The Curtis Heritage

Kathryn Allen
Pidd w/
Emmalee Flake
(granddaughter)

Although my Curtis Heritage had its beginning at least as far back as 1635 , when Zaccheus Curtis sailed to America on the ship "James" from England at the age of 16, today I am thinking of Samuel B. Curtis and his second wife, Susan Lucretia Gardener, who are my great grandparents through my father's mother, Sarah Diantha Curtis Allen.

In December of 1832, the Prophet Joseph Smith and Jared Carter visited with Nahum and Millicent Curtis at their home in Silver Lake, Oakland County, Michigan. That night Nahum and Mary were blessed with a spiritual manifestation and heard a voice declare the truth of the Book of Mormon to them. They were converted and soon every member of the family joined the Church.

One of Nahum's sons, Lyman Curtis, came west with Brigham Young's Company. Lyman married Charlotte Iris Alvord and of their ten children we meet Samuel
B Curtis. As a young boy, Sam crossed the plains from Missouri to Salt Lake. After his marriage to Lucinda Stewart at the age of 23, Sam married Susan L. Gardner when he was 29 and she was 16. Five years later he married Susan's half sister, Ellen.

In 1878 Sam was called to pioneer Arizona with his 3 wives and is small children. Which he did. His son, Delbert, by Susan, was one of the first babies born in St. David, Az. The next baby born to Sam and Susan was my own grandmother, Sarah Diantha who married Orville Allen.

Samuel B. Curtis and Susan Lucretia Gardner had 10 children together. My father, Orville Wells Allen, was named for one of those children, Wellington N.
With Sam's other 2 wives he had 10 children with Lucinda Stewart and 9 children with Ellen Gardner.

As I look at the names of the 29 children born to my Great Grandfather, Samuel B Curtis, I see many names I have heard over the years as my own father recalled memories of his several aunts and uncles such as "Uncle Cleve", and "Uncle Ez", "Aunt Edna", "Uncle Delbert", and "Aunt Daisy" who I remember fondly myself. Other names I recognize are "Uncle Ed" and "Uncle Ammon".

Among my favorite treasures are pictures of Susan and Sam when young and again when they were older. I can see a resemblance to my father, my grandmother, and myself. I feel connected to them (Grandpa Sam and Grandmother Susan) and look forward to meeting them myself.

I will always be grateful to the Prophet Joseph Smith and Jared Carter for bringing the gospel of Jesus Christ to my great great great grandparents, Nahum Curtis and Millicent Waite in 1832. I consider the testimony which I have of the truth of The Book of Mormon and my membership in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints to be the most precious legacy anyone could ever wish for. The sacrifices made by my Curtis ancestors to keep the faith and build the Kingdom of God are cause for gratitude and rejoicing indeed. If I continue the tradition of activity in the Gospel and service to the Savior, Jesus Christ, and pass that legacy on to my own children and grandchildren, I will be blessed indeed.