Mayflower Descendants

The living descendants of Benjamin Kingman Curtis and Sarah Lavantia Card have the option to apply for membership in the Mayflower Society. Fran Jensen, the author of this Blog applied and was submitted as a member in 2023 through this lineage:

1. John Billington, Mayflower passenger
2. Francis Billington, son of John Billington
3. Mary Billington, daughter of Francis Billington, and wife of Samuel Sabin.
4. Israel Sabin, son of Samuel Sabin and Mary Billington. Israel married Mary Ormsby.
5. Josiah Sabin, son of Israel Sabin and Mary Ormsby. Josiah married Mary Gay.
6. Israel Sabin, son of Josiah Sabin and Mary Gay. Israel married Avis Bennett.
7. Josiah Sabin, son of Israel Sabin and Avis Bennett. Josiah married Lydia Cady. Josiah is a proven Patriot in both the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). Several descendants of Benjamin Kingman Curtis, including Fran Jensen, the author of this Blog, have already joined DAR through this lineage. Fran can assist you in your application if you are interested.
8. Sarah Ann Sabin, daughter of Josiah Sabin and Lydia Cady. Sarah married William Fuller Card.
9. Sarah Lavantia Card, daughter of William Fuller Card and Sarah Ann Sabin. Sarah married Benjamin Kingman Curtis.
10. Benjamin Kingman Curtis and Sarah Lavantia Card had ten children. Nine lived to adulthood and married. The eight children who have possible living descendants that could apply for membership in the Mayflower Society include: 

• Cyrus Jerome Curtis
• Friend Charles Curtis
• Sarah Ellenor Curtis
• Oscar Benjamin Curtis
• George Leslie Curtis
• William Rushmer Curtis
• Mary Lavantia Curtis
• DeWilton Emory Curtis

Autobiography of Grace Fincher Curtis

An autobiography of Grace Fincher Curtis, titled, "The Winding Trail", was published in 1991 by Diana Dekoeyer.

The dedication states, "Diana, bless her, has always been so good to old Grandma Grace. She is making a book out of my life. That is, if she can make heads or tails of my crazy writings."

Grace Amy Fincher was born 9 August 1895 R Manfred, North Dakota. She married Sherman James Curtis on 7 April 1915 at Harve, Hill county, Montana. Sherman was born on 3 June 1892 in Preston, Idaho, the son of Oscar Benjamin Curtis and Esther Mary Thompson. Sherman died 25 January 1970 and Grace died in 1998, both in California. The book is 147 pages and includes:

• The children of Herbert and Liza Fincher
• Michigan to Canada 1910-1914
• A Short History of Sherman James Curtis
• Boy Meets Girl 1915-1922
• Journey to Idaho 1923
• Coeur d'Alene
• On to Washington
• Orient, Washington
• British Columbia to Yakima then to Spokane 1925-1926
• Big Timber 1927
• Caliente, Nevada 1928
• California 1929
• Antelope Valley 1930-1944
• Burbank and Vista 1945-1948
• Aguanga 1950-1955
• Vista 1956-1957
• Grapevine 1958-1960
• Sonora 1961-1963
• Vista 1964-1990

I do not have a copy of the autobiography and I believe the book is out of print. If anyone knows where a copy can be obtained or viewed, please add comments to this post. Thanks so much!

Oscar Benjamin Curtis marriage

Tonight I discovered a new web site that documents the marriage of Oscar Benjamin Curtis:

Engstrom and Lyons Family Histories

"Julien Amelia Andersen was born on 16 Oct 1866 in Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States. She died on 27 Oct 1936 in Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States from Ajiallizing(?) - Cereboral Hemorhage. She was buried on 30 Oct 1936 in Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States.

"Julien married Albert Andrew West, son of Chauncy Walker West and Adeline Amanda Wright, on 16 Apr 1887 in Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States. Albert was born on 18 Jun 1862 in Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States. He died on 19 Apr 1894 in Preston, Franklin, Idaho, United States. He was buried in Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States.

