
Jacob Kurz photograph
taken in 1884 on a trip
to visit family in Wisconsin just prior to leaving for "out west"
Henry Kurz Collection |
Parents
of Jacob Kurz:
Peter Joseph
Kurz
Born: November 2,
1820 in Schauren, Kr. Kastellaun,
Rheinland
Married: January 27,
1856 in Green Bay, Brown
County, Wisconsin
Died: October 1, 1898
in Town of How, Oconto
County, Wisconsin
Katherine
Bibelhausen - wife
Born: November 25,
1835 in Valwig, Rheinland
Died: June 22, 1915
in Ladysmith, Rusk County,
Wisconsin
Jacob
Kurz - son
Born: 02 Nov 1862 in
New Denmark, Brown County,
Wisconsin
Married: 02 Nov 1892
Comanche County, Kansas,
to Rosa Deubler
Died: 14 May 1951 in
Coldwater, Kansas
Burial:
Crown
Hill Cemetery
Coldwater
Comanche County
Kansas, USA
|
The following
family history was written by
Jacob Kurz direct descendant Linda Crowe in 1980
and is posted in the
original form with her
permission (July 18, 2005).
It was first published by
the
Comanche County Historical
Society
410 South Baltimore, Box 177
Coldwater 67029
Jake Kurz with other
family members
Rita Neustifter
Collection,

This picture was
taken near Warren, Minnesota
about 1882/83.
Jake Kurz (left) with
his brother John, wife
Anna Peterson and step daughters Enga & Kaja
|
After leaving his family farm in Shawano County,
Wisconsin, 19 year
old Jake Kurz first homesteaded with his brother John, taking oldest
brother
Philipp Joseph's (Joe) place on the new homestead in Minnesota. Joe had
left for the mines in Wyoming. Jake and John were living alone and
needed
a housekeeper who was familiar with gardening and preparing food for
winter
storage as well as cleaning and meal preparation. They advertised the
position
and Anna Peterson responded. She was a married mother of two young
daughters.
The three had been abandoned by Anna's husband and she was working as a
housekeeper in Wisconsin. Anna was hired and brought her two daughters
to live on the Minnesota frontier homestead. Jake moved on to the
frontier
of Kansas and Oklahoma in 1885 after visiting brother Joe at his newly
claimed homestead land. Not long afterward, Joe became gravely ill and
was diagnosed with Spinal Tuberculosis. He eventually sold his
homestead
and moved north to Oregon to live with sister Katherine and her family.
Anna Peterson had divorced and accepted John Kurz' proposal of marriage
at the Minnesota homestead. Anna's two daughters were being raised by
John
kurz as his own and were soon joined by triplet brothers. Jake
maintained
close contact with all his brothers and sisters then and throughout
their
lives.
Jacob & Rosa Kurz

Jacob Kurz and Rosa
Deubler
were
married November 2, 1892,
by Shelby P. Duncan,
Probate judge of
Comanche county, Kansas.
Beeley Family Collection |

Ron Kurz Collection
Rosa Deubler
Kurz
Jacob Kurz
1874-1965
1862-1951
Photographs
taken on March 22, 1948
|
Jacob Kurz b: 02 Nov 1862 in Brown County, WI
d: 14 May 1951 in
Coldwater, Kansas
.. +Rosa Deubler b: 24 Mar 1874 in Warsaw,
Illinois d: 05
Oct 1965 in Coldwater, Kansas m: 02 Nov 1892 in Comanche County, Kansas
Children of Jacob and Rosa Deubler Kurz:
1. Clara Kurz b: 06 Aug 1894 d: 21 Jul 1907 in
San Pedro, California
2. Mable Kurz (Fred Leroy Parker) b: 05 Jun 1896 d: 19 Jul 1977
3. Charles Jacob Kurz b: 18 Jan 1900 d: 21 Jul 1907 in
San Pedro,
California
4. Infant Daughter Kurz b: April 2, 1903 d: April 4, 1903
5. Rose Marie Kurz (Earnest Martin Oller) b: 16 Jul 1904 d: 17 Oct 1987
6. Ethel May Kurz (John Earl Swaim) b: 10 May 1913 d: 1982
Burial:
Crown Hill Cemetery
Coldwater
Comanche County
Kansas, USA
|
Jacob Kurz was born on a farm in Brown
County, Wisconsin to Peter and Katherine (Biblehausen) Kurz November 2,
1862. His parents were natives of Germany. He came
to Kansas
March 20, 1885. Arriving by train in Attica, Kansas, he then
took
the stage to Kiowa and then walked to the Rumsey Township in Comanche
County
to join his brother Joe. They both homesteaded on Government
land
living in dugouts for three years. On April 22, 1885 the
rains come
and flooded the Medicine River, washing away houses and
wagons. Twenty-four
bodies were found the next day. There were four people in the
Kurz
dugout bailing water all night. The only light was a saucer
with
lard in it and a rag for a wick.
