Person:Owen Curtis (2)

Owen Curtis was born in Ireland around 1840. His parents were James Charles and Ann Drumgoole. James was a baker in Dundalk, County Louth, Ireland. Owen followed in his father's occupation and also became a baker in Ireland. He married Mary Kelleher at the Roman Catholic Chapel of Dundalk on August 20, 1867. Owen and Mary emigrated to the United States in 1868, probably arriving in Boston. Owen continued to work as a baker in the United States. On December 23, 1869, Mary gave birth to their first child, James, in Taunton, Massachusetts. The 1870 Taunton City Directory shows Owen living in Taunton on Randall, near School, and working as a baker. In 1871, the family was living at 834 Albany in Boston. It was here that Mary gave birth to their second son, John Joseph on November 18, 1870. Two years later, a third son was born on October 18, 1872 at 179 West Ninth in Boston, and named Owen. In November 1874, Mary gave birth to her only daughter, Ann Elizabeth in New Hampshire. By 1876, the family was back in Boston,living at 18 Fellows.

In 1877, the Curtis family moved to Manhattan, living on Lewis Street where son Francis Robert was born on September 25, 1878. The family moved quite a bit, living on Willett, 13th and 19th Streets. Patrick was born at 427 E. 19th Street on August 2, 1886. A few months later, Owen Curtis became a United States citizen as recorded in the Common Pleas Court of New York. Again, the family moved to 29th Street and then 535 E. 12th Street. It was there that Mary Curtis suffered a cerebral hemorrhage, and died two days later on August 13, 1888. She was buried in Calvary Cemetery on August 15. Mary was only about 41 years old.

Owen was left alone with 6 children, ranging in age from 2 to 18. Possibly Elizabeth Ann,13 years old, took care of 2 year old Patrick while Owen worked as a baker. But like many men in that situation, the best solution was a new wife. We know that between August 13, 1888 and the 1890 Police Census, he married Mary Ryan who would have been about 29 years old. They had no children together, according to the 1900 Census.

His son, Frank, remembered Owen as being very strict and honest. Owen worked for Cushman's Bakery, a large group of bakeries in New York. He remained a Catholic throughout his life.

In 1909, Owen was living at 312 E. 23rd Street in Manhattan, but he fell into poor health. This was possibly due to his lifelong career as a baker. This job took place under terrible conditions, and breathing the flour dust often led to respiratory problems. On July 22, 1909, he was admitted to the New York City Home for the Aged and Infirm, and passed away five months later on December 22, 1909, at the Home for Aged of the Little Sisters of the Poor at 213 East 70th Street. The cause of death was acute bronchitus and senility. He was buried next to his first wife at Calvary Cemetery in Queens (Section 14, Range 13, Plot D) on December 26, 1909. Sadly there is no headstone or marker.

The only known descendents of Owen and Mary are through the fourth son, Francis Robert, who had six children. Many descendents are thankful to Owen and Mary for leaving their beautiful homeland and starting a new life in America.