ojokurtz.html

The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., March 11, 1905, page 2
"Klickitat Intelligence"

JOHN KURTZ ENDS HIS LIFE WHILE TEMPORARILY INSANE - The funeral of John Kurtz, a veteran of the Civil War, aged 70, will be held at Spring Creek on Saturday, March 11th, under the auspices of the G.A.R. Mr. Kurtz was in Portland, ____ with his son-in-law, Fred hours, and while temporarily insane and committed suicide. He left the home of Mr. Bowers, and while temporarily insane committed sucide. He left the home of Mr. Bowers at 10 o'clock in the morning after some reading matter. At nightfall, when he did not appear, his wife, who was with him in Portland, became anxious and a search was made without results. At midnight the police were duly notified and no trace of him could be found until he was discovered lying helpless and unconscious near the woolen mills out at St. Johns. He died before his wife and daughter learned of his condition. Thorough investigation of the case by the coroner developed the fact that the aged veteran of the war was seen in several places yesterday after leaving his home acting very peculiarly. That he was mentally irresponsible there is said to be no doubt. The wonderful vitality and shown by the aged man who was in the subject of much comment. He fired three shots into his head at the back and was exposed through the long, cold night yet he lived until two o'clock in the afternoon. Mr. Kurtz was one of the pioneer residents of the Klickitat valley, and greatly esteemed by all who knew him. His many friends in this section are well satisfied that Mr. Kurtz was unquestionably insane at the time he ended his life.

The Klickitat County Agriculturist, Goldendale, WA., March 18, 1905, page 1

SAYS FATHER WAS MURDERED - John Kurtz, a veteran of the Civil War, and a Klickitat pioneer, whose death was reported as a suicide, was laid to rest in the Spring Creek Cemetery Saturday last. The funeral was conducted by Baker Post, No. 20, G. A. R. of Goldendale. Mr. Kurtz was born in Crawford County, O., in 1834. After the war, he removed to California, and worked at the carpenter's trade for seven years. In 1878 he came to Klickitat and took up land in the Spring Creek country, and had been an honest and respected citizen of Klickitat ever since. At the time of his death Mr. Kurtz and wife were visiting with their daughter, Mrs. Clara Kurtz Bowers, in Portland. In an interview with ex-sheriff F.B. Stimson, Mrs. Bowers, who came up to attend the funeral, stated that, after going over the details regarding the finding of the body, and the manner in which the wounds were inflicted, that both she and Mrs. Kurtz are firm in their belief that the old veteran was murdered, and did not end his own life, as reported. She also stated that Mr. Kurtz did not have a revolver, and that he had no money on his person when found, although he had some money when he left home.