Jacob made money by working to help build
the Santa Fee Railroad
from Kiowa, Kansas through the Indian territory of Oklahoma.
With
this money he established his farming and ranching operations.
Rosa Marie Deubler was born to Gottlieb
Friedrich and Mary
Elizabeth (Enzeroth) Deubler in Warsaw, Illinois March 24,
1874.
Gottlieb Friedrich Deubler came to the United States from Germany and
never
returned to their native country. Gottlieb was 17
when he immigrated
in 1854.
Rosa's mother, Mary Enzeroth,
immigrated several years
before Gottlieb. They met and married in Warsaw, Illinois.
Mrs. Deubler
left Rosa with a sister in Wichita, Kansas and hearing of homesteading
land in Western Kansas brought her five unmarried children to
Evansville,
Kansas. It wasn’t long until Rosa came by stage to
join her family.
The Deubler land was near the settlement of Jacob Kurz. (Rosa's
father died 14 April/May 1882 at age 45. Rosa
was the 11th of 12 children. She was the youngest daughter and had one
brother, Joseph Fredrich who lived only 2 months. Another
brother
of Rosa, John Henry Deubler, married Mellie Orilla Hazen, born 9 Feb
1862
in Sandusky, Erie, Ohio. Her parents were Acel James Hazen and Sarah
Ellen
Corning. John and Mellie married 28 Sept 1886/7.
John died
31 May 1958 in Seiling, Dewey, Oklahoma and Mellie died 20 Feb 1956 in
Seiling. Deubler descendant: Margaret
Sexton )
Jacob and Rosa were married November 2,
1892 by Shelby P. Duncan,
probate judge of Comanche County. By this time Mr. Kurz had
built
a two room home, the first wood frame home in Comanche
county. Six
children were born to this union. Clara (August 6, 1894),
Mable (June
5, 1896), Charles Jacob (January 18, 1900), Rosa Marie (July 16, 1904),
the fifth child, a daughter, died in infancy, and Ethel May (May 19,
1913).
Their greatest bereavement came when the
ill fated steamer,
the Columbia, sank in the Pacific Ocean July, 1907. Jacob,
Clara
and Charlie were on their way to Oregon to visit his brother,
Joe.
They booked passage in California on the steamship and eighteen miles
out
to sea the Columbia was hit broadside by another ship. It
sank at
once. Clara was in a room with another woman and they were
never
heard from. Jacob, with Charlie in his arms, was forced into
the
water. Unconscious, they were picked but by a life boat with
thirty
people in it. After Jacob regained his consciousness, he
looked around
for his son only to be told he had died in his arms and the boat had no
room for the body. He was left at sea. Word first
received
in Coldwater was they had all drowned. It wasn’t
for three weeks
that Jacob got word back that he was alive. He
wasn’t very well and
hoping to find the children stayed another thirty days. They
were
never found.
Years passed and Jacob and Rosa became well
established in
ranching. In 1913 they bought a residence at 500 E. Maple in
Coldwater
so the younger girls could attend Coldwater schools. Jacob
was always
interested in building and in the late 40’s built the brick
office building
on East Main by the Post Office.
Rosa Kurz was an excellent cook.
Her kuchen bread recipe
is a favorite of her great grandchildren today.
Jacob passed away May 14, 1951 and Rosa
October 5, 1965 leaving
their estate to the three surviving daughters, Mable Parker, Rosa
(Oller)
Bannick, and Ethel May Swaim.