"Julien also married David Cottier Lawson, son of Joseph Lawson and Ruth Margaret Greenway, in Never Married (1900). David was born on 6 Jul 1866 in Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States. He died on 2 Jan 1938.

"Julien also married Oscar Benjamin Curtis, son of Benjamin Kingman Curtis and Sarah Lavantia Card, on 21 Dec 1904 in Big Timber, Sweet Grass, Montana, United States. Oscar was born on 4 Jan 1858 in Tallmadge, Ottawa, Michigan, United States. He died on 22 Jan 1921 in Salt Lake City, Salt Lake, Utah, United States from Chronic intestinal nephritis. He was buried in Jan 1921 in Big Timber, Sweet Grass, Montana, United States.

"Julien also married Matthew Isaac Dinsdale, son of Jeffery Dinsdale and Alice Rushton, on 6 Jun 1929 in Of Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States. The marriage ended in divorce. Matthew was born on 28 May 1865 in Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States. He died on 7 Aug 1951 in Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States from Bronchopneumonia & anteriocchistic heart disease. He was buried on 10 Aug 1951 in Ogden, Weber, Utah, United States."

The genealogy was also submitted to WorldConnect (see Ancestors of Donald and Carolyn Engstrom.) Documentation for the marriages and the divorce was not included. Death certificates were included in the documentation.

Oscar Benjamin Curtis or Will Card

The name Will Card was written on the album page, not on the photograph itself. A cousin had a similar photo with "My Father" written on the back; the photo originally belonged to Belle Curtis whose father was Oscar Benjamin Curtis (1858-1921).

The two photos were taken a different times and places, but the men look exactly alike.

This photo was taken by Van Buskirk, place unknown and was the 51st photo in the Curtis family album.

Please add a comment if you have other details that would help identify this person.

Albert Andrew West

Albert Andrew West, son of Chauncey Walker West and Adaline Amanda Wright. Albert was born 10 June 1862 in Ogden, Weber, Utah. He married Julia Amelia Anderson on 16 April 1887 in Ogden. Albert and Julia had five children, three daughters and two sons:

• Elnora Amelia West (1887-1978)
• Albertha Amanda West (1889-1954)
• Albert Raymond West (1891-1911)
• Clarence Josiah West (1893-1976)
• Juanita May West (?-1967) 

Albert died when he was 31 years old, on 19 April 1894 in Preston, Franklin, Idaho. He was buried 21 April 1894 at the Ogden City Cemetery.

Ten years after Albert passed away, his wife Julia remarried. On 21 December 1904 in Big Timber, Sweet Grass, Montana, Julia Amelia Anderson West married Oscar Benjamin Curtis and they had four children.

• Anita M. Curtis (about 1904- ?)
• Oscar Andersen Curtis (1907-?)
• stillborn male child (1908)
• Jetta Lorraine Curtis (1910-1951)

At age 63, Oscar preceded Julia in death on 22 January 1921. Fifteen years later, Julia passed away on 27 October 1936. She was 70 years old and was buried in the Ogden City Cemetery.

Oscar Benjamin Curtis (aka Joe)

Oscar Benjamin Curtis (Joe). The photo was taken by Crowell in Rochester, Minnesota a short time before his death.

Oscar Benjamin Curtis (aka Joe)

Oscar Benjamin Curtis (1858-1921) was the son of Benjamin Kingman Curtis and Sarah Lavantia Card. Oscar went by the name Joe most of his life.

The photographer's imprint information:
A.A. Barr & Co. Photographers
72 Canal St.
Cor. Bronson, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
The only Gallery on Second floor in the City.

On the back of the photo it said, "My Father" Belle Curtis Helgesen Demey.

Oscar Benjamin Curtis

Oscar Benjamin Curtis in front of his store in Overton, Nevada, before Lake Mead. Oscar was also-known-as Joe.

What kind of store was this? When was the store in operation?