James Curtiss | |
|---|---|
 | |
| 11th & 13th | |
| Mayor of Chicago[1] | |
| In office March 12, 1850 – March 11, 1851 | |
| Preceded by | James H. Woodworth |
| Succeeded by | Walter S. Gurnee |
| In office March 9, 1847 – March 14, 1848 | |
| Preceded by | John P. Chapin |
| Succeeded by | James H. Woodworth |
| City Clerk of Chicago[1] | |
| In office 1842–1843 | |
| Preceded by | Thomas Hoyne |
| Succeeded by | James M. Lowe |
| Chicago Alderman[1] | |
| In office 1846–1847 Serving with John S.C. Hogan | |
| Preceded by | Fancis Edwards/ Francis H. Taylor |
| Succeeded by | J. Brinkerhoff/Benjamin W. Raymond |
| Constituency | 3rd ward |
| In office 1838–1839 Serving with John S.C. Hogan | |
| Preceded by | Peter Bolles/Francis C. Sherman |
| Succeeded by | Eli S. Prescott/ Clement C. Stose |
| Constituency | 2nd ward |
| Clerk of the Court of Cook County | |
| In office 1845 | |
| Preceded by | inaugural officeholder |
| State's Attorney | |
| In office 1835 | |
| Town Clerk of Chicago | |
| In office 1836–1837 | |
| Preceded by | Ebenezer Peck |
| Succeeded by | Isaac N. Arnold (city clerk) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | March 29, 1806 |
| Died | November 2, 1859(1859-11-02) (aged 56) |
| Party | Democratic Party |
| Spouse | Mary Kimball |
| Children | James, Mary Kimball, Sarah, Lucy Maria, Elizabeth, Laura, Charles Chauncy, Laura Minnie, George Warren |
| Residence(s) | Chicago,Illinois |
| Signature | .png) |
James Curtiss (alsoCurtis; March 29, 1806 – November 2, 1859) was an American politician who twice served asMayor of Chicago,Illinois (1847–1848 and 1850–1851) for theDemocratic Party.
Born on March 29, 1806, inWethersfield, Connecticut, Curtiss became a printer's apprentice at an early age inPhiladelphia.[2] He worked for a time at the PortlandArgus, then was printer, and eventually editor and publisher of theEastportNorthern Light, aJackson Democrat newspaper.[2][3] He married Mary Kimball on May 18, 1830.[4] From 1830 through 1835, he served as a postmaster in Eastport.[5][6] In 1834, Curtiss was under investigation by the Postmaster General for his management of the office.[7]
Curtiss arrived in Chicago fromEastport, Maine, in 1835 and became editor of theChicago Democrat.[8] Almost immediately after his arrival in Chicago Curtiss began a career of public service.
Shortly after his arrival in Chicago, he was appointed States Attorney for the district north of the Kankakee River.[2] He was appointed to Chicago's first Board of Health.[9] He succeededEbenezer Peck as Town Clerk in September 1836.[10] He also opened a short-lived law practice with William Stuart in 1836 named Stuart and Curtiss, which was dissolved the following year.
ThePanic of 1837 left a large number of land investors unable to meet their obligations. In hopes of delaying the resulting foreclosures Curtiss and others had unsuccessfully attempted to delay the opening of the Municipal Court that winter.[10][9]
Curtiss was elected alderman for the2nd ward in 1838.In 1839, he ran in Chicago's third mayoral election, losing toBenjamin Wright Raymond.[10] In 1842, he was elected City Clerk.[10] In 1843, he was made Corresponding Secretary of the Chicago chapter of theWashington Temperance Society.[10] In 1845, the Illinois Legislature created the Court of Cook County and appointed Curtiss as its first clerk.[10][11] In 1846, he was elected as alderman again, this time for the3rd ward.[10]
Curtiss became mayor after winning the1847 election, running a successful campaign againstPhilo Carpenter (Liberty Party) andJohn H. Kinzie (Whig). He was sworn in on March 9, 1847.[12]
He lost his bid for reelectionin 1848, being defeated byJames Hutchinson Woodworth (anindependent Democrat who ran on a fusion ticket supported by Whigs and Democrats). His tenure ended on March 14, 1848, when Woodworth succeeded him in office.[13]
During Curtiss' tenure Chicago's first telegraph line opened on January 11, 1848, and theChicago Board of Trade was established.[14]
Curtiss returned to the mayor's office after winning the1850 Chicago mayoral election, defeatingLevi Day Boone andLewis C. Kerchival (both of these challengers being Democrats without formal party nomination).[15] He was sworn in on March 12, 1850.[16]
Curtiss was again defeated in his bid for reelection, losingthe 1851 election toWalter S. Gurnee. His tenure ended on March 11, 1851, when he was succeed in office by Gurnee.[17]
In 1852, he sought to unseat Gurnee, but again lost.[18]
Retiring from politics, Curtiss moved to West Urbana (nowChampaign) Illinois in 1855, and took up farming.[9][2][19]
Curtiss died on November 2, 1859, inJoliet, Illinois, after a long illness.[4] His funeral was held at the Second Presbyterian Church on Wabash Avenue following theOdd Fellows rites.[2] Originally buried in City Cemetery, when the Cemetery was moved to make way forLincoln Park, his remains were lost.[20]