Linda Crowe, 1980
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Birth:
Jul. 16, 1904,
USA
Death:
Oct. 17, 1987,
USA
Rosa Marie Kurz Oller
Obituary
Rosa Marie Kurz was born at the ranch home of her parents, Jacob and
Rosa Kurz, July 16, 1904. Being the "good ole days" their closest
neighbor was three miles away and trips to town were few, twice a year,
with a wagon to sell hogs and ring home groceries. This took three days
one to go, one to shop and one to come home. Mail came twice a month at
a store in Aetna. She told of the Indians raiding their home as her
family hid in the surrounding hills. They took beans and tobacco.
Rosa was one of six children. She had sisters; Clara, Mable Parker,
Ethel May Swaim, a sister who died in infancy and one brother, Charles
Jacob. Clara and Charles lost their lives on the ill-fated steamer, the
Columbia when it sank on the Pacific Ocean July 1907 they were never
found.
In 1913, Jacob and Rosa Kurz bought a residence in Coldwater and moved
their daughters to town so they could attend Coldwater schools.
On June 7, 1922, Rosa married Ernest Martin Oller and made their home
on his father's farm for a year. In 1924 they moved to "Home" and
bought their first combine that was pulled by four horses and a Ford
tractor. Rosa had a love for animals, especially horses. They raised
all breeds of horses from palominos to Shetlands and showed
successfully in many horse shows. She often told of the times her
sisters and she would run their horses during the winter and slide them
across the ice ponds. Many times the men would go out to gather the
horses but they wouldn't come in. Ernest went to the house and get Rosa
and they came trotting right in.
Jan 9 1926 was a special day as their only child, Ernest J. Oller, was
born at the home of his grandparents, Jacob and Rosa Kurz. Of the many
lessons in life Rosa tried to install in her son was "two wrongs don't
make a right".
Ernest Martin Oller died in April 1966.
Rosa married Frances Bannick Jan. 16, 1971. He preceded her in death.
She later married Lonnie Ware. He also preceded her in death. She
enjoyed working and was a member of the Antioch Community Church, was a
charter member of the Pikeview E.H.U., worked in the Loyal Hustlers 4-H
Club and helped her husband in raising money to build the Pioneer
Lodge.
Rosa was preceded in death by her parents, Jacob and Rosa Kurz, her
husbands, Ernest M. Oller, Frances Bannick and Lonnie Ware, brother
Charles, sisters, Clara, Ethel Swaim and Mable Parker.
She will be greatly missed by her son and wife, Ernest and Jennie
Oller; grandchildren Leo and Karen Oller, Mike and Linda Crowe, and
Larry and Katie Oller; great grandchildren Sam and Jennifer Oller,
Bradley and Sara Crowe, Angela, Benjamin and Ann Oller.
Services were held at the Hatfield-Prusa Chapel in Coldwater Oct. 19,
1987 with Rev. Rob Weeks officiating. Songs sung by Rex Maris,
accompanied by Fayette Blount, were "It is Well With my Soul: "Let the
Rest of the World Go By', "I Know Who Holds Tomorrow".
The obituary was read by granddaughter, Linda Crowe.
Pallbearers were Bob Basnett, Robert Huck, Victor Stark, Virgil
McIntyre, Russell Harness, and Wayne Kindsvater. Honorary pallbearers
were Jim Haas, Clifford Blount, Frank Zielke, Ralph Klepinger, Harry
Lohrding, Ralph Deewall and Ansel Dickinson.
Internment followed at Crown Hill Cemetery, Coldwater. Grandson Leo
Oller played the Lord's Prayer on his trumpet.
Information provided by Willis Oller.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Henry Kurz Collection
Inside
view of the dugout cabin with storage
and large cast-iron, wood burning, cook stove.
Jake Kurz is sitting
at far left.
|
The
oldest three children
of Jacob and Rosa in
1900.
Left to right:
Mable,
Charley and Clara Kurz
Veronica Kurz Holl Collection |
Please click on
the photos below for a full
size view.
Click "Back" to return.

Kurz Family in 1900
at the original "Dugout"
House.
Left to right
Clara, Rosa, Charley
in carriage, Mable and
Jacob.
Beeley Family
Collection
|

First Wood Frame
House Constructed
in Comanche
County, Kansas.
Photo 1900
Beeley Family Collection
|
Please click on
the photos below for a full
size view.
Click "Back" to return

Top: Scene from the
Kurz Ranch
in Commanche County,
Kansas
Middle: Using a
portable saw to cut wood.
The large belt extending to the right lower corner was connected to a
steam
engine for power.

