Joseph Henry "Joe" Curtis, was born 30 Jul 1830 in , Harrison, Texas, USA. He was married to Rachel Starr on July 3, 1850 in Harrison County, Texas.

They had 11 children:
Lydia Jane 'Liddy' Curtis 1861 – 1936
Esther Isabell "E.I." Curtis 1851 – 1929
William M. " Bill" Curtis 1854 – 1907
Jimmy Curtis 1855 – (died young, of snakebite)
John Curtis 1856 – 1930
Margaret Gabriles Curtis 1858 – 1936
Amanda Caroline "Manda" Curtis 1859 – 1953
Joseph A. "Joel" Curtis 1863 – 1942
Sarah ELIZABETH Curtis 1864 – 1958
Leanna ALICE Curtis 1871 – 1959
Infant Son Curtis

Joe was a man of about 5'10", red hair, and a severe hairlip, which made his speech difficult to understand. He was missing a thumb on his left hand. He had a habit of resting his hands on his hips. He was surly in nature, perhaps because of his speech defect.

Joe and wife, Rachel were farmers and cattle people in Mills County, (It was still in Lampasas County then). Joseph Curtis' land became part of Mills County in 1887, when they divided up the surrounding counties and made a new county called Mills County. Previously it was in Lampasas County.

DEATH; Death in Texas - (he disappeared, never heard from or body found) He was wanted by the law, and the San Saba Mob was after him also.

No grave - he disappeared during the Texas Range Wars with the Texas mobs. It is still a mystery as to what happened to him, but family members say he was accused of fence cutting to range his cattle, and the San Saba Mob was out after him, so he just left his family and disappeared, never to be heard from again. Many years later, a decomposed body was found in a cave in Mills County, and the hair was red, which Joe Curtis' hair was, so they speculate he was either hiding out and died, or was shot in the cave by the San Saba mob.

(Anyone having information about Grandpa Curtis' parents, please let me know. Thank you.)