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Below is a family biography included in the book,  Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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MILTON KURTZ. There are few of the residents of Lehigh County who are unfamiliar with the name introducing this sketch. It is that of a self-made man in the broadest sense of the term, one who in his youth resolved to make life a success. He is descended from one of the oldest and most prominent families in the county, and at the present time is serving as a member of the County Board of Commissioners.

A native of this county, our subject was born in Hanover Township, July 26, 1839, and is the son of Henry Kurtz, and the grandson of John George Kurtz, who was a native of Germany. His great-grandfather, who also bore the name of John George, wsts likewise born in the Fatherland, and was the first of that branch of the family to make his home in the New World. After choosing a location in this county he erected a log cabin thereon, and returned to Germany for his family. While he was gone the Indians burned his cabin, and he was obliged to erect another before his family could be sheltered. The grandfather of our subject also farmed on that place, where his death occurred at the age of sixty-four years. He reared a family of five children, all of whom are deceased, with the exception of George, who now makes his home on a portion of the old place. The other members of the family were Henry, our subject’s father; Elizabeth, Helena and Susannah.

The father of our subject, April 2, 1833, purchased one hundred and seventy acres of land from his father, on which he located and built a stone residence. As there were no markets for the products nearer than Philadelphia, he in that early day hauled grain to that city, which consumed four or five days. Henry Kurtz died on the old place, February 5, 1890. He was a true-blue Republican in politics, and at the time, of his decease was the oldest settler in the county. He was a devoted member of the Lutheran Church, and in his relations with his fellow-citizens was upright and honest.

Mrs. Lydia (Schoener) Kurtz, mother of our subject, was born in Shoenersville, and was the daughter of Adam Schoener, an old settler of this locality and founder of the village of Shoenersville, which was located on his farm. Mrs. Kurtz departed this life in July, 1867, in her sixty-fourth year. Her father was the owner of a hotel, at which all the travelers who went overland to Philadelphia stopped over night.

He of whom we write was the sixth in order of birth of his parents’ family of twelve children, and was reared to man’s estate on the old homestead. He attended the district school during the winter months, and aided his father on the farm during the summer season. Two years after attaining his majority he was married, February 8, 1863, in Allentown, to Miss Emma, daughter of Moses Roth, a native of Whitehall Township, where also her father was born. The grandfather of Mrs. Kurtz, Henry Roth, was of German descent, and was also a native of the above township. Her father was a laborer in the ore beds of this county, and lost his life in the mines by a “cave-in.” Her mother, Mrs. Mary (Nagle) Roth, was the daughter of John Nagle, and is at present making her home with her son Louis, in East Catasauqua. She is seventy-five years of age, and a member of the German Reformed Church.

Our subject remained on the home farm, on which was located a valuable limestone quarry, which he operated for many years. In 1860 he purchased an acre of ground in this city from his father, on which he erected a good residence, and later purchased ten acres from his brother George. On it he opened a quarry, which he conducted for some time, and from 1880 to 1885 was engaged in the manufacture of brick in East Catasauqua. He is still the owner of the yard, together with a quarry, but rents both plants.

The following are the names of the five children born to Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz: Oscar H, Clara A. (now Mrs. M. Miller), Emma M., Cora L. and Milton M. Our subject was for a number of years a member of the School Board, which position he resigned in 1894. In the fall of the previous year he was elected County Commissioner on the Republican ticket for a term of three years, giving bonds for $5,000. He is a stanch Republican in politics, and has been a member of the Standing Committee for many years. He is connected with the German Reformed Church, in which he has been Trustee.

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This family biography is one of numerous biographies included in the book, Portrait and biographical record of Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties, Pennsylvania published in 1894 by Chapman Publishing Company. 

View additional Lehigh County, Pennsylvania family biographies here: Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Biographies

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