Frank A. Curtis was born on February 7, 1872 in Malad, Idaho. His parents were Edwin Morrell Curtis and Francis F. Harrison, both of whom were born in London, England, and later immigrated to the United States.

Curtis met his wife, Virginia Arrilla Olsen, in Thatcher, Arizona. Virginia was born February 9, 1875. They were married in Thatcher, Arizona on November 7, 1900, and sealed three weeks later by Elder Joseph F. Smith, an apostle of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints who later became the sixth president of the Church. The Curtises made their first home in Thatcher, Arizona, and their first child, Fannie Evelyn Curtis, was born a year later on November 15, 1901. When Fannie was a year old, they moved to Bisbee, Arizona where they established a home in Moon Canyon. Frank worked at the Bisbee Mine running the “framer,” which cut the large timbers used underground. They had two more children in Bisbee, Arizona, Durer Arthur Curtis on October 20, 1904 and Naomi Curtis on May 24, 1909.

Curtis received a mission call for the church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints to serve in the Montana Northern States Mission. He moved his family back to Safford, Arizona to be near Virginia’s mother and brother Elam, and bought the property to the rear of the tithing lot. Curtis reported to Salt Lake City, Utah in October 1908. His family accompanied him at this time and received their endowments in the Salt Lake City temple. Curtis went north to serve his mission and Virginia returned to Safford, Arizona with the children.

After Curtis’ return from his mission, he started back at his previous job at the mine in Bisbee, Arizona. His fourth child, Ruth Merle Curtis, was born January 28, 1915. In November 1915, six-year-old Naomi died during a trip to Phoenix, Arizona. Curtis died from labor pneumonia in 1917 at the age of 45. Virginia remained widowed until her death on June 23, 1962.