Person:Otto Kurz (1)

OTTO KARL KURZ AND KAROLINE MADER WOLFLE KURZ

    Otto Karl Kurz was born 14 mar 1853 at New Barnam, Brandenburg, Germany. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Church and remained a member throughout his life. He graduated as a butcher as a young man and came to America soon after to keep from being drafted into the German Army. He arrived in America in 1883 with plans of traveling westward.
    Otto came to Sidney, Nebraska one day in 1885 with the intention of staying only a day or two. While in Sidney, he was asked to cut beef for the crews building the Burlington Railroad. He decided to stay and work for awhile before moving on. While working as a butcher for the railroad he met a young widow named Karoline Mader Wolfle.
    Karoline Mader was born 21 Aug 1865 at Auslaws, Lauraine, Germany. She was of the Catholic faith and remained so throughout her life. As a young woman she was a house cook and servant in a castle on the Rhine near the Black Forest. She saved her money to buy a ticket to America, direct to Sidney, Nebraska. She had known the Wolfle family in Germany and was coming to America to marry Frank J. Wolfle. They were married 24 Sept 1886 at Sidney. Frank and Karoline filed for and made their home on a  homestead near Sidney. Their first child, John Baptise, was born 17 June 1887 (died 2 Jan 1956). Their second child, Pauline, was born 21 Nov 1888 (died 11 Nov 1962).
    Times got hard. To earn some extra money Frank and Karoline decided to go to Boulder, Colorado so Frank could work at the mines near there. Karoline stayed in town with her two small children and Frank traveled to the mines. While working at the mine, Frank came down with diptheria and died in 1890. The miners buried him near the mine and then went into town to inform Karoline of his death.
    Karoline, expecting her third child, returned to the homestead near Sidney with her two small children. She began looking for some kind of employment. Someone suggested she go to the railroad crews to see if they needed someone to cook for them. They told her they didn't need a cook, but if she wanted to wash andd iron their shirts they would pay her. So, each week she would hitch up her wagon and drive to the railroad camp to get their shirts. Karolines third child, Frank Joesfath, was born 7 June1890 (died jan 1968). It was at the railroad camp that Otto and Karoline met. Otto told her there was no need for her to travel all that way with three small children and that he would bring the shirts back and forth for her.
    Otto and Karoline were married 6 June1891 at Sidney, Nebraska. Karl worked for a butcher shop in Sidney. Their first child was a son, Otto Karl Jr., who lived only a few months. He was born 6 June1892 - died 24 Sept 1892. Their daughter, Emma Jane, was born 27 July 1893. That winter, while Otto was carrying a quarter of beef, he slipped and fell, breaking his back. Because of permanent paralysis, he was unable to work in the shop. But, with the help of Karoline and their sons, Otto was able to help prepare the meat from his chair.
    Otto and Karoline filed for a homestead eight miles west of Sidney on what was called "Sidney Draw", where they dry farmed wheat. By this time Otto was able to get around on crutches, which he used the remainder of his life.
    Other Children born to this couple were:
    Otto Karl Jr.       born 15 Oct 1895         died 21 Oct1961
    Karoline Friedaricka     born 20 Oct 1897         died 27 Oct 1977
    Katherine Amelia         born 21 June 1902
    Anna Marie          born 2 Aug 1904
    Louise              born 18 May 1906         died 12 Sept 1907
    
    Their religious differences and past German social standing caused some controversary in their lives but they let their children chioose a religion of their own when grown.
    Otto remained in the Sidney area for the rest of his life, never making it further west. He died 20 Aug 1932 at the age of 70 years, 5 mo., 6 days. Reverand Kahse afficiated at his funeral at the family home in Sidney.
    Karoline spent some of her remaining years on the homestead. She died 12 Mar 1942 at the home of her daughter Karoline in Sidney, Nebraska

The information used in writing this history came from Karoline Friedaricka Kurz Sparks, Otto and Karoline's daughter; and from Helen Chambers Koester, daughter of Pauline Wolfle Chambers.

    Compiled and written Nov 1977 by Tamera Vargason, wife of Neil Vargason who is a great grandson of Otto and Karoline Kurz.

1. ↑ Report of Marriage, State of Nebraska, for Nathaniel Henderson and Emma Currs.
2. ↑ Certificate of Death - Emma Jane Henderson.
3. ↑ Certificate of Delayed Birth Registration for Emma Jane Kurz.
4. ↑ Certificate of Delayed Birth Registration for Karoline Kurz.
5. ↑ Certificate of Marriage Record for Otto Kurz and Caroline Wolfle.
6. ↑ Certificate of Delayed Birth Registration for Otto Karl Kurz.
7. ↑ Certificate of Death - Emma Jane Henderson.
8. ↑ Certificate of Marriage Record for Otto Kurz and Caroline Wolfle.
9. ↑ Certificate of Delayed Birth Registration for Otto Karl Kurz.
10. ↑ Certificate of Delayed Birth Registration for Emma Jane Kurz.
11. ↑ Certificate of Delayed Birth Registration for Karoline Kurz.