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CURTIS, Newton Martin, soldier,
born in De Peyster, St. Lawrence County, New York, 21 May 1835. He was educated
at common schools, and at Gouverneur Wesleyan seminary, in 1854-'5.
He became a prominent democrat, was
postmaster of his native town in 1857-'61, and democratic candidate for assembly
in 1860. He enrolled a volunteer company on 14 April 1861, was commissioned
captain in the 16th New York regiment on 7 May and served in the Army of the
Potomac. He became lieutenant colonel and then colonel of the 142d New York
infantry, and during the battle of Cold Harbor was assigned to the command of a
brigade whose leader had been killed in the action.
He was brevetted brigadier-general of
volunteers, 28 October 1864, and for his services at the capture of Fort Fisher
was promoted on the field to brigadier-general of volunteers, and was also
thanked by the legislature of New York. He was brevetted major general of
volunteers, 13 March 1865, and assigned to duty as chief of staff to General E.
O. C. Ord. On 1 July 1865, he was given the command of southwestern Virginia,
with headquarters at Lynchburg, and was mustered out on 15 January 1866.
He was collector of customs in the
district of Oswegatchie, New York, in 1866-'7, special agent of the U. S.
treasury from 1867 till his resignation in 1880, and a member of the legislature
in 1883-'5, having been elected as a republican. He was president of the state
agricultural society in 1880, and has been secretary and trustee of the state
agricultural station since its organization in that year. A bronze statue of
General Curtis adorns the grounds of the Post Office in Ogdensburg, NY.
Edited Appletons Encyclopedia, by John Looby Copyright © 2001
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CURTIS, Newton Martin, soldier, born in De Peyster, St. Lawrence County, New York, 21 May 1835. He was educated at common schools, and at Gouverneur Wesleyan seminary, in 1854-'5. He became a prominent democrat, was postmaster of his native town in 1857-'61, and democratic candidate for assembly in 1860. He enrolled a volunteer company on 14 April 1861, was commissioned captain in the 16th New York regiment on 7 May and served in the Army of the Potomac. He became lieutenant colonel and then colonel of the 142d New York infantry, and during the battle of Cold Harbor was assigned to the command of a brigade whose leader had been killed in the action. He was brevetted brigadier-general of volunteers, 28 October 1864, and for his services at the capture of Fort Fisher was promoted on the field to brigadier-general of volunteers, and was also thanked by the legislature of New York. He was brevetted major general of volunteers, 13 March 1865, and assigned to duty as chief of staff to General E. O. C. Ord. On 1 July 1865, he was given the command of southwestern Virginia, with headquarters at Lynchburg, and was mustered out on 15 January 1866. He was collector of customs in the district of Oswegatchie, New York, in 1866-'7, special agent of the U. S. treasury from 1867 till his resignation in 1880, and a member of the legislature in 1883-'5, having been elected as a republican. He was president of the state agricultural society in 1880, and has been secretary and trustee of the state agricultural station since its organization in that year.
