husband, Albert Miner died in Iowaville in 1848 while crossing the plains. She was left with seven small children. She saw her own father shot down by the mob. She suffered severe hardships, but came on to Utah with her small family in Captain Snow's company in 1850. Shortly after arriving in Utah, she married Enos Curtis. [Enos had lived at Morley's settlement south of Nauvoo, where Tamma's parents, the Durfees lived. Tamma likely knew Enos very well before arriving in Utah.]