My Genealogy Hound

THOMAS MONROE KURTZ, who is more familiarly known as Monroe Kurtz, is the largest stock-dealer in Lehigh County. He devotes himself untiringly to his work, and, being a shrewd business man, is meeting with great success. He is a representative of a family whose name has been inseparably connected with the growth and upbuilding of this county, and as he has ever borne his part in the work of public advancement and improvement, this volume would be incomplete without the record of his life.

Mr. Kurtz is a native of this county, and was born February 26, 1847, in Hanover Township, near Catasauqua, where he makes his home at the present time. He is the son of Henry Kurtz, whose history appears in the biography of Milton Kurtz, elsewhere in this record. Thomas M. grew to manhood on the home farm, alternating agricultural work with attendance at the public schools in Catasauqua. He remained at home until his marriage, in 1873, at which time Miss Elizabeth daughter of Joseph Davolt, became his wife. Immediately after their union Mr. Kurtz rented the home farm, which included a quarter-section, and was engaged in its operation until 1890. During fifteen years of that time he had a large dairy route in the city and kept on his estate from eighteen to twenty milch cows. It was also while living on this farm that our subject began dealing in stock, and, forming a partnership with his cousin, Robert Kurtz, he bought and shipped cattle for three years.

In 1891 our subject closed out his dairy business, and, removing to this city, continued to deal in stock. He erected a fine brick residence on the corner of Kurtz and American Streets, which land had formerly been a portion of his, father’s estate and upon which Mr. Kurtz had often ploughed and cut hay.

Mr. Kurtz makes trips to Buffalo, N. Y., and East Liberty, this state, where he buys cattle and hogs, which he ships to this city, disposing of the same to the butchers here and in Allentown and Coplay. He is the only drover residing in this locality, and handles about fifty carloads of cattle each year. Being very successful in this branch of business be has accumulated an abundance of this world’s goods, and has the satisfaction of knowing that he has performed no unimportant part in the growth and development of this part of the county.

To Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz has been born one daughter, Flora Estella. They have also an adopted daughter, Elizabeth Lichtenwalner, whom they took into their home when eighteen months old, and who is now a young lady of eighteen years. Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz are leading members of the German Reformed Church and are earnest workers in its interest. Our subject exercises his right of franchise in the support of the Republican party, and all educational and moral enterprises find in him a true friend.