Carlton Brandaga Curtis (December 17, 1811 – March 17, 1883) was an American politician from Pennsylvania who served as a Democratic member of the

U.S. House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or simply the House, is the lower chamber of the United States Congress, with the Senate being the upper chamber. Together they ...

for

Pennsylvania's 23rd congressional district Pennsylvania's 23rd congressional district was one of Pennsylvania's districts of the United States House of Representatives The United States House of Representatives, often referred to as the House of Representatives, the U.S. House, or ...

from 1851 to 1853 and the 24th district from 1853 to 1855. He then switched parties and later served again as a

Republican Republican can refer to: Political ideology * An advocate of a republic, a type of government that is not a monarchy or dictatorship, and is usually associated with the rule of law. ** Republicanism, the ideology in support of republics or agains ...

member for the 19th district from 1873 to 1875.

Early life

Carlton B. Curtis was born in

Madison County, New York Madison County is a county located in the U.S. state of New York. As of the 2020 census, the population was 68,016. Its county seat is Wampsville. The county is named after James Madison, the fourth president of the United States, and was fir ...

. He moved to

Mayville, New York Mayville is a village in Chautauqua County, New York, United States. The population was 1,477 at the 2020 census, 13.7% less than in the 2010 census. Mayville is in the town of Chautauqua and is the county seat of Chautauqua County. The village ...

, and studied law. He moved to

Erie, Pennsylvania Erie (; ) is a city on the south shore of Lake Erie and the county seat of Erie County, Pennsylvania, United States. Erie is the fifth largest city in Pennsylvania and the largest city in Northwestern Pennsylvania with a population of 94,831 ...

, where he continued the study of law. He was admitted to the bar in 1834. He moved to

Warren, Pennsylvania Warren is a city in Warren County, Pennsylvania, United States, located along the Allegheny River. The population was 9,404 at the 2020 census. It is the county seat of Warren County. It is home to the headquarters of the Allegheny National Fores ...

, in 1834 and commenced practice. He was a member of the

Pennsylvania State House of Representatives The Pennsylvania House of Representatives is the lower house of the bicameral Pennsylvania General Assembly, the legislature of the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. There are 203 members, elected for two-year terms from single member districts. It ...

from 1836 to 1838.

First election to Congress

Curtis was elected as a

Democrat Democrat, Democrats, or Democratic may refer to: Politics *A proponent of democracy, or democratic government; a form of government involving rule by the people. *A member of a Democratic Party: **Democratic Party (United States) (D) **Democratic ...

to the Thirty-second and Thirty-third Congresses. He served as chairman of the

United States House Committee on Accounts The United States House Committee on Accounts was a standing committee of the US House of Representatives from 1803 to 1946. It had purview over the financial accounts of the House's contingent fund, as well as some matters related to facilities a ...

during the Thirty-third Congress. He was affiliated with the

Party in 1855.

Civil War service

Curtis entered the

Union Army During the American Civil War, the Union Army, also known as the Federal Army and the Northern Army, referring to the United States Army, was the land force that fought to preserve the Union of the collective states. It proved essential to th ...

on February 13, 1862, as lieutenant colonel of the Fifty-eighth Regiment, Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry for a period of three years. He was promoted to colonel of that regiment on May 23, 1863. Because of illness was honorably discharged as colonel on July 2.

Post war activities

He returned to Warren and practiced law. In 1868 he moved to

, and continued the practice of law. He was also interested in banking and the production of oil, and was one of the originators and builders of the Dunkirk & Venango Railroad. Curtis was again elected as a

to the Forty-third Congress. He was an unsuccessful candidate for reelection in 1874. He resumed the practice of law, and died in Erie in 1883. Interment in Oakland Cemetery in Warren, Pennsylvania.

Footnotes

References