[S2429] The Helena Independent, Helena, Montana, Wed., 8 Apr 1931, pp. 1-2.Arthur P. Curtin, age 83, pioneer Helena merchant and capitalist, who has been identified with the history of Helena and Montana for more than 64 years, died at 1:30 o'clock this morning in his apartment at the Placer hotel, after a lingering illness.
Death was primarily caused by heart trouble. Mr. Curtin had been in poor health for several years, but his condition was not considered serious until about three days ago. He had been confined to his apartment for about a month.
Miss Nell F. Curtin, daughter, was with him when death came. Miss Elizabeth F. Curtin, the only other child, is in Piedmont, Calif. She was notified of her father's death and will be unable to come for the funeral services because of illness. Mrs. A. P. Curtin died September 15, 1930, and a brother, John Curtin, passed away several years ago.
Other surviving relatives are Walter R. Curtin of Oakland, a nephew, and Mrs. Julia Flint of Huntington Park, Calif., a niece.
Mr. Curtin was born in Richwoods, Mo., near St. Joseph, on March 6, 1848. He moved with his family to St. Joseph at the age of 12 and received his education in that city. Coming to Montana in 1862, Mr. Curtin remained only about a year before returning to St. Joseph, where he engaged in business for several years. He returned to Montana in 1867 and located in Helena. He has engaged in business here ever since.
Mr. Curtin's name has been linked closely with the history of Helena since that time. His public spiritedness won him many friends in the city and throughout the state. He was identified with the history of Montana from the stirring territorial days and on through the admission of the territory to statehood.
Mr. Curtin traveled widely, having made tours in Europe. In recent years he maintained a winter home in Piedmont, Calif., and with the late Mrs. Curtin made regular trips southward, returning to Helena in the spring.
Although he was 83 years old, he retained a vivid interest in his friends and a wide collection of souvenirs he had gathered in his extensive travels. His memory was almost uncanny and his power of observation remarkable.
When a boy he left Saint Joseph, Mo, to come to Montana to join his brothers, John and Frank, who preceded him by two or three years. He entered Montana territory where he was later to accumulate a competence, in April 1867, after a 62-day journey on a river steamer to Fort Benton. Accompanying him on the trip as far as Yankton, S.D., was Joseph Kemp Toole who, 21 years later, became the first governor of the state.
Arriving in Helena by team and wagon from Fort Benton, he first took employment in a hardware store. Later he worked for the J. R. Boyce Dry Goods company and, after a short time with that firm, began his business career.
His first undertaking was a carpet shop. This he sold in 1878 and left to attend the Paris Exposition. After spending several months in foreign travel, he returned to Helena in 1880 and entered the furniture business for the first time, taking over the lease and fixtures of the Boyce company on Broadway. He remained in this location for 15 years, but steadily expanding business necessitated his construction of a five-story building, running from Grand to Breckenridge streets, which he opened on November 20, 1895.
His later enterprises included a book and stationary store, and music and art establishment. Mr. Curtin witnessed the four fires which destroyed much of Helena's business section, but steadfastly he maintained his confidence in the business field of this city.
