There is some uncertainty regarding his given name. He went by the name of Curtis to most friends and relatives. In the 1900 Census, he was listed as a 1 year old female by the name of Rbie. In 1910, he was lised as 11 year old Alfonso, and in 1920 he was listed as 21 year old Rueben. The Texas Birth Index for two of his sons lists his name as Rueben Curtis and for a third son he is listed as Rubin Curtis, His mother Catherine gave birth to 12 children. Two girls died at birth and were unnamed. For the remaining 10 there were 3 girls and 7 boys. All were given first names that started with the letter "A". Thus, the name Alfonso listed in the 1910 census fits right in with the mother's naming tradition, Apparently Curtis and his brother Jesse did not care much for the first names they were given. In Curtis' case, he apparently never used the name Alfonso. One of his brother's was named Athion Jesse Gorman. He solved his problem by changing the order of his first and middle names to Jesse Athion.
Curtis and Dick Owen were best of fiends and the yougest child in each of their families. Two of Curtis' older brothers, Jesse and Artie, married two of Dick's older sisters, Josie and Texas.
Curtis and Dick were inseparatable as teenagers and always getting into trouble because of their boyish pranks that sometimes appeared to cross the line of legal behaviour. The story goes that may have had a lot to do with their guardians signing papers so they could join the Army before they were of legal age.
After returning from service in the US Army in WW I, Curtis lived with his married brother, Aldon Gorman and his wife Effie Gold Conner. Aldon died of TB in January 1925 and Curtis then married Aldon's widow, Effie. Effie also came down with TB and died in June 1828 and four weeks later, Curtis married Gracie Mae Nicklas.
When Effie died, Curtis and his new bride were left with trying to raise the two orphan daughters of Aldon and Effie. The older daughter, Myra Jane, was 13 years old and (in her own words) was a bit rebellious toward her 18 year old step-mother. For a while, both girls were placed in the Masonic Orphans home in Tarrant County. Curtis and Gracie eventually took the younger orphan, Billie Jo, and raised her as a daughter. Myra Jane was alternately raised by Curtis and by Curtis's mother Catharine. Finally, in her HS senior year Myra Jane lived with Curtis' brother Jesse and graduated from Rankin High School. (More later)
Curtis and Dick Owen were best of fiends and the yougest child in each of their families. Two of Curtis' older brothers, Jesse and Artie, married two of Dick's older sisters, Josie and Texas.
Curtis and Dick were inseparatable as teenagers and always getting into trouble because of their boyish pranks that sometimes appeared to cross the line of legal behaviour. The story goes that may have had a lot to do with their guardians signing papers so they could join the Army before they were of legal age.
After returning from service in the US Army in WW I, Curtis lived with his married brother, Aldon Gorman and his wife Effie Gold Conner. Aldon died of TB in January 1925 and Curtis then married Aldon's widow, Effie. Effie also came down with TB and died in June 1828 and four weeks later, Curtis married Gracie Mae Nicklas.
When Effie died, Curtis and his new bride were left with trying to raise the two orphan daughters of Aldon and Effie. The older daughter, Myra Jane, was 13 years old and (in her own words) was a bit rebellious toward her 18 year old step-mother. For a while, both girls were placed in the Masonic Orphans home in Tarrant County. Curtis and Gracie eventually took the younger orphan, Billie Jo, and raised her as a daughter. Myra Jane was alternately raised by Curtis and by Curtis's mother Catharine. Finally, in her HS senior year Myra Jane lived with Curtis' brother Jesse and graduated from Rankin High School. (More later)
There is some uncertainty regarding his given name. He went by the name of Curtis to most friends and relatives. In the 1900 Census, he was listed as a 1 year old female by the name of Rbie. In 1910, he was lised as 11 year old Alfonso, and in 1920 he was listed as 21 year old Rueben. The Texas Birth Index for two of his sons lists his name as Rueben Curtis and for a third son he is listed as Rubin Curtis, His mother Catherine gave birth to 12 children. Two girls died at birth and were unnamed. For the remaining 10 there were 3 girls and 7 boys. All were given first names that started with the letter "A". Thus, the name Alfonso listed in the 1910 census fits right in with the mother's naming tradition, Apparently Curtis and his brother Jesse did not care much for the first names they were given. In Curtis' case, he apparently never used the name Alfonso. One of his brother's was named Athion Jesse Gorman. He solved his problem by changing the order of his first and middle names to Jesse Athion.
Curtis and Dick Owen were best of fiends and the yougest child in each of their families. Two of Curtis' older brothers, Jesse and Artie, married two of Dick's older sisters, Josie and Texas.
Curtis and Dick were inseparatable as teenagers and always getting into trouble because of their boyish pranks that sometimes appeared to cross the line of legal behaviour. The story goes that may have had a lot to do with their guardians signing papers so they could join the Army before they were of legal age.
After returning from service in the US Army in WW I, Curtis lived with his married brother, Aldon Gorman and his wife Effie Gold Conner. Aldon died of TB in January 1925 and Curtis then married Aldon's widow, Effie. Effie also came down with TB and died in June 1828 and four weeks later, Curtis married Gracie Mae Nicklas.
When Effie died, Curtis and his new bride were left with trying to raise the two orphan daughters of Aldon and Effie. The older daughter, Myra Jane, was 13 years old and (in her own words) was a bit rebellious toward her 18 year old step-mother. For a while, both girls were placed in the Masonic Orphans home in Tarrant County. Curtis and Gracie eventually took the younger orphan, Billie Jo, and raised her as a daughter. Myra Jane was alternately raised by Curtis and by Curtis's mother Catharine. Finally, in her HS senior year Myra Jane lived with Curtis' brother Jesse and graduated from Rankin High School. (More later)
Curtis and Dick Owen were best of fiends and the yougest child in each of their families. Two of Curtis' older brothers, Jesse and Artie, married two of Dick's older sisters, Josie and Texas.
Curtis and Dick were inseparatable as teenagers and always getting into trouble because of their boyish pranks that sometimes appeared to cross the line of legal behaviour. The story goes that may have had a lot to do with their guardians signing papers so they could join the Army before they were of legal age.
After returning from service in the US Army in WW I, Curtis lived with his married brother, Aldon Gorman and his wife Effie Gold Conner. Aldon died of TB in January 1925 and Curtis then married Aldon's widow, Effie. Effie also came down with TB and died in June 1828 and four weeks later, Curtis married Gracie Mae Nicklas.
When Effie died, Curtis and his new bride were left with trying to raise the two orphan daughters of Aldon and Effie. The older daughter, Myra Jane, was 13 years old and (in her own words) was a bit rebellious toward her 18 year old step-mother. For a while, both girls were placed in the Masonic Orphans home in Tarrant County. Curtis and Gracie eventually took the younger orphan, Billie Jo, and raised her as a daughter. Myra Jane was alternately raised by Curtis and by Curtis's mother Catharine. Finally, in her HS senior year Myra Jane lived with Curtis' brother Jesse and graduated from Rankin High School. (More later)
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