Eugene 'Gene' Curtiss
settled in Plainview Nebraska. Gene knew Jan Jeffrey from Basset, and they
were married after Gene graduated from law school. Orson Jeffrey was a
partner in the bank in Basset. Later Orson bought a bank in Plainview,
and got Gene to open a practice there. Orson remodeled his double garage
and made an apartment for Gene and Jan. At one time, Orson owned 5 banks.
Gene and Jan had three children - Judy, Jeff, and Susan.
David Curtiss
David 'Dave' Curtiss settled
in Laurel, Nebraska. David moved to Laurel in 1946, and bought a law practice
from F.P. Voter for $500. Rented the building from him for $30 a month.Voter
had closed the doors and walked away - he had gotten old, and could not
find anyone to buy it at the time. So David just unlocked the door,
walked in, and started practicing law - after he had been away from
it for over 4 years due to WWII. He hardly remembered anything and had
to almost start from scratch. Dave met Dorothy Harper in Laurel. She had
worked in New York City, then moved to Los Angeles and worked for the Gas
Company. Jesse Vernon (J.V.) Harper needed help in his store and got her
to move back from Los Angeles to Laurel. Bought the house at 302 cedar
street for $6,000. Paid cash. Spent $25,000 adding a room and fixing it
up. David practiced law in Laurel until 1973, then served as a County District
Judge for Cedar, Dixon, and Dakota counties - serving 15 years in that
capacity, retiring in 1988. David and Dorothy had two children - Bruce
David Curtiss (1952), and Brian Harper Curtiss (1956).
Betty Curtiss
Elizabeth 'Betty' Curtiss
moved to Plainview for a while, then settled in Denver, Colorado. Betty
went to school to be a teacher - got a 4-year teaching degree - tried it
for a few years but she hated it. She went through beauty school, then
opened a beauty shop and jewelry store in Plainview. It was successful,
but she longed for adventure and decided to move to Denver, Colorado. She
ran a nursing home for a few years, then got a job working in a hotel and
did that the rest of her career. Betty was always rowdy - Gene had to get
Betty out of jail in Norfolk and South Sioux City several times.
Harold Curtiss
Harold went through law
school after the war. While still in school, he married Evelyn Brennaman
- who already had a daughter named Janeen. After he graduated, he came
to Laurel to visit David, and was looking for a place to practice. David
knew of a lawyer in Emerson looking to sell out. David helped Harold out
while he got started, and soon Harold had built up a big practice in income
tax. Harold retired at about 62 years old. Harold adopted Janeen, and then
Harold and Evelyn had two more children - Allen Curtiss, and Edna Lou Curtiss.