Joseph Kurtz
Biography from Biographical Annals of Lancaster County, PA, pages 1032-1033
Submitted by Suzanne NobleJOSEPH KURTZ, general farmer and lime manufacturer of Salisbury township, is one of its' leading and highly esteemed citizens. He was born on the old homestead in this township April 8, 1841, son of John and Mary (Boley) Kurtz.
John Kurtz, the father of Joseph, was a prominent and successful farmer of Salisbury township, owning at the time of his death six of the fine farms of that township. Although no member, he was a constant attendant and a very liberal supporter of the Old Mennonite Church, of which his wife was a consistent member. John Kurtz died April 16, 1871, at the age of eighty-one years, and his wife died January, 1888, aged eighty-one years. Both were buried on the old Kurtz homestead in Salisbury township. The children born to John and Mary Kurtz were as follows: Daniel is a retired farmer of Salisbury township; Nancy, deceased, was the wife of Samuel Worst; John died in Kentucky and was brought for burial to this township; Martha married Harvey Sweigert, a farmer of Salisbury township; Jacob, a soldier during the Civil war, died in New Mexico; Abraham is a retired farmer in Salisbury township; Samuel resides in Denver, Colo; David is a farmer of Salisbury township; Mary married James Roseboro, of Lancaster; Martin resides on the old homestead; and Joseph is a farmer and lime manufacturer in Salisbury township, and the subject of this sketch.
Jacob Kurtz, the paternal grandfather of Joseph Kurtz, was an intelligent and prosperous farmer of Lancaster county, although he began his business career as a poor man on the old John Warner farm, near the Pequea Meeting House. He was noted as being unusually large physically, weighing 200 pounds. He married Martha King, of Manheim township, who died at the age of seventy-four years. Jacob died in 1822 at the age of seventy-five years and two months, and both were interred on a part of their old farm twelve miles east of Pequea Meeting House. They were consistent members of the Amish Church.
Joseph Kurtz grew up on the farm and attended the public schools, remaining with his father, assisting in the agricultural work, until within three years before his marriage. Then he began farming in East Earl township, where he remained for two years, when he came to his present farm of 120 acres in Salisbury township. In 1869, Mr. Kurtz began the manufacture of lime, and with three kilns he manufactures 27,000 bushels of lime yearly. The business is well managed and produces a fine income. In politics, Mr. Kurtz is a Republican, and he takes a great interest in all public affairs.
On April 20, 1869, Mr. Kurtz was married to Miss Elizabeth Ranck, and the children born to this union were: Flora, who married Charles Norris, a mail agent in Salisbury township; Ada, who married Lytle Skiles, a hotel keeper in New Holland, and has three children; Sallie, deceased, who married Ralph Seabold, a railroad ticket agent at Honeybrook, and had two children; Charles H., who resides at Los Angeles, Cal.; Jennie, who married Harry Eshleman, of Coatesville, and has three children; Lydia, who married David K. Sweigert, mail agent at White Horse, and has two children; Mabel, Barton S. and Chester L., all at home.
Mrs. Elizabeth (Ranck) Kurtz was born in East Earl township April 8, 1843, daughter of Samuel E. And Sallie (McElroy) Ranck, of Lancaster county. Mr. Ranck was a prominent man in East Earl township, was identified with politics, filled the offices of supervisor, assessor and tax collector and it was through his influence that a post office was established at Green Bank, Pa., of which he was postmaster for many years. He died in 1889, aged eighty-two years. Both were buried in the Ranck Church cemetery, in East Earl township. They were members of the U.B. Church. Their children were as follows; Sallie, who died in infancy; Laban, a resident of Camden, N.J.; Aaron, a resident of Council Bluffs, Iowa; Elijah, a shoemaker who resides at Blue Ball, Pa.; Elizabeth, who is Mrs. Kurtz; Edward, a farmer of Salisbury township; Lydia, widow of Isaac Seldomridge, and a resident of Coatesville; and Phoebe, deceased. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Kurtz were Peter and Margaret (Eckholtz) Ranck, of Lancaster county, and the maternal grandparents were James and Sarah ( Wisher) McElroy, farming people of Lancaster county, all highly respected in their various localities.
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