Last updated on June 1, 2020
David Curtis, commissioned a captain, was a veteran from the War of 1812 from the state of New York (History of Stanislaus County). Though born in New Haven, Connecticut, Curtis moved with his family to New York when he was about six years old. The family eventually settled in Sherburne, Chenango, NY and David grew up, married and started his own family in Chenango County.
Settlement of northwestern Pennsylvania exploded after the Revolutionary War when war veterans were given land to pay them for their service, and again after the War of 1812 (Pennsylvania and the New Nation). Depending on which history you read, David Curtis was hired by The Holland Land Company (the largest land development group at that time), or its successor, H.Y. Huidekoper, to survey land in what was to become Warren County, PA (History of Warren County, History of Stanislaus County). He probably worked for both companies at different points in time. This led to David’s becoming the founder of the township of Columbus, PA.
Red circle is approximate location of future Columbus, Township
Click here to take a closer look the Melish-Whiteside map which shows Warren County, and specifically the Brokenstraw Township, as it was in 1817 (Melish-Whiteside Map). Note the reference to settled lands to the north of Brokenstraw Creek and the Holland lands being developed to the south of the creek.
In 1822, David Curtis exchanged improved land in central New York (his own farm in Chenengo County), for land in the newly surveyed “Brokenstraw Country.” (History of Warren County, History of Stanislaus County). Curtis came in 1822 with others from Chenango, surveyed the land, and returned home to gather his family for the final move. In the meantime, he sent Jabez Johnson to the future township and Johnson built a house at what became the center of the town. About 1823, David Curtis returned with his family (wife Delilah, and children James Lee (10 – our ancestor), Marilda (8), Seymour (5), and Benjamin (3), and also with other families from Chenango, NY. Many of town’s early settlers were families who came together or chain migrated over time from Chenango…21 families in all (History of Warren County and History of Stanislaus County). Although early roads were being built in Pennsylvania at this time, this still would have been a challenging journey of 250-290 miles (depending on the route taken) by wagon and horseback.
depending on route taken (1817 PA map overlaid onto Google Earth)
According to a written history of the town, Captain Curtis and his family took over the Johnson farm, and in an arrangement with H.Y. Huidekoper, “Captain Curtis became possessed of lands opposite and also included in the site of the borough…David Curtis donated a public square and cemetery on the east side of the creek, and surveyed and plotted that part of the borough.” (History of Warren County).
the David Curtis Cemetery (Google Earth).
The county’s written history also says that the town got the name of Columbus as a result of a bet between David Curtis and a man named Kimball Webber. Curtis was from Sherburne, NY, and Webber was from Columbus, NY…and they both wanted to name the new settlement after their home towns. After much “hot debate it was agreed that the person who should furnish the most whisky at election day should have the privilege of naming the new township.” (History of Warren County). Webber showed up with five gallons and apparently won the bet! The town’s first election was held on May 25, 1825 at the home of David Curtis. The history also noted that the voters (who by the way, would have only been the men), did not finish all of the whiskey that day.
David Curtis lived in Columbus until his death at the age of 45 on July 27, 1832. He was a “prominent leader in all the affairs of this colony and laid out the township of Columbus, PA.” (History of Stanislaus County). In the early days, town elections were held at the Curtis home, he served as the town postmaster, and built a saw mill in 1830 along Coffee Creek (History of Warren County). He is buried in the David Curtis Cemetery located on the land he donated to the town (Find A Grave).
David Curtis – Curtis Family Tree #8
Sources:
David Curtis Cemetery; Find A Grave; retrieved 29 Apr 2020
Harm Jan Huidekoper; Dictionary of Unitarian and Universalist Biography
Melish-Whiteside Map – Warren County; Pennsylvania Trails of History; Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission; retrieved 30 Apr 2020
Pennsylvania and the New Nation; Explore PA History.com; retrieved 30 Apr 2020
Schenck, J.S. [from old catalog] ed; Rann, William S., [from old catalog] joint ed; Mason, D., & co., Syracuse, N.Y. pub [from old catalog]; History of Warren County Pennsylvania; retrieved 30 Apr 2020 from Internet Archive
Tinkham, George Henry; History of Stanislaus County California : with biographical sketches of the leading men and women of the county who have been identified with its growth and development from the early days to the present; 1921; retrieved 30 Apr 2020 from Internet Archive