Biography - Curtis Brace
CURTIS W. BRACE, ESQ., is a native of Winfield, Herkimer county, New York,
and was born December 11, 1825. He is the fourth child of Leonard and Julia
Eldred Brace, who were among the early settlers of Greene county. Leonard
Brace was also a native of Herkimer county. He was born in June, 1796, and
was one of a family of three children, being the only son of Jeduthan and
Clarissa Brace. The Brace family are descended from some of the best English
blood; the Eldreds are descended from the Welsh. Several of the Brace family
were soldiers during the war of the revolution. As a family, they naturally
took to the business of farming, and many of their representatives are among
the more prominent agriculturists of Greene county. Leonard Brace was
educated in the schools of Herkimer county, New York. After growing to
manhood, he was married in Winfield to Miss Julia Eldred, when he settled on
the old homestead and assisted his father in conducting the farm. He
continued to reside in that county until the spring of 1828, when, with his
family, he settled in Greene county, Illinois. He bought and settled on a
tract of land which is now within the limits of Carrollton. After settling
in Illinois he was spared to his family but a few months, when the grim hand
of death was laid upon him. Mr. Brace and wife had a family of six children,
four sons and two daughters. At the present time those living are all
residents of Greene county. Quite early in life Mr. Brace became a member of
the Presbyterian Church, to which he consistently adhered. On the breaking
out of the war of 1812 he enlisted, and was made a fife-major in one of the
gallant battalions that assisted in vanquishing the British arms. At the
conclusion of the war he was awarded an honorable discharge. Politically,
his early training was in the school of the whig party, and he always
continued to be a friend of the free-soil principles. He was a gentleman who
evinced considerable taste for music, and none enjoyed the pleasures of good
society more than he. He was one of those calm, thoughtful men, who perform
more by acts than by words. The death of such a man was not only a loss to
his family, but also to the community in which he resided.
Curtis W. Brace, the subject of our sketch, received his earliest culture in
the schools of Greene county. The death of his father occurring when he was
quite young, he was thus, to a large degree, thrown upon his own resources.
His early boyhood was spent in learning the varied branches of farming, and
in attending the district school. On the 25th of January, 1855, he was
married to Miss Catherine M. Black, daughter of William and Caroline Black,
who are old residents of this county. Soon after his marriage, Mr. Brace
located on the farm where he now resides, which is adjoining the town of
Kane. When he commenced life on his own account he had but a small capital,
but entering upon that sure road to wealth - industry and economy – he has
made a successful man, and he now ranks among the leading farmers of Greene
county. He has a farm of upward of five hundred acres of valuable land, and
the improvements of his beautiful farm compare favorably with any of the
county. For about twelve years Mr. Brace has been one of the directors of
the Greene County Agricultural Society. In politics he is among the
staunchest republicans that Greene county affords. His first vote for
president was given for Henry Clay, and he has continued to vote at each
subsequent presidential election. During the late rebellion he was among the
strong supporters of the Union cause. In the career of Mr. Brace we find the
example of a man who, step by step, has climbed the ladder of wealth until
he has attained a position of comfort. He is pre-eminently a self-made man.
Extracted 05 Jan 2017 and 11 Jul 2018 by Norma Hass from Atlas Map of Greene County Illinois, 1873, page 42.
