Hugh Curless was born June 9, 1888, in Woodland Twp. Fulton Co. Il., the son of Edmond and Nora (Fisher) Curless, and the grandson of Moses Lafayette Curless. He was sketched in the 1879 Fulton Co. History by Chapman.
Hugh was the oldest of five children: Harley, who married Jossie Horton; Pearl, who married Roy Lind; Hartford, who married Melba Etter; and Mae, who married Peter Hamm.
Hugh's mother died when Mae was only two years old. Hugh lived all of his life in Fulton Co. He was raised a farmer, and remained one. On Jan. 1, 1904, he took for his wife, Susie Isable (Farwell) the daughter of another well known farmer of Woodland Twp., William A. and Anna E. (Engle) Farwell. Hugh and Susie lived on the Farwell homestead for a time, then moved down the road to their own place.
The Curless couple lived together some 65 years, and were the parents of 11 children: Nellie May, b. July 22, 1905, married 1st. Clarence McKinley, 2nd. Harve Ruth; Nora Fern, b. Dec. 28, 1908, d. Oct. 20, 1918; Fairy Opal, b. Jul. 23, 1908, married Evert Schisler; Oliva Anna, b. Oct. 7, 1912, married 1st. Neville France, 2nd. Alexander Howe; William Edward, b. Apr. 19, 1916, not married; Edith Virginia, b. Apr. 6, 1918, married Mark Stambaugh, divorced; Hartford Pershing, b. May 2, 1919, married Charlotte M. Gray, d. Jun. 22, 1981; John Farwell, b. Aug. 15, 1921, married Patsey R. Schores; Ted Keith, b. Jun. 29, 1923, married Ruby M. Simmons; Doris Evelyn, b. Jul. 7, 1925, married Phillip Robertson; Myrna Irene, b. Apr.17, 1928, married Medford Phillips.
Hugh and Susie spent most of their lives together on the farm now owned by Gary Adkins. Susie died July 24, 1969, and Hugh moved just up the road to the home of his son, William, where he remained until his death Feb. 26, 1982. Hugh and Susie, along with their two children, are buried at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Woodland Twp. ,Fulton Co. Il. (Fulton County Illinois Heritage - 1987 Bicentennial Edition - Fulton County Genealogical Society, written by Mrs. Connie Lynn (Curless) Ogden