JOSIAH CURTIS was born in Hagerstown, MD., June 6th 1794; as married May 16th, 1820 to Hester Ernsparger, by whom he had five sons and one daughter viz: William Baker, Jacob Ernsparger, George Washington, Easily Ann, John Henry and Josiah. Hester Curtis died in 1833, in the 36th year of her age. Josiah Curtis was married again to Marianna Robinson October 10h, 1842. She is sill living. Josia Curtis died in Bethany, Brooke county, May 10th 1864 in the 70th year of his age.
William Barker born April 18th, 1821 is still living in West Liberty, Ohio county - was formerly a merchant of that place. Early in the Rebellion of 1861, he raised a company in the cause of the north, and after serving but a short time, was promoted to the Coloneley of the 12th West Virginia and near the close of the war, as promoted to the rank of Brigadier General.
George Washington , born May 20, 1827, was a private in the Mexican War. At the commencement of the rebellion of 1861, he resided in Bethany, Brooke county, Va. and held a commission as colonel of the militia under Governor Letcher. When Virginia was invaded by the northern troops, he immediately upon the call of Governor Letcher, crossed the lines. He acted as a private a short time in defense of the state, but was soon promoted to the lieutenant Col. of the Twenty-third Virginia. Colonel Toliver’s regiment, at the battle of Cedar mountain, while commanding the Twenty-third (Colonel Toliver having charge of the division) he was killed , on the 11th day of August, aged thirty-five years and twenty days.
Easly Ann, since the wife of Wm. McFarlamd, now resides in California
John Henry amd Josiah both died at an early age.
Jacob Ernsparger as born in Hagerstown, MD, October 29, 1824 was married to Melissa G Kerr of Brooke county, on July 16, 1849, by whom he had three sons and two daughters, viz: George Clarence, Wickliffe Kerr, Sarah Bell, Josiah Lewis and Ida May, all now living in Broke county, WV. Melissa G. Curtis, his wife, died on August 15, 1862 aged thirty years and seventeen days. Jacob E. Curtis was married again to Sarah B. Kerr, who is now living, on October 21, 1863. He was engaged in the mercantile business i Bethany, Brooke county, from 1847 to 1876 when he retired, after serving the public in this capacity nearly thirty years. In the fall of 1876 he ran for Sheriff of his county as the regular democrat nominee, having been nominated by the popular vote system, and was elected by a handsome majority over the regular republican nominee and an independent democratic candidate, in perhaps the fiercest contest for county officers ever had in Brooke county, a great many repulicans voting for him and nearly all voting for him in his own precinct. For many years he has been a member of the best standing in the Christian Church worshiping at Bethany. In his thirty years of business he never sued a man.
George Clarence was born June 6, 1850 in Bethany, Brooke county. Graduated at Bethany college at the age of twenty-one, soon afterwards entered into partnership with his father in business and continued in that relation till 1876, after which, his father retiring, he took the old stand established in 1847 and is now carrying on the business; the house now entering upon its thirty-third year. He was married April 15th, 1873 to Mollie R. Rodgers, by whom he has one son, Jesse Erls, born April 17th, 1875.
Wickliffe Kerr, was born in Bethany, Brooke county, on August 10, 1852; graduated at Bethany College, In June of 1873; studied medicine at home until March of 1876, when he began his attendance a Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia, PA; graduated at Jefferson College in March 1878, with honors- having shared the Prof. Gross prize with another contestant and is now practicing his profession in Wellsburg, Brooke county, West Virginia
Sarah Bell was born July 9, 1855, and is still at home near Bethany.
Josiah Lewis born Apil 22, 1858 is at presnt deputy sheriff of Brooke county.
Ida May born May 1, 1861, is at Hamilton College, Lexington, Kentucky.
