ISRAEL COLEMAN CURTIS

ISRAEL C. CURTIS

Was born July 21, 1813, near Fort Adams, Wilkinson county, Mississippi. He was
the son of William Curtis and Mary Barfield, his wife. When he was three years
old the family removed to a farm near Rodney, Mississippi, and there Israel
lived until he attained manhood.

He became a member of the Baptist church while residing at Amora, Indiana, on
the 8th day of January, 1843, and in the autumn of the same year he was ordained
as a Baptist minister. On the death of his father in 1833 he had entered Miami
University intending to fit himself for the legal profession, but complications
in his father's estate interrupted his college course. He then entered the
mercantile business but the financial crisis of 1837 and the years which
followed left him scarcely enough property to satisfy his creditors. This
misfortune again turned his attention to the law. He pursued his studies
vigorously and was admitted to the bar in 1841.

In 1844 Mr. Curtis, with his family, removed to Iowa and settled on the Des
Moines river near Pella. Here for a time he devoted himself to agriculture, but
his great talents as a minister and a lawyer were not to be buried in the
seclusion of a country home. He soon returned to the work of the ministry, and
in a few years resumed the practice of law.

He was largely instrumental in securing the founding of Central University at
Pella. During all the years of his residence in Iowa he showed a deep and
abiding love for this institution, and his recognized ability as an orator and
in debate, led to his being chosen to represent "Central" in the fight to secure
the coveted prize of acceptance by the different Baptist organizations. So great
was his talent and energy for this work that he coped successfully with such
gifted men as Dr. J. A. Nash, representing Des Moines University, and with Dr.
George J. Johnson, who labored in behalf of the Burlington institution.
"Central" secured the endorsement of every Baptist institution save one.

Mr. Curtis was District Attorney of Marion county and represented the county in
the legislature from 1857 to 1860. In 1860 he was a member of the joint
legislative committee which revised the laws of Iowa, and whose work culminated
in the adoption of the state code.

He was conceded by his friends and opponents to have made the most profound
constitutional argument of the legislative session.

In 1864 he concluded to emigrate to California. There were no railroads in those
days and the weary journey of more than two thousand miles had to be made with
teams. The way was bordered by hardships and dangers. Twice the little caravan
was attacked by Indians, and many times the travelers were threatened with
extermination and some perished by drinking poisoned waters. On the third day of
October, 1883, he died at his home in Los Angeles county, California.