MARTIN A. CURTIS, residing on Boone Hill, two and one-half miles south of Troy, in Concord Township, along the interurban electric railway, is the owner of a fine farm of ninety acres and follows general farming. He was born on the home farm in that vicinity, on Easter Sunday, April 5, 1856, and is a son of William and Ann (Fiese) Curtis, and grandson of Hiram Curtis. The grandfather came from the east and settled near Fredericktown, Miami County, when the country was in a wild and undeveloped state. He lived there until his death.

William Curtis was among the younger of a large family of children, and was born near Fredericktown. He helped clear the place, and while still a young man started out for himself, he started without means or assistance, but was always a hard worker and his success was beyond the average. After his marriage he farmed for a few years on shares, and then bought what at present is the Mrs. DeWeese farm, in Concord Township. He lived on this place until his death, in 1904, at the age of eighty years, he surviving his wife some years. His marriage to Anna Fiese, who also was born near Fredericktown, resulted in the following issue: Sarah, deceased; Mary Jane; Francis; Davis W., deceased; Martin A.; Ellwood; Peter, deceased; Lydia; Belle; Minnie; Burnet; and Charles.

Martin A. Curtis attended school in District No. 2, Concord Township, but his schooling was very limited, as there was a big family of them and a farm to pay for, all of the boys being required to work on the place. He began work very young, and frequently after working hard in the field all day would accompany his father to the old stillhouse with a load of cord wood. He cut wood and split rails on the place he now owns for Isaac Boone, who afterward became his father-in-law. After his marriage in 1877 he farmed the Thomas Sheets place, on the opposite side of the road from his present place, on the shares, and continued there for a period of nineteen years. He then bought his farm of ninety acres from the Boone heirs and has since lived upon it.

January 4, 1877, Mr. Curtis was united in marriage with Miss Melinda E. Boone, a daughter of Isaac and Mary Ann (Holderman) Boone, and they are parents of two children: John, who lives near his parents and farms the home place; and William E., who lives at home. John Curtis married Gussie Robbins, and they have two children, Mary and Edgar. Fraternally Martin A. Curtis is a member of Troy Lodge, No. 43, K. of G. E.; and Troy Lodge, No. 222, I. O. R. M.