Judge Harvey J. Curtis

Harvey Jackson Curtis was born on January 20, 1876 in Argos, Indiana. His early career was centered in Marshall County, Indiana – he was superintendent of schools in Tyner for four years, was admitted to the bar in nearby Plymouth in 1901, and began practicing in Walkerton. He graduated from the University of Michigan Law School in 1903. 

In 1908, Judge Curtis moved to the new city of Gary. In 1910, he was appointed Gary’s first city attorney.

He was elected to the Indiana Appellate Court in 1930 and served from January 1, 1931 until January 1, 1943. He was Chief Judge four different times – for the November 1932, November 1935, November 1938 and November 1940 court terms.

Following his service on the bench, he was chairman of the board of Mid-City Investment Company in Gary and occasionally heard cases involving labor disputes as a hearing judge.

Judge Curtis was a member of the American and Indiana State bar associations, as well as the Gary Bar Association from its earliest days. He belonged to the Episcopal Church of Gary, the Elks Club, and the Masons.

He died at his home in Orlando, Florida on December 27, 1954. 

View the In Memoriam obituary for Judge Harvey J. Curtis
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