Bio: Johnson, Lucy’s Memories of Curtiss

Transcriber: stan@wiclarkcountyhistory.org 

Surnames: Johnson, Green, Neitzel, Dake

----Source: Olson Family Scrapbook

It was with great anticipation that Lucy Johnson was awaiting the Curtiss Centennial. She was hoping to meet her old schoolmates and friends and reminisce about times past. But it wasn't to be. Lucy Johnson died January 5, 1982, after a short illness. She will be missed by her family and friends.

Lucy was born northwest of Curtiss where her father, B.B. Green and brothers owned and operated a sawmill. Benjamin and Sarah Green had four children; Ralph, Lucy, Edith and Stacey.

In 1909, when Lucy was 13 years old, the family moved to Curtiss where her father and his brother Edward owned and operated a store. B.B. Green was very active in community affairs and worked diligently for the incorporation of the village. This was accomplished in 1917 and he served as the first supervisor.

Lucy often reminisced about her younger years. She renumbered Curtiss when it was a booming sawmill town with a railroad and a depot, an opera house, hotels, doctors, barbers, and the many other businesses that prosper in a growing community. Lucy told of the many fires that occurred in the village. She told about having to live in make-shift quarters in the old village hall after their own home burned. She and her brother, Stacey, used to walk miles to take piano lessons from Mrs. Ira hawks. Stacey went on to school to study music, earning a Master of Music degree from Valparaiso University in 1940. When he died in 1963, at the age of 62, he was an associate professor of music at the University of Oregon.

After attending school at Curtiss Graded and Abbotsford, Lucy transferred to Northland Academy at Ashland where she graduated from high school. She was also a graduate of the Wausau Business College and went on to work at the Marshfield Experiment Station and the Curtiss Bank before her marriage. Her sister, Edith (Mrs. Lawrence Neitzel), also attended Northland Academy and became a teacher. She is the only surviving member of the B.B. Green family, and resides in Abbotsford. tier bother, Ralph Green, was married to Alma Neitzel in 1915, and operated a store in Curtiss for some time. They later moved to Indiana where they were residing at the time of their deaths.

Jacob Johnson was born north of Curtiss. his parents, Ole and Karen Johnson, owned a farm (the present Calvin Krause farm). He was one of 12 children. The only surviving member is Mabel Kind of Greenwood. Jacob was married to Elsie Dake of Dorchester in 1913, and they had a son, Lavern. His wife died in 1920.
Lucy Green and Jacob Johnson were married in 1922. They became the parents of five children; Lyle, Iris, Carol, Ramona and Sharon. Jake was employed as Postmaster at that time...serving for ten years. He later owned and operated Jake's Tavern for 43 years. Lucy worked in the Curtiss Post Office for many years, retiring in 1961. She was very active in community affairs, serving as village clerk as well as holding office in many other organizations. When Curtiss celebrated its 75th anniversary, she was one of the historians of the booklet published at that time.

In 1976, Jake and Lucy sold their business and retired to a home next door. Jake died in 1980 and Lucy continued to reside in Curtiss until she became ill and entered a nursing home, late in 1981. Lucy died at the age of 85. Being born on October 21, 1896 and becoming part of the history of Curtiss on January 5, 1982...would make it possible to fill a book with the years spent in Curtiss community.

Submitted by: Anita Johnson