Clyde, Cora, Bell, and Bennie Curtis

Antique Photograph Album, image #21 - Written on the back of this Cabinet Card was, "Children of Grandma's brother Charlie (Joe)" and "For Em" and also "Uncle Joe Curtis children." The father of the children was Oscar Benjamin Curtis and the mother was Esther Mary Thompson.

I don't know where this photograph was taken because a photographer's imprint was not on the front or back. The overall style of this Cabinet Card was the same as many others in the Curtis antique family album.

Note that the baby in this picture is the same child as the one in picture #36 and written on picture #36 was the name Cora Curtis. The child was wearing the same dress and was seated in the same chair in both pictures. I believe the child was misidentified on picture 36 and should have been identified as Benjamin W. Curtis, the youngest child in the family at the time this photograph was taken:

1. Munson Clyde, 1884-1949 (far right)

2. Cora Lavantia, 1885-1912 (far left)

3. Minnie Belle, 1887-? (seated on the right)

4. Benjamin W., 1888- (seated on the left)

5. Mary L., ?-?

6. Lyman Card, 1890-1961

7. Sherman James, 1892-1970

8. Fredrick Dubois, 1894-1972

9. Ruth Ester, 1896-1896

children of Oscar Benjamin and Esther Mary [Thompson] Curtis

The photograph of the four children was previously added to the blog by another descendant of Benjamin Kingman Curtis. This copy shows the entire photograph, both front and back, including the shape and details of the Cabinet Card style. The picture was the 21st photo in the Curtis family album owned by Mary Lavantia Curtis and the children were her nieces and nephews. The second photo was the 36th photo in the album and was a Carte de Visite style. The baby, Cora Lavantia Curtis, is the same baby in both pictures, sitting in the same chair and wearing the same dress. A photographer's imprint was not on either photo. See the other photo for details about all the children in the family including those pictured here: left to right, Munson Clyde Curtis, Cora Lavantia Curtis, Minnie Belle Curtis, and Benjamin W. Curtis.

Belle and husband

Minnie Belle Curtis and her husband Thom Helgesen.

Date and place of photo?

Belle, Lyman, and Sherm Curtis

Belle, Lyman, and Sherm Curtis at the ranch about 1938. (The ranch was possibly in Lancaster, California)

Full names were:

• Minnie Belle Curtis (1887-?)
• Lyman Card Curtis (1890-1961)
• Sherman James Curtis (1892-1970)

Belle Curtis

Belle Curtis and her husband Thom Helgesen. This looks like it might be a wedding photograph. Does anyone know more details about this picture?

Minnie Belle Curtis married Thom Helgesen on 7 June 1905. She was the daughter of Oscar Benjamin Curtis and Esther Mary Thompson.

Curtis children

Clyde, Cora, Bell, and Bennie Curtis. This photo was originally obtained from Pearl Curtis who also noted that these children were "Fred's brothers and sisters." Fredrick Dubois Curtis was married to Leona Pearl Sherwood. So we can assume Pearl Curtis is the same person.

The four children in this photograph were the first four children born to Oscar Benjamin Curtis and Esther Mary Thompson. There was a total of nine children in the family, four girls and five boys:

1. Munson Clyde Curtis (1884-1949), standing on the right
2. Cora Lavantia Curtis (1885-1912), standing on the left
3. Minnie Belle Curtis (1887- ), seated on the right
4. Benjamin W. Curtis aka Bennie (1888- ), seated on the left
5. Mary L. Curtis (unknown dates)
6. Lyman Card Curtis (1890-1961)
7. Sherman James Curtis (1892-1970)
8. Fredrick Dubois Curtis (1894-1972)
9. Ruth Ester Curtis (1896-1896)