Chicago Years
Curtiss arrived in Chicago from Eastport, Maine in 1835 and became editor of the Chicago Democrat. Shortly after his arrival in Chicago, he was appointed States Attorney for the district north of the Kankakee River. He opened a short—lived law practice with William Stuart in 1836. Stuart and Curtiss was dissolved in 1837.
The Panic of 1837 left a large number of land investors unable to meet their obligations. Curtiss and others made a vain attempt to delay the opening of the Municipal Court that winter, in hopes of delaying the resulting foreclosures.
Almost immediately on arrival into Chicago, Curtiss began a career of public service. He was appointed to Chicago's first Board of Health in June of that year, and succeeded Ebeneezer Peck as Town Clerk in September 1836. He was elected alderman of the 2nd Ward in 1838, of the 3rd Ward in 1846, and City Clerk in 1842. He ran in Chicago's third mayoral election (1839), losing to Benjamin Wright Raymond, 353-212.
In 1843, he was Corresponding Secretary of the Chicago chapter of the Washington Temperance Society. In 1845, the Illinois Legislature created the Court of Cook County; Curtiss was appointed its first clerk.
In 1847, Curtiss ran a successful campaign against Philo Carpenter (Liberty Party) and John H. Kinzie (Whig) to become Mayor of Chicago. In 1848, he lost to James Hutchinson Woodworth (Independent Democrat (Fusion ticket of Whigs & Democrats)). Running again in 1850, he defeated Levi Day Boone & Lewis C. Kerchival (Democrats without formal party nomination).
He ran unsuccessful campaigns for Mayor in 1851 and 1852, losing both times to Walter S. Gurnee. Retiring from politics, Curtiss moved to West Urbana (now Champaign) Illinois in 1855, and took up farming.
Curtiss died on November 2, 1859, in Joliet, Illinois, after a long illness. His funeral was held at the Second Presbyterian Church on Wabash Avenue following the Odd Fellows rites. Originally buried in City Cemetery, when the Cemetery was moved to make way for Lincoln Park, his remains were lost.
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