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Mrs. Hannah M. Curtis, Gen. William Baker Curtis
Wife of Gen. William Baker Curtis of West Liberty
from an unidentified "Independent, Progressive Democratic.." newspaper published in Wellsburg, W. Va., probably 1890s.
Above are the half tones [our copy is not of a quality that allows us to scan the pictures -- LH] of General W. B. Curtis and his wife who was buried Thursday of last week and whose funeral we attended at West Liberty. Of the service of the former our readers have read and heard much, or the latter not so much. The former distinguished himself as a soldier and officer of the Civil war and so far as words and personal attachments go was fairly rewarded for his sacrifices to his country and section.
That he was honest in his convictions, devoted to the cause for which he fought and was prompted by principle, without regard to the result in profits, honors and emoluments of office, no one who knew him ever doubted. We know that at the very commencement of the war he could have had a commission from the confederate side and we also know that any inducement would have been spurned from that source as we could furnish the best of documentary evidence to show that his brother, Col. G. W. Curtis, of the confederate army, (and the memory of both always comes to us when we speak or think of the other), did emphatically refuse a colonel's commission in the federal army. Both fought and fought well for the principle they though to be right and we never drop a tear for the one that we do not shed one for the other. We loved and honored the memory of the one as highly as the other, our relationship being the same to both.
The Curtis home in West Liberty has always been one of the most hospitable ones in that section of country and we remember with greatest delight the warm welcome we always received from the deceased in our boyhood days, the tender care given and the indulgence granted all the inmates of that house. She was a devoted wife, mother, relative and friend; one of the best of neighbors; a woman of remarkable executive ability and well-informed even up to her last illness upon the topics, news and issues of the day.
She was an invalid for several months and but a few days before death expressed to us he hopefulness in her partial recovery and her gratitude for the unceasing care and attention shown by her children and friends. Her demise was unlooked for when it came and was a great shock to the family. Eight children survive her and all followed her remains to their last resting place. The funeral was very largely attended and a large number of relatives were present. Funeral services were held at her late residence, several ministers of the town officiating. The grandsons and nephews were pallbearers and granddaughters carried the flowers.
It is not our intention to write of either especially at this time except as necessary to bring out a very important point bearing upon the life of the wife of the former as regards her service to the public and the republic after which we will confine our thoughts to her life as a wife, mother, sister, relative and neighbor. We have often cited her case to show that the wife of a soldier is deserving of as much honor and as much assistance from the government served as the soldier husband.
Being a youth at the outbreak of the war and a frequent visitor at the home of the couple during that period and a close reader of the news and events of those exciting times which were indelibly stamped upon our youthful minds, we had opportunity to observe the part each bore in that dreadful conflict and the sacrifices each made for the cause that was alike dear to each. Since then we have been willing to give each and all couples similarly placed equal credit and honor.
While in camp, on the battle field, the husband was exposed to the dangers and cares of the cause he espoused, the wife was at home with the care of a large family of children without the counsel of the father and the help of the oldest, always anxious about them and in constant dread of reading their names in the lists of dead or injured. We honor them both alike for the parts they played in those tragic four years.
[ newspaper article from the vertical files in the OCPL's Wheeling Room ]
