BIO: Andrew G. CURTIN, Centre County, Pennsylvania

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the 
Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical 
Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, pages 15-16

HON. ANDREW G. CURTIN, late of Bellefonte, Centre county, lawyer, governor, 
diplomat, member of the Constitutional Convention and member of Congress, was 
born at Bellefonte, April 22, 1819.
  Roland Curtin, his father, was a native of Ireland, and was educated in Paris.  
His mother was Jane (Gregg) Curtin, the latter the daughter of Hon. Andrew 
Gregg.  Roland Curtin, while a resident of Paris, narrowly escaped the 
guillotine during the Reign of Terror.  He came first to Philipsburg, now in 
Centre county, then started a store at Milesburg as early as March, 1797, and 
was a resident of Bellefonte, keeping store in 1800.  He was coroner of the 
county in 1803; sheriff in 1806, and soon after became extensively engaged in 
iron works, and became prominently identified with all public improvements made 
within the county.  His death occurred in 1850, and that of the mother of Andrew 
G. Curtin, in 1854.
  Andrew G. Curtin completed an academic course of education at the academy of 
Rev. David Kirkpatrick, D.D., in Milton, studied law under Hon. W. W. Potter, in 
Bellefonte, completing a course of legal study under Judge John Reed, in the Law 
Department of Dickinson College, at Carlisle.  He was admitted to the Bar at the 
April term of 1837.  In 1840 he took an active part in politics, in what was 
known as the Harrison campaign, and in 1844 canvassed the State for Henry Clay 
for President.  In 1848 and 1852 he was on the State ticket for Presidential 
elector.  On January 7, 1855, he was commissioned, by Gov. James Pollock, 
secretary of the Commonwealth, which position also included that of 
superintendent of the public schools.  Progressive in every station he reached, 
his superintendence of State education has as one of its landmarks the 
institution of the system of normal schools, his recommendations and his annual 
reports culminating in the passage of the act of May 20, 1857, "To provide for 
the training of teachers for the common schools of the State."
  In 1860, Mr. Curtin was nominated by the Republican party as their candidate 
for Governor, and elected over Henry D. Foster by a majority of 32,107 votes.  
His administration of the gubernatorial office during the dark days of the 
Republic made an imperishable name for his family, and added historic grandeur 
to the annals of the Commonwealth.  The foresight which impelled him to refuse 
to disband the overflowing volunteer regiments which the patriotism of 
Pennsylvania contributed on the call of the President, and his prompt 
application to the Legislature for authority to organize them into a corps, 
afterward the famous "Pennsylvania Reserves," saved the National Government, 
imperiled by the disaster of Bull Run.  The addresses he made, when presenting 
flags to the Pennsylvania regiments as they went forth to fight for the Union, 
will only be forgotten when the last volley is fired over the last Pennsylvania 
veteran of the war.  Those 215 battle-flags, bearing the aegis of the 
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, came back blood-stained, tattered, and 

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD - 16

torn, but never disgraced upon any battle-field of the Republic.
  Gov. Curtin's ever-enduring memorial, however, in connection with the war, is 
the Orphan School, for the children of those who gave their lives that the Union 
might live.  Recurring to his promise to the soldiers, as thousands of men stood 
before him for the last time, that Pennsylvania would never forget or neglect 
them or theirs, and that their children should be the children of the State, he 
clung to that purpose with a tenacity worthy of such a grand and noble cause.  
Amid his ceaseless care of the soldiers on the field and in the hospital, he 
never forgot those who were left at home by the gallant fellows who had gone 
forward.  It was the grand undertone of his magnificent speech in the Academy of 
Music, at Philadelphia, "let the widow and her dependent offspring in fact and 
in truth be the children of the State, and let the mighty people of the great 
Commonwealth nurture and maintain them."  In January, 1864, in his annual 
message, he brought the subject to the attention of the Legislature in the 
memorable words:  "I commend to the prompt attention of the Legislature the 
subject of the relief of the poor orphans of our soldiers who have given or 
shall give their lives for us during this crisis.  In my opinion their 
maintenance and education should be provided for by the State.  Failing other 
natural friends of ability, they should be honorably received and fostered as 
the children of the Commonwealth."
  Failing in getting through the Legislature a proper bill, which had been 
matured with great care, the Governor started with the noble donation of the 
Pennsylvania Railroad Company of $50,000, and laid the foundation for the 
Soldiers' Orphan Schools, a work of beneficence, righteousness and justice which 
will keep Gov. Curtin's memory fragrant for ages to come, the good results of 
which, felt all through time, the Judgment Day will only fully reveal.  His 
health was much broken by arduous service during his first term, and President 
Lincoln tendered him a foreign mission, which it was his intention to accept, 
but having been renominated for governor, and the people of the State being 
unwilling to part with their war governor, he filled out a second term of the 
gubernatorial office.  In 1869 he was appointed, by President Grant, minister to 
Russia, returned to this country in the fall of 1872, and took part in the 
liberal Republican movement which nominated Horace Greeley.  He was very 
prominently spoken of for the second place on that ticket, and was the choice of 
the Pennsylvania delegation in the Greeley convention for President.  His 
connection with the liberal Republican movement, and the fact that his power and 
influence in the Republican party which were eminent while he remained in the 
country, but which had been broken by his absence, carried him into the 
Democratic party.
  He was a member of the Constitutional Convention of 1872-3, and for a few 
years after had little to do with politics.  When he wearied of the quiet of 
business life, and longed for politics, Gov. Curtin found a place in the 
Democratic party, and was nominated for Congress in 1878, when he was defeated 
by the Greenbackers.  He was nominated, in 1880, by the Democrats of his 
Congressional District, and was elected for two terms, retiring in 1887 near the 
close of his seventy-first year.  In Congress Gov. Curtin was a faithful public 
servant, and attracted much public attention.  At one time he was chairman of 
the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
  After leaving congress Gov. Curtin pursued a quiet life at his mountain home 
in Bellefonte, respected and esteemed by people of all classes.  His familiar 
figure was an everyday sight on the streets of his native town.  Tall, and erect 
as a youth, he would walk about for his daily exercise.  Until within a short 
time previous to his death he kept up a lively interest in the politics of the 
county, and it was his influence that made his friend, Dr. J. H. Dobbins, the 
postmaster here under the former Cleveland administration, and not until he had 
given evidence that it would prove satisfactory would the department recommend 
the appointment of the present official.  His time was occupied in looking after 
his business here and dispensing charities.  No more pleasant hour could be 
spent than in a talk with the ex-Governor; he always loved young people, and 
gave them friendly counsel whenever an opportunity presented itself, and those 
who enjoyed his intimacy will cherish his charming personality as long as memory 
lasts.  His death occurred October 7, 1894.  He left to survive him his wife, a 
lady of a charming personality, a daughter of Dr. William I. Wilson, three 
daughters, all residents of Bellefonte, and one son, William Wilson Curtin, of 
Philadelphia.