His WW I draft registration card, filed 12 Sep 1918, records Jesse Curtis, age 41, born 22 Feb 1877, occupation farming, employer Jno Ed Johnson, Morehead, Ky, nearest relative Mrs. Laura Curtis, wife, Morehead, Ky.

It is signed with an X annotated “his mark”, so he did not fill out the form himself. I suspect the clerk misheard the name of his wife, as there is no record of another Jesse Curtis in Rowan Co. of similar age with a wife named Laura.

Rowan Co., Ky marriage book 3, p. 178, records the marriage on 19 Jan 1899 of Jesse Curtis, age 20, farmer, residence Hilda, born Rowan Co., father born Estill Co., mother born Rowan Co., to Flora Cooper, age 17, born in Rowan Co and both parents born in Rowan Co., to be at residence of groom, at Henry Curtis’ by James H. Toliver, witnesses William Curtis and Henry Curtis, bond surety by A. J. Thurber.

Jesse and Flora were first cousins on the Purvis side.

1900 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Brushy Fork precinct, enumerated 20 June, lists on p. 17B as family #301:
Curtis, Jesse, 21, b. Jan 1877, farmer; Flora, wife, 18, b. Aug 1882. Married 1 year, no children. Both born Ky Ky Ky.

The next household is his brother William.

1910 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Brushy precinct, enumerated 23 April, lists on p. 6A as family #91/93:
Curtis, Jesse, 32, farmer; Flora, wife, 28, first marriage for both, married 11 years, mother of 5 children, 2 living; Francis, dau, 8; Piercie, son, 1 10/12. All born Ky Ky Ky.

The next household is Jesse’s brother Melvin.

1920 census of Rowan Co., Ky, Brushy precinct, enumerated 6 Jan, lists on p. 2B as family #22:
Curtis, Jesse, 42, farmer; Flora, wife, 38; Francis, dau, 18; Piercie, son, 11; Lula, dau, 9; Ellis, son, 5; Clayton, son, 3 8/12. All born Ky Ky Ky.