Farm work.
Beeley Family Collection
|
Left to
right:
Mable, Rose in buggy,
Clara, Charley Kurz
Children of Jake and
Rose.
Beeley Family Collection |
The one story section
is the original Jake
Kurz wood frame ranch home, the first one built in Comanche County,
Kansas.
This photo shows the two story addition added later. Jake's son-in-law
and grandchild are standing in front and were living there at this
time.
Jake and his wife Rose were newly moved to their Victorian home in
nearby
Coldwater, Kansas.
Ron Kurz Collection |
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Taken from a
newspaper account and
personal recollections.
contributed from the Beeley
Family Collection
1907, July. — Steamship Columbia, sunk off
Shelton Cove, California,
in collision with steamship San Pedro; 50 lives lost.
1907, July 20.--American steamers Columbia and San Pedro
collided
on the Californian coast; 100 lives lost.
Steam Ship Columbia
Rita Neustiter Collection
|
Please click on
the photos below for a full
size view.
Click "Back" to return.
Beeley Family Collection
|
SMALL BOY DIES
IN ARMS OF FATHER
1907
July 27, 1907, Jacob Kurz, a farmer of Coldwater,
Kansas, who was
journeying to meet his brother at Falls City, Oregon, whom he had not
seen
in 20 years, is the only one to arrive here from Shelter Cove able to
give
a clear account of the landing of the ship with 15 people at that
place.
Kurz arrived in Eureka this morning. He had leaped into the
sea from
the Columbia with his 7 year old son and the boy died in his arms.
I was not
awakened by any crash, but the
scurrying of people on the upper deck; I took time to dress, not
realizing
that the vessel would sink. My boy Charley was in the room
with me
and I dressed him partly and ran toward the deck. The water
by that
time was up to the grating and with Charley in my arms, I dropped into
the sea. I tried my best to keep afloat, but the water was
icy and
the cold soon got the best of us. First my little boy grew
cold and
unconscious and then I lost my sense. At the last moment I
could
see no boat in sight, but when I awoke I was safely landed on one of
the
ships with a lot of half clad women and men. The sailors were
rowing
to get to the shore. First they tried the sails but this
didn’t work,
and once or twice the boat came near capsizing. But those
good sailors,
under the direction of Quarter master Hinner, kept on rowing, changing
about and receiving relief now and then from passengers who were strong
enough. When I came to my senses, I looked about for my boy,
but
they told me that he had died in my arms and they could not pick up the
body. At Shelter Cove we were all taken care of and given
clothes.
Next day we started out in a bark wagon, hauled by seven mules, for
Briceland.
We changed horse and teams and went on to Harris. Where the
other
survivors took the stage to San Francisco.

Jake Kurz taken near
the time of the accident.
|
Rose Kurz
taken near the time of the accident.
|
Kurz and O.P. Lewis, at the Sequoia hospital, are the
only survivors
who reached the shore at Shelter Cove to come through to
Eureka.
{end.}
Mable Parker
tells: “That Clara was
in a stateroom with some other lady and was evidently asleep at the
time
of the collision. Jacob attempted to go back to her room but
the
ship officers wouldn’t allow it. So he took Charley
and climbed a
high pole (possibly the mast?). As the ship sank and the
water level
rose higher and higher, Jacob and Charley let go and started
swimming.
Jacob remained there several days hoping the bodies would be recovered
but they were never found.
(note:
What was not mentioned at the time in July 1907; Jake Kurz also
was traveling to see his sister Catherine Kurz Maiers Murray who was
diagnosed with terminal cancer earlier that year and was not ready for
the family to know.
Catherine and her daughters had taken care of brother Philipp
Kurz for several years at her home in Oregon. Philipp had the diagnosis
of Spinal Tuberculosis, which at the time brought gradual deterioration
of the nervous system, paralysis and was eventually fatal. Philipp
outlived his sister Catherine, who died in September 1909. Her
daughters continued to care for him at the family home in Oregon until
his death in 1915.)
The photographs
below had the first names and
ages of Clara and Charley Kurz hand written on the backs.
They had been given to
their grandmother Catherine
Bibelhausen Kurz who was living in Ladysmith,
Wisconsin, and were found
among her charished
collection of family images.
