Curtin, John 1835 - 1917

CURTIN, POWERS

Posted By: Joy Moore (email)
Date: 5/12/2026 at 12:49:28

Source: Decorah Republican Mar. 29, 1917, P3 C2

DEATH’S TOLL.
John Curtin and Daniel Riley, Both Early Day Residents, Succumb After Short Illness.
JOHN CURTIN.
On Thursday evening last at his home on West Water street, John Curtin, pioneer resident and business man, passed away after an illness of about a week, death being due to hardening of the arteries. In his death Decorah lost one of the few remaining citizens who came to the city prior to 1860 and helped in its upbuilding.
Mr. Curtin was born on December 31, 1835, in Limerick, Ireland, and came to America with his parents at the age of four years. The family settled in Allegheny county, N. Y., where Mr. Curtin grew to manhood and acquired his education. In 1857 he came west with Ira Protheroe and for a short time they stopped in Chicago. Conditions did not appeal to them so they pushed on west and came to Decorah where Mr. Curtin located permanently. They arrived here on May 2 and not long after the deceased engaged in the livery business. In this he was associated with his brother Michael Curtin, a partnership that continued for many years and was dissolved by the retirement of the latter. The business was continued until 1886 when Mr. Curtin disposed of it to look after other interests. His name will always be associated with the city through “Curtin’s Addition” which he platted and promoted as a real estate venture that added many nice homes to the residence portion of the First ward. He took an active interest in the affairs of the city and for more than a score of years served on the council as alderman from the Third ward. When the Citizens Savings Bank was organized he took stock in it and at the time of his death was one of the larger share holders. He possessed more than average ability as a business man and the majority of his undertakings were handled in a manner that brought them to successful culmination. As a friend Mr. Curtin was kind and xerPya, dmonmefidRIratbbi H.{sic – typed as it appeared in newspaper} staunch, and as a husband and father, kind and considerate.
On June 25, 1864, Mr. Curtin was married at Angelica, N. Y., to Mary Powers. One son was born to them, E. J. Curtin, who, with his mother, survives him. The funeral was held on Saturday morning last at ten o’clock at St. Benedict’s church, Rev. Father Hogan officiating, and interment was made in the Catholic cemetery. The large attendance at the service attested the esteem in which the deceased was held.

Transcriber’s Note: Find a Grave shows he was born Dec. 27, 1935 which does not agree with the above. It shows he died Mar. 22, 1917.

St. Benedict Cemetery
 

Winneshiek Obituaries maintained by John Schulte.
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