JOSIAH CURTIS, farmer, Whitewater, Grand Traverse County, was born in Washtenaw County, Mich., Nov. 22, 1844. Came with his parents to Grand Traverse Region, to Old Mission, 1858. At the age of seventeen he commenced working for Dexter & Noble, continuing in their employ until about 1873, when He moved on his present farm which He purchased about 1869. He was married in 1873 to Josephine O'Brien. They have two sons and one daughter.

In the spring of 1859 the lands lying in townships 28, 29 and  30, heretofore held to be an Indian reserve, were declared to be a part of the public domain, and subject to preemption and settlement the same as other government lands. This was brought about by the united action of settlers and others interested, who petitioned the Secretary of the Interior on the subject, and by aid of the exertions of Hon. Perry Hannah, and of Hon. Charles E.Stuart at Washington. It was a very important measure and its consummation was the dawn of brighter times for Grand Traverse County. From this time on the county settled more rapidly, as the statistics of population at different times show.

The population of Grand Traverse County at different periods has been as follows: 1880, 8,422; 1874, 5,319; 1870, 4,113; 1864, 2,026; 1860, 1,286; 1854, 900.
The population, according to the census of 1880, was distributed among the towns as follows: Blair, 5413; East Bay, 654; Fife Lake, 974: Grant, 522; Long Lake, 4551; Mayfield, 419; Paradise, 555; Peninsula, 849; Traverse, 2,679; Whitewater, 740).
 

The Traverse region, historical and descriptive, with illustrations of scenery and portraits and biographical sketches of some of its prominent men and pioneers.,