Jacob remained in
California for 30 days in hopes of recovering the bodies of Clara and
Charley
but to no avail. It took approximately three weeks for word
of Jacob’s
safety to reach home. First reports were that all had
drown.
They were on their way to Oregon to visit Jacob’s brother,
Joe and sister Catherins Kurz Murray, both in seriously deteriorating health. The three
boarded the ship in California bound for Oregon. The Columbia
was
rammed by a logging boat and cut nearly in half.
San
Francisco, CA
Steamer Columbia Disaster, Jul 1907
WOMAN'S GRAPHIC
TALE OF COLUMBIA
DISASTER MAKES HORROR VIVID-DEATH LIST TOTALS
Third Officer
Accuses the Male
Passengers of Failing to Assist the Rescued
SURVIVORS OF THE
CREW BLAME THE SAN
PEDRO
Not a Child
Aboard Wrecked Steamer
Was Saved - Company Official Makes Statement
Revised lists
show that 97 persons
were drowned when the steamer Columbia was sent to the bottom off the
Mendocino coast early Sunday morning as the result of a collision with
the lumber schooner San Pedro. Not a child on board the Columbia
escaped death. A wonderfully graphic story of the disaster, in which
the horror of it all stands out so plainly that one can almost
experience it, is told by Mrs. O. Liedelt, one of the survivors, who
reached San Francisco yesterday. Third Officer Hawso expresses the
utmost contempt for the men who were in the wreck, declaring that they
did nothing to aid the women. Sworn statements made to government
officials by the crew of the wrecked steamer seek to place the
responsibility for the disaster on the San Pedro, which, it is
declared, did not respond properly to the passing signals given by the
Columbia.
"O, GOD, I CANNOT
FORGET IT!" SHE
CRIES
(Special Dispatch to the Journal)
San Francisco, July 23.
The most graphic story which has been told of the steamship Columbia
disaster was brought to this city today by a woman, Mrs. O. Leidelt,
one of the survivors, who arrived on the steamer Pomona from Eureka.
Mrs. Leidelt was the only survivor from among the passengers on the
ill-fated Columbia who came in on the Pomona, although the ship brought
the members of the crew who were saved and who had managed to reach
Eureka. When Mrs. Leidelt started down the Pomona's gang-plank, after
the ship was made fast, she faced a great crowd of anxious friends and
relatives of those who had been aboard the Columbia. Every passenger
who had preceded her down the plank had been stopped by anxious ones
who inquired, "Were you a passenger on the Columbia?". Not until Mrs.
Leidelt debarked was an affirmative answer obtained to the questions,
and at first the woman was so overcome by her emotions that she could
not talk, and constantly murmured, "I don't want to talk. Please do not
ask me to say anything."
Story Moved Men
to Tears.
Clad in a dark brown ulster which had been furnished her by the relief
committee at Eureka, and closely veiled, she made her way uncertainly
through the crowd on the pier, seemingly still in a daze from the
terrible experience through which she had passed. She was crying
constantly, and her replies to newspaper men who besought her to make a
statement of the affair were broken by sobs. When at last she was
induced to talk she told a story so graphic that the hardened newspaper
writers who listened to the recital were moved to tears. "I was asleep
in my berth when the crash came," she said, "and the jar of the
collision threw me to the floor. I managed to get out of the stateroom
although I was too bewildered to know what I was doing, and made my way
to the deck. I could only realize that something terrible had happened,
and did not stop to collect any of my belongings, or to don my clothing.
Passengers in a
Frenzy.
"When I reached the deck, everyone was excited." Men and women and
children were running about, screaming, and calling for friends and
relatives. The dark hulk of the San Pedro could be seen floating away
from the Columbia, and the rush of the water into our vessel made a
noise that was heard above the din of the crazed crowd. The crew was at
the boats, cutting and slashing at the lashings, and doing their utmost
to launch them while the frenzied passengers ran everywhere begging to
be saved. Some kneeled on the deck and said their last prayers, men
clasped their wives in their arms, and mothers gathered their children
about them. We waited for the end which, by intuition, we all knew was
at hand. "Only the captain remained cool among all that number. He
stood on the bridge, his arms stretched wide, and above all the other
noises rose the roar of his voice, begging the people to be calm and to
permit the launching of the life-boats and rafts. He was a heroic
figure, standing there along on the bridge in the gloom and darkness of
the night.
Fought like
Maniacs to Be Saved.
"But his entreaties availed very little. People fought like maniacs for
places in the boats, and piled into them before sailors had loosened
the falls. Those who could not find places in the boats about to be
lowered jumped over the side into the sea, and vainly tried to reach
pieces of wreckage and lumber from the San Pedro that floated all about
the ship. Every once in a while, the last cry of some poor soul struck
terror to the hearts of those still alive and looking over the railing
we could see faces uplifted and arms extended toward heaven as someone
sank for the last time beneath the waves. "The seconds seemed like
hours in the pandemonium that raged, and I scarcely had time to think.
Pushed and pulled and jammed about, I suddenly found myself near the
rail, and looking down into the water saw one of the life-rafts close
to the side of the ship, which by this time was listing heavily. There
was nobody on the raft, and thinking only to save myself, I leaped over
the side of the ship into the sea. How I got on the raft I do not know.
I must have struck it in falling, for I injured my hip when I jumped.
Down there in the water, looking back towards the ship, I saw other
women jumping over the side into the sea. Some of them had children in
their arms. Others were clasped in their husbands arms.
Women Leaped Into
the Sea.
"I saw two women make the leap into the ocean with their arms locked
about one another's neck. In a moment, some of the women began to climb
onto the raft. Some came from the water, others landed on the frail
support as they jumped from the ship. One man helped a woman into the
raft from the water, clung a moment to some of the side-lines, and
then, with two words, 'Good Bye,' sank under the waves. "We drifted
away from the side of the ship. Then came the explosion of the boilers.
Just before the explosion, the Columbia's whistle began a terrific
moanful screeching. Captain Duran had tied it down just as he shouted,
'Good bye. God bless you!' The explosion of the boilers seemed to heave
the Columbia clear off the water, and the air was filled with flying
bits of wreckage. then the ship settled by the head, and her bow
disappeared under the waves, the wreck of the hulk gliding in after it.
It was just like a porpoise settling into the water after he has made a
leap.
Raft in a
Whirlpool.
"As the Columbia went under, the waters swirled about our little raft
until it seemed that we were in a whirlpool with the waves breaking
over us. We were all lying prone, clinging to whatever holds we could
find. One poor woman could not cling to anything as she had two babies
in her arms. There was one other woman on the raft, and she and I
managed to support the mother with our free arms until suddenly, a
moment after the Columbia had disappeared, a terrific wave swept over
us. Our hold on the woman was broken, and she and her two babies were
washed away in the angry waters. "The one woman who was left with me on
the raft began to lose her strength. She shouted to me that she could
hold on but a moment longer, and begged me to support her. I tried to
encourage her, saying help was almost at hand, but she did not have the
strength. With all my might I clung to her, but I was weak too.
"O, God! I Can't
Forget That."
"Gradually she slipped off the side of the raft. I leaned over, still
holding to her until my strength gave out, and I had to let go. The
poor soul died before my eyes, and I could not save her..O,God! I can't
forget that! I will never forget that! Who she was I do not know. I can
only realize that she drowned and I could not help her. "Now and then I
caught sight of other rafts, and boats, and finally we drifted near the
San Pedro, and a boat took the raft in tow. It seemed hours after the
Columbia sank when we came alongside the lumber schooner, and we
climbed up her side- it was a terrible climb. "The men tried to help
me, but I was so weak, and felt so very, very old and broken that I
thought I could never get up the ladder. It had been so long since I
had leaped from the Columbia on to the raft. It was very cold, and we
were clad only in our night robes, and then the waves kept breaking
over us constantly. On the San Pedro, we were sitting on pieces of
lumber, part of what remained of the deck-load the ship had carried.
The San Pedro was down by the head, and the deck was almost awash.
Suddenly a wave carried away the lumber on which we were sitting, and
it was only by a miracle that we were not washed off into the sea.
Survivors Washed
Off the San Pedro.
"A few moments later there was a second great disaster on the San
Pedro. The rear mast of the ship snapped close to the deck, and as it
fell it carried several of the survivors of the Columbia horror back
into the water from which they had just been rescued. The boats were
still out, and one or two of those who were swept overboard when the
mast fell were found a brought back, but of the others we saw nothing
more. "All this time the fog hung about us. There was not even the
relief of a clear sky. All was darkness and misty gloom, and the
sensations were terrible, for we