Salem Pioneer Cemetery ~ Gottlieb Frederick Kurtz ~ part of the Marion County Pioneer Cemeteries of Oregon
Gottlieb "Frederick" Frederick Kurtz
LAST NAME: Kurtz FIRST NAME: Gottlieb MIDDLE NAME: Frederick NICKNAME: Frederick
MAIDEN NAME:  AKA 1:  AKA 2:  AKA 3: 
TITLE:  GENDER: M MILITARY: 
BORN: 23 Sep 1844 DIED: 7 Dec 1936 BURIED: 9 Dec 1936
ETHNICITY:  German OCCUPATION:  Farmer; shoe repairman
BIRTH PLACE:  Wurttenberg, Germany
DEATH PLACE: Salem, Marion Co., Oregon
NOTES: 
1880 IA CENSUS - Fred'k Kurtz, age 36, b. Wurtemburg, occupation farmer, is enumerated with Caroline, age 34, b. Iowa, along with children John, age 15, Glendon, age 10, George, age 12, Agnes, age 8, Andrew, age 6, all born in Iowa, and Elijah, age 4, and Johanna, age 6 m's, both born in Nebraska.

BIOGRAPHICAL:
"Gottlieb Frederick Kurz immigrated to the U.S. about 1862/3 from Fredweichaven, Wurtemburg, Germany. He married Caroline Pfeifer at Mt. Pleasant, Iowa, in 1864. He worked as a shoe repairman. Their first 5 children were born in Iowa and then they moved to Lancaster County, Nebraska where 3 more children were born. In the 1880' or late 1890's they moved by wagon to Oregon where Kurz purchased some land from the son of Keizer who originally had an Oregon Donation Land claim north of Salem. Kurz changed his name to Kurtz and started going by the name Frederich Kurtz. His farming was quite extensive and he operated a prune dryer. His sons, except for John who stayed in Nebraska all were prominent farmers and in the food processing business in the Salem area. Clinton and Henry moved away but Lige and Fred stayed in this area until their deaths. Kurtz owned lots and houses in Salem. His two daughters lived in town and the eldest, Agnes died of typhoid in 1903. She was preceded in death by her brother, George, who died of pneumonia in 1890 while attending Willamette university. The youngest daughter married Alvan Godfrey, the son of a pioneer family, and died in 1913 in childbirth. The following people are buried in the Kurtz plot at IOOF cemetery: Gottlieb Frederich Kurtz, his wife Caroline Pfeifer Kurtz, George Kurtz, Agnes Kurtz, Carlene Kurtz and Erma, two young daughters of Clinton and Lottie Kurtz, Johanna Godfrey and infant daughter. The children's headstones are missing. Johanna Kurtz Godfrey and her sister both worked for the Oregon Statesman. Johanna Godfrey was the grandmother of my husband. Her son, Fred, was adopted by her parents shortly after her death." source - Betty Kurtz, Salem

ADOPTION - Fred Godfrey [son of Alvan and Johanna Kurtz Godfrey was adopted by G. F. and Caroline Kurtz 12 Oct 1916 in Marion Co., Oregon. His name was changed from Frederick Hammett Godfrey to Frederick Kutz Godfrey. (SOURCE - Oregon Adoptions and Name Changes, 1876-1918, via Ancestry.com)
OBITUARY: 
Gottlieb Kurtz, 93, at a local hospital, December 7, late resident of Salem Route 2. Survived by four sons, John of Sprague, Neb., Clinton of San Diego, Henry A. of Sacremento, E. A. Kurtz of Salem; six grandchildren, Dr. Howard Kurtz, Alvin and Barbara Kurtz and Fred Godfrey, all of Salem, Mrs. Dorothy Payton of Multnomah and Chester Kurtz of Portland; five great grandchildren also survive. Funeral services from Clough-Barrick chapel Wednesday December 9, at 3 p.m. Dr. James Milligan officiating. Interment at Odd Fellows cemetery. Capital Journal 9 Dec 1940 5:1 G. F. HURTZ, 93, CALLED TO BEYOND
Final Rites Are Held for Well-Known Farmer of Keizer. 
Keizer, Dec. 9 -- Funeral services for Gottlieb Frederick Kurtz, 93, who died Monday at a Salem hospital were held this afternoon at the Clough-Barrick mortuary, with Rev. J. E. Milligan of the first M. E. Church, of which Mr. Kurtz had been a member since locating here, officiating. Mr. Kurtz was born in Wurdingurg [Wertenberg], Germany, in March 1943, and came to this country at the age of 18, locating in Mt. Pleasant, where two years later he was married to Caroline Pfiefer. They lived in Iowa for a number of years and then moved to Nebraska where they resided until 1889 when, with their family they came to Oregon. Two daughters and two sons and the wife preceeded him in death. The four sons living are John F. of Sprague, Henry A. Sacramento, California, Clinton J. San Diego, California and Elijah A. of Keizer. He also leaves six grandchildren, Dr. Howard Kurtz, Alvin and Barbara and Fred Godfrey Kurtz all of Salem; Mrs. Dorothy Payton of Multnomah, and Chester Kurtz of Portland; and five great grandchildren. 
When Mr. Kurtz arrived in Oregon, he purchased a 29 acre farm from Thomas Hubbard, son-in-law, of John Keizer, a pioneer in this district. Mr. Kurtz lived on this place for 47 years. He was a pioneer prune grower in this district and was alsways optimistic in regard to the prune situation. Mr. Kurtz was a shrewd business man in his day and accumulated considerable property. Until the last few years when his hearing and eyesight became impaired, he carried on his own business affairs. He had been ill at his home for some time, but was removed a week ago to a Salem hospital. 
Oregon Statesman 10 Dec 1936
INSCRIPTION: 
G. F. Kurtz 
Sept. 23, 1884 [death date not given] [shares marker with Caroline Kurtz]
SOURCES: 
LR LD OSBH DC (Marion County 1936) #1039 1880 IA CENSUS (Lancaster Co., Olive Branch, pg 376B) Saucy Survey & Photographs CJ 9 Dec 1940 5:1 OS 10 Dec 1936 Betty Kurtz, Salem
CONTACTS: 
LOT: 507 SPACE: 1 NW LONGITUDE: N 44° 55.221' LATITUDE: W 123° 02.859'
IMAGES: