Missouri’s most romantic bribe: the Victorian palace that convinced one woman to move west

Curtis Wright’s $22,000 Mansion to Win His Wife

Curtis Wright knew how to win a woman’s heart. After the Civil War, this furniture maker struck it rich in Missouri’s lead mines, but his wife Nira wouldn’t leave Indiana.

So in 1891, Wright made her an offer she couldn’t refuse: a 21-room Queen Anne mansion with 2,000 pieces of hand-cut limestone and trim in gold, red, and blue. The $22,000 gamble paid off.

Nira moved to Carthage, where their home soon hosted Buffalo Bill Cody and became the town’s social hub. The grand mansion still stands today as proof that true love sometimes needs the right real estate.

Young Curtis Joined the Union Army at Just 18

Curtis Wright was born on March 6, 1844, in Canton, Illinois. When the Civil War broke out, he wanted to serve his country.

In 1862, at only 18, Curtis signed up with the One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois Volunteer Infantry. The regiment gathered in Peoria between September 20-22, 1862.

Curtis wasn’t alone – his father, William W. Wright, served with him as captain of Company F, making military service a family matter.

His Military Career Spanned Nearly a Decade

The One Hundred and Twelfth Illinois fought under Major General Wright in the Ohio Department.

Curtis fought in several big battles, including the Battle of Nashville on December 15-16, 1864, where Union forces beat the Confederate Army of Tennessee.

As the war went on, Curtis moved up to become captain of Company F during fighting in East Tennessee. He stayed in the military for nine years before finally leaving.

Furniture Made Him a Fortune in Indiana

After military life, Curtis moved to Connersville, Indiana, to start a civilian business. He began making furniture and quickly showed he had a talent for it.

For ten years, Curtis grew his company into a successful business that brought him wealth and respect in the community.

He also became a ruling elder in the local Presbyterian church, where people looked up to his leadership.

He Found Love with a Doctor’s Daughter

On November 4, 1869, Curtis married Nira Koogler in Connersville. Nira, born December 26, 1845, in Milton, Ohio, was the daughter of Dr. Adams and Elizabeth Crook Koogler. The couple settled in Indiana, with Curtis running his furniture business while they started a family.

They had nine children together, though sadly their son Frank Koogler Wright died as a baby, something many families faced in the 1800s.

Mining Riches Called Him to Missouri

In 1888, Curtis set his sights on the booming mining chances in southwest Missouri.

The Prosperity mining camp near Carthage started with the Troup Mining Company working just 40 acres, but by 1889, twenty mines ran in the area with 1,500 people living there.

Curtis teamed up with other investors to open the Troup lead and zinc mines. He also bought mines that gave limestone blocks for buildings across Missouri.

A Grand House Became His Romantic Bargaining Chip

Curtis faced a problem when he wanted to move west – Nira didn’t want to leave her life in Connersville. She liked her friends, family ties, and community.

Curtis came up with a bold plan to win her over. He promised to build her a mansion so amazing that it would make moving worthwhile.

This loving gesture showed how much Curtis wanted to keep his wife happy while still going after mining wealth in Carthage.

The Queen Anne Mansion Rose as a Symbol of Love

In 1891, Curtis hired famous architect C. W. Terry to create his vision. The result was a stunning 29-room Queen Anne style mansion that cost $21,500 to build, about $500,000 today.

The 12,000-square-foot home had three stories with all the Queen Anne features: uneven shape, steep roofs, a dome-topped turret, and fancy gables.

Every part of the house showed Curtis’s love for Nira and his wish to make her a home worth moving for.

Victorian Splendor Filled Every Corner of Their Home

The mansion sat on more than 2,000 pieces of hand-cut Missouri limestone.

The cream-colored siding had fancy trim in gold, brick red, and royal blue, making it very eye-catching. Curtis added his personal touch by putting ore samples in the front gable, showing off what made him rich.

Inside, the best craftsmen created detailed woodwork, stained glass, and Victorian touches that made the home a masterpiece.

Famous Guests Walked Through Their Front Door

The Wright mansion quickly became the social center of Carthage as mining brought wealth to town.

Curtis and Nira hosted big parties and welcomed famous visitors including “Buffalo Bill” Cody, with his popular Wild West shows, and writer Harold Bell Wright.

Curtis’s romantic plan worked perfectly – Nira grew to love their new life in Missouri, running their grand home with style. The mansion stood as proof of both Curtis’s business success and his love for his wife.

His Business Empire Grew Beyond Mining

Curtis didn’t stop with mining. He started the Carthage Stone Company and began cutting the special limestone often called “Carthage marble.”

His business skills got him the job of company president for over twenty years. His mining and stone businesses made Curtis one of the richest and most important people in the area.

He stayed active in community groups, helped the Y. M. C. A., taught Sunday school, and kept working with the Presbyterian church.

The Love Story Ended but the House Lives On

Nira lived in the grand mansion until May 8, 1910, when she passed away in Carthage. The house that Curtis built to win her heart had been their home for nearly two decades.

Unfortunately, Curtis later lost his fortune and had to give up the beloved house to pay back taxes. Over the next 80 years, the mansion changed hands four times and eventually sat vacant by the 1980s.

In 1981, Ron and Mary Evans purchased the historic home and undertook the remarkable feat of moving it piece by piece to Eureka Springs, Arkansas in 1984, preserving the physical reminder of Curtis and Nira’s unique love story.

Visiting Queen Anne Mansion, Arkansas

You can visit the Queen Anne Mansion at 115 West Van Buren in Eureka Springs, but it’s not a public museum.

The 12,000-square-foot mansion on this 4.23-acre gated estate now works as a luxury wedding venue with seven guest suites named after American writers. Call 1-800-MANSION to book events or overnight stays.

The property has spa services, a wellness center, pool, and putting green for guests.

This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.

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