Curtiss, William G. (1859-1929) | University of Illinois Archives

William Goss Curtiss was born in New York on September 16^th, 1859, to George W. Curtiss and Frances Hatton Curtiss.  He prepared to enter the University of Illinois (then called the Illinois Industrial University) in Warren, IL, and graduated as part of the Class of 1882.  While a University student, he joined the Adelphic Society and frequently attended events on campus (as his son would 40 years later).

After graduation, he worked as a banker, postmaster, school director and farmer.  He married Lora Giller, and had six children, which included Edward Augustus Curtiss (University of Illinois Class of 1922).  He died in 1929, and is buried next to Lora, who followed him in death in 1957.