Emmons County record. [volume] (Williamsport, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1884-current, 1916-10-12
THE RANKS ARE THINNING
s. E. kurtz il Another of Emmons
COunty's Pioneer Band to An
swer the Last Summons.

s. E. kurtz is Another of Emm0ns
County's Pioneer Band to An.
swer the Last Summons.
With startling rapidity the ranks
of the pioneer band that settled in the
"old Williamsport" ncighborhood are
thinning. We Of today have watched
with regret the older pioneers seek
their last resting place. Now we
must chronicle the passing of one of
the younger set of that early-day cit
izenship, and in so doing we must pay
homage to one of the brainiest, most
energetic of those who assisted to re-
claim Dakota and Emmons county
from cheerless waste of prairie and
to show that crops that vie well with
those of the old farming communities
were not an impossibility.
1t is with Il feeling of sadness that
we speak of the death of Simon f.
kurtz. native of Wayne county.
Ohio, who died after a brief illness at
Plankinton, S. d. whore he had been
visiting while on an automobile trip
with his wife and daughter, Martha.
Not yet rounding out his fifty-nine
years of life, he has passed to the
Great Beyond, comparatively young
man as the ages of men go. Typhoid
was the fatal disease Always in the
excellent health, Mr.. kurtz left his
home county of many years for IL
pleasure trip of a few weeks. The
first news to this community that he
was II was conveyed in u message to
the children ut Hazelton calling them
to their fathers bedside, he in few
days having passed INTO stage of
dclirium with little hope of recovery.
All of the members of the family left
at once and were present at their
fathers bedside at the last. Five
boys and Miss Helen, as we'll as Miss
Martha who accompanied her father
were there. The boys are Cloyd, Earl,
Paul, Clifford and Stanley. They are
all residents of the old home property
near Hazelton.
"Sime kurtz was to Emmons county
what Jim Hill was to the Northwest.
Thus did one old-timc acquaintance of
the deceased aptly describe his career.
From the first he was a practical and
successful farmer. None of the hit
and miss variety was tolerated All
farm work was done thoroughly and
intelligently. 1t was science with
the Kurtz family.
Thirty three years ago a colony of
Ohio people settled in the northern
Part Of the county. In the party was
the young man, s. E. Kurtz He had
been married two years before at Syc-
amore, Ohio, to Amanda F. Shively
and together they had come to the
mysterious and unknown Northwest t.
make home for themselves and tt
rear family. That they cid wisely
and we'll has been shown. The large
family of boys are all prosperous ant
settled where the father and mother
cast their fortunes. Mr.. KurtZ him
self had discontinued active farm worl
some years ago. Since 1907 he ha.
been president of the Bank of Hazel
ton, the pioneer banking institution o
that town. AS he had been success
full farmer, so he became successful
banker. The character of the man ha
been indelibly imprinted not only upo
the lives of his associates, but in tn
actual conditions of the neighborhoo
which he called home. When other
had failures, the Kurtzes had fai
crop. When others did well, tn
Kurtzes had record-breaking yields
: 1t was not accident 1t was the mar
The funeral was neld ut fiazclto
yesterday afternoon at $3.50 and ir
, terment made in Hazelton cemetcr,
: The pall-bearers were w. L. Yeatel
N. Rush, S. E. Brindlc, John Baker
M. Appert and Jake Kalberer, a
. neighbors and friends Of the deceasc
for third of century.
The labors of "Sime" Kurtz, as h
3 was known to all, is ended. He ha
\ done his work we'll His heart wa
. wrapped up in the fortunes of his DH
}, kota home and he has left no ston
q unturned to advance its interests.
!, those of US who are left behind can d
), but fractional part as well, the futur
of which he dreamed will be realizs
J, ton and this will become neighbol
II hood which will be paradise for tn
poor man with ambition.
j 1t is a mere waste of words to 50
c that we join in extending sympath
to the faithful wife and sorrowin
G children. Their loss cannot be thu
r appeased. 1t is in contemplation of
!, well-spent life and pride in the pri'