John E. Kurtz

As printed in 1901

JOHN E. KURTZ.

1779, spent his entire life in Pennsylvania. The father, John E. Kurtz, was born in Lancaster county, September 5, 1817, and in early life followed the cabinet maker's trade in the Keystone state, and also engaged in the manufacture of lumber in Marietta. In the spring of 1847 he came to Iowa, and located in the southeast portion of Linn county, becoming the founder of Lisbon. There he followed farming for several years, and later engaged in the mercantile and milling business, our subject being connected with him in those enterprises for twenty years, before and after the Civil war. The father retired from business in 1887, and spent the remainder of his life in ease and quiet, enjoying his accumulations of former years.

Religiously he was a member of the United Brethren church, and politically was first a Whig, and later a Republican, being one of the organizers of that party in Iowa, and was very influential in its councils for many years. He was one of the two first Republicans elected to the legislature from Linn county, and was a member of the last session held in Iowa City.

He held a number of local offices, including that of mayor, and in every way was a most worthy and influential citizen in state as well as local aft'airs. In early life he married Miss Esther Hersliey, also a representative of an old Pennsylvania family, her parents being Rev. Christian and Elizabeth (Leichtyy Hershey. Her father was a pioneer of the United Brethren church, and was very influential, wielding a powerful and salutary influence in its councils. He was also prominent in civic affairs. In the spring of 1847, he came to Iowa with nine different branches of the Hershey family, together with other colonists, and located in Franklin township, Linn county. He died in 1860, at the age of eighty-three years, and his wife passed away a number of years later at almost ninety years of age. In the family of John E. and Esther (Hershey) Kurtz were nine children," namely: Christian H., our subject; John H., who died in 1860, at the age of nineteen years; Barbara A., wife of Joel C. Ringer, of Lisbon; Henry Clay, also a resident of Lisbon; Abraham E., of Chicago; David H., of Cedar Rapids; Lizzie, wife of J. F. Hahn, of Cedar Rapids; Samuel A., of Lisbon; and Mary, who died at the age of five years.

During his boyhood C. H. Kurtz attended the common schools near his home, and later his name was on the first roster of what was then known as the Iowa Conference Seminary, now Cornell College, of Mt. Vernon, Iowa, completing his education there in June. 1861. Feeling that his country needed his services, he enlisted, July II, 1862, as sergeant in Company F, Twenty-fourth Iowa Volunteer Infantry, Ijut was soon ])ri.)moved to second lieutenant and a month later to first lieutenant, taking command of his company, the captain being on detached service as judge advocate for many months. Mr. Kurtz took part in all of the engagements in which his regiment participated, including the battles of Fort Gibson and Champion Hill; the siege of Wicksburg, and was with General Banks all through the disastrous Red River campaign. In July, 1864, the regiment was transferred to the Virginia department, and by way of the Gulf proceeded to Fortress Monroe. From there they went to Washington, D. C., and one day later to Frederick, Maryland, and to Plarper's Ferry, becoming a part of Sheridan's army, operating in the Shenandoah Valley. As such they took part in the battles of "winchester. Fishers Hill. Xewmarket and Cedar Creek. During the last named engagement, October 19. 1864, when Sheridan was "twenty miles away," Mr. Kurtz was wounded and taken prisoner and held until the following night, when he and others were recaptured by a detachment of General Custer's cavalry. As he had Ijeen wounded, he was then sent to the hospital in Winchester, and later to Martinsburg. virginia, from which place he was subsequently transferred to Sandy Hook, Maryland. Later he came home on a leave of absence, and in January, 1865, was discharged liy order of Secretary Stanton, of the war department, that all commissioned officers absent from command by reason of wounds and unable for service within ninety days should be discharged. Mr. Kurtz's wound was in the left 'foot, and for a year and a half after his return home he was obliged to use crutches.

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Kurtz was one of the incurporaturs. and is also the present cashier of the Marion Savings Bank.

Mr. Kurtz was married Decem])er 5, 1866, to Miss Sarah A..Xrmstrong. a native of Columbiana county, Uliio, and a daughter of Dr. James M. and Xancy (W'estlake) Armstrong. In his day her father was one of the most prominent physicians as well as one of the leading men of Linn county. Her mother died in the early '60s. Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz have two children: Roy, who was engaged in the clothing business in It. Vernon until January I, 1900, married Geneva Keyts, and they have two children, Maurice and Helen. Gertrude is the wife of W. R. Colvin. of Rockport, Missouri. Mrs. Kurtz is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church of Marion, and a most estimable lady.

In his social relations Mr. Kurtz is a member of the blue lodge, chapter and commandery of the Masonic fraternity, in which he has filled all of the offices, serving as eminent commander one year, and now as treasurer of the commandery, which office he has filled many years. He also belongs to the Grand Army of the Republic and the military order of the Loyal Legion of the United States, politically he is an ardent Republican, having always voted that ticket, and is a firm believe in its principles and policies. Our subject was present at the national convention held in the wigwam at the corner of Market and South Water streets, Chicago, when Abraham Lincoln was first nominated for the presidency, in 1860, and that night after the convention was over carried a rail (or rather a piece of scantling) in the rail splitting parade celebrating the nomination of Lincoln.

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As printed in Biographical records of Linn County, Iowa .. (1901). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.