James Curtiss
Encyclopedia
James Curtiss (April 7 1803 – November 2, 1859) was an American politician who twice served as Mayor
of Chicago
, Illinois
(1847–1848 and 1850–1851) for the Democratic Party.
, Connecticut
, he became a printer's apprentice at an early age. He worked for a time at the Portland Argus, then was printer, and eventually editor and publisher of the Eastport
Northern Light, a Jackson Democrat
newspaper. He married Mary Kimball on May 18, 1830.
, Maine
in 1835 and became editor of the Chicago Democrat. He opened a short--lived law practice with William Stuart in 1836. Stuart and Curtiss was dissolved in 1837.
The Panic of 1837
left a large number of land investors unable to meet their obligations. Curtiss and others made a vain attempt to delay the opening of the Municipal Court that winter, in hopes of delaying the resulting foreclosures.
Almost immediately on arrival into Chicago, Curtiss began a career of public service. He was appointed to Chicago's first Board of Health in June of that year, and succeeded Ebeneezer Peck as Town Clerk in September of 1836. He was elected alderman of the 2nd Ward in 1838, of the 3rd Ward in 1846, and City Clerk in 1842. He ran in Chicago's third mayoral election (1839), losing to Benjamin Wright Raymond
, 353-212.
In 1843, he was Corresponding Secretary of the Chicago chapter of the Washington Temperance Society. In 1845, the Illinois Legislature created the Court of Cook County; Curtiss was appointed its first clerk.
In 1847, Curtiss ran a successful campaign against Philo Carpenter
(Liberty Party) and John H. Kinzie
(Whig
) to become Mayor of Chicago. In 1848, he lost to James Hutchinson Woodworth (Independent Democrat (Fusion ticket of Whigs & Democrats)). Running again in 1850, he defeated Levi Day Boone & Lewis C. Kerchival (Democrats without formal party nomination).
He ran unsuccessful campaigns for Mayor in 1851 and 1852, losing both times to Walter S. Gurnee
. Retiring from politics, Curtiss moved to West Urbana (now Champaign
) Illinois in 1955, and took up farming.
Curtiss died on November 2, 1859, in Joliet, Illinois, after a long illness. Originally buried in City Cemetery, when the Cemetery was moved to make way for Lincoln Park
, his remains were lost.
Mayor of Chicago
The Mayor of Chicago is the chief executive of Chicago, Illinois, the third largest city in the United States. He or she is charged with directing city departments and agencies, and with the advice and consent of the Chicago City Council, appoints department and agency leaders.-Appointment...
of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
(1847–1848 and 1850–1851) for the Democratic Party.
Early Life
Born in WethersfieldWethersfield, Connecticut
Wethersfield is a town in Hartford County, Connecticut, United States. Many records from colonial times spell the name Weathersfield, while Native Americans called it Pyquag...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, he became a printer's apprentice at an early age. He worked for a time at the Portland Argus, then was printer, and eventually editor and publisher of the Eastport
Eastport, Maine
Eastport is a small city in Washington County, Maine, United States. The population was 1,640 at the 2000 census. The principal island is Moose Island, which is connected to the mainland by causeway...
Northern Light, a Jackson Democrat
Jacksonian democracy
Jacksonian democracy is the political movement toward greater democracy for the common man typified by American politician Andrew Jackson and his supporters. Jackson's policies followed the era of Jeffersonian democracy which dominated the previous political era. The Democratic-Republican Party of...
newspaper. He married Mary Kimball on May 18, 1830.
Chicago Years
Curtiss arrived in Chicago from EastportEastport
Eastport may refer to:* Eastport, California, United States* Eastport, Maine, United States* Eastport, New York, United States* Eastport, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
in 1835 and became editor of the Chicago Democrat. He opened a short--lived law practice with William Stuart in 1836. Stuart and Curtiss was dissolved in 1837.
The Panic of 1837
Panic of 1837
The Panic of 1837 was a financial crisis or market correction in the United States built on a speculative fever. The end of the Second Bank of the United States had produced a period of runaway inflation, but on May 10, 1837 in New York City, every bank began to accept payment only in specie ,...
left a large number of land investors unable to meet their obligations. Curtiss and others made a vain attempt to delay the opening of the Municipal Court that winter, in hopes of delaying the resulting foreclosures.
Almost immediately on arrival into Chicago, Curtiss began a career of public service. He was appointed to Chicago's first Board of Health in June of that year, and succeeded Ebeneezer Peck as Town Clerk in September of 1836. He was elected alderman of the 2nd Ward in 1838, of the 3rd Ward in 1846, and City Clerk in 1842. He ran in Chicago's third mayoral election (1839), losing to Benjamin Wright Raymond
Benjamin Wright Raymond
Benjamin Wright Raymond was an American politician who twice served as mayor of Chicago, Illinois for the Whig Party.During his terms as mayor, Raymond ensured that State Street would be a wide thoroughfare...
, 353-212.
In 1843, he was Corresponding Secretary of the Chicago chapter of the Washington Temperance Society. In 1845, the Illinois Legislature created the Court of Cook County; Curtiss was appointed its first clerk.
In 1847, Curtiss ran a successful campaign against Philo Carpenter
Philo Carpenter
Philo Carpenter was Chicago, Illinois' first pharmacist, and an outspoken abolitionist.Born in Savoy, Massachusetts, February 27, 1805, young Philo learned medicine and the pharmaceutical trade in Troy, New York in the drugstore of Amatus Robins, eventually gaining a half interest in the business...
(Liberty Party) and John H. Kinzie
John H. Kinzie
John Harris Kinzie was the eldest son of John Kinzie, one of Chicago's first permanent settlers...
(Whig
Whig Party (United States)
The Whig Party was a political party of the United States during the era of Jacksonian democracy. Considered integral to the Second Party System and operating from the early 1830s to the mid-1850s, the party was formed in opposition to the policies of President Andrew Jackson and his Democratic...
) to become Mayor of Chicago. In 1848, he lost to James Hutchinson Woodworth (Independent Democrat (Fusion ticket of Whigs & Democrats)). Running again in 1850, he defeated Levi Day Boone & Lewis C. Kerchival (Democrats without formal party nomination).
He ran unsuccessful campaigns for Mayor in 1851 and 1852, losing both times to Walter S. Gurnee
Walter S. Gurnee
Walter S. Gurnee served as Mayor of Chicago for the Democratic Party. The town of Gurnee, Illinois is named for him....
. Retiring from politics, Curtiss moved to West Urbana (now Champaign
Champaign, Illinois
Champaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
) Illinois in 1955, and took up farming.
Curtiss died on November 2, 1859, in Joliet, Illinois, after a long illness. Originally buried in City Cemetery, when the Cemetery was moved to make way for Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park is an urban park in Chicago, which gave its name to the Lincoln Park, Chicago community area.Lincoln Park may also refer to:-Urban parks:*Lincoln Park , California*Lincoln Park, San Francisco, California...
, his remains were lost.