Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/118

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

In Testimony Whereof, I have hereunto signed my name as Governor and caused the Seal of the Commonweahh to be affixed, this i8th day of August. 1866. F. H. PiekpoinT. Governor.

By the Governor: W. H. Richardson, Adjt. General Va.

He became a leading and influential citi- zen in Elizabeth City county, and in 1891. when that district was burdened with the rule of negro politicians and was almost helpless in their powerful grip, Mr. Curtis was nominated by the Democratic party as their candidate for the of^ce of sheriff. His ci'.ndidacy was regarded as humorous by the Kepublican leaders, but the results of the election show how greatly they had under- estimated his strength and popularity, for his majority was large and his victory deci- sive. He was the first Democrat elected to office in Elizabeth City county after the war, and from that time until his death he was successively reelected to the sheriff's office, a straightforward, clean-cut adminis- tration the recommendation that returned him to this position with such clock-like regularity. He took pride in the fact that, although so long in public affairs, he had never requested a man to use influence or vote in his behalf, nor had ever spent money to insure election, excepting the primary expenses levied against him by the Demo- cratic committees for primary expenses.

Sheriff Curtis was commander of R. E. Lee Camp, No. 5, Confederate Veterans, and found joy and pleasure in this com- panionship with his comrades of less peace- ful times. He was popular with all classes of people, commanding always regard and respect for his upright, pure life. Even the colored population, whose candidate he had defeated when he first ran for office, became his loyal supporters, and cast almost an un- divided ballot in his favor. Firm and in- flexible in the performance of duty, as far as lay within his power he "let mercy temper justice," and was kindly and con- siderate to those of his prisoners who could appreciate such treatment. He was worthy of the high title of "true Virginian," and during an active, useful life his aims, mo- tives and ideals of the noblest character, and his good deeds were manv. He was a baptized member of St. John's Protestant Episcopal Church, and was a member of Kecoughtan Lodge, No. 29. Knights of

Pythias, and Wythe Council, No. 1242, Royal Arcanum.

Robert Keith Curtis married, January 28, 1873, Margaret Mumford, daughter of Fay- ette and Mollie Allen (Mumford) Sinclair, and had issue: William Allen, born Novem- ber 7, 1873, died April 26, 1891 : Robert C, born May 7, 1875 ; Keith Sinclair, born De- cember I, 1876, died November 15, 1898, contracting his fatal illness in the United States service in the Spanish-American war ; Edwin S., ,born April 18, 1878, deputy sheriff of Elizabeth City county ; Fayette S., born .August 19, 1880, married, Novem- ber 8, 1904, Frances Sinclair, and has a daughter, Margaret, born February 28, 1Q12 ; Charles Cosby, of whom further ; Eliz- abeth, of whom further; Thomas Barrett, born February 17, 1886, manager of a fruit farm in Panama ; Howard R., born March 16, 1888.

Charles Cosby Curtis, son of Robert Keith and Margaret Mumford (Sinclair) Curtis, was born in Hampton, Virginia, October 14, 1883. Until 1898 he was a student in the Sims-Eaton School, in which year he be- came associated with his father, sheriff' of Elizabeth City county for many years, and while learning the duties of that office under his father's matchless instruction took up the study of criminology under the same expert tutorship. At his father's death i:i i(ii3 he was the natural choice for successor to the elder Curtis, his appointment to the unexpired term of Robert Keith Curtis ex- piring in 1915. His training under the close supervision of his father is now bearing ^•aluable fruit, for while as deputy he re- lieved his father of many of the more ardu- ous of his burdens, his ability in his present capacity is being tested to the full, and he bears the trial in a manner most commend- able. .As successor to any less worthy official than Robert Keith Curtis his admin- istration would assume brilliance by con- trast, and under the present conditions the change of rule is in no wise apparent throughout the county. His prowess com- mands the respect that was accorded his predecessor, and law-abiding order prevails under his administration, with the exception of the sporadic outbursts of crime that be- tray the weaknesses and deficiencies of in- dividuals. .A Democrat in politics, Mr. Cur- tis is popular with all parties and factions.