In 1868 he invented the Curtis rectangular churn and the partnership began manufacturing them in Fort Atkinson.

Gradually the firm expanded to make and sell a full line of dairy and creamery supplies.

Typical of Queen Anne, the gable peaks are decorated with fish-scale shingles and sunburst patterns.

It is simple and rectangular, but decorated to match the house, with multi-pane windows and fish-scale shingles in the gables framed by barge-boards.

[3] After D.W.'s death, the house and business interests passed to his wife Jane and their son Harry.

After Harry died in 1938 and his wife Mary in 1945, their daughter Lucile lived in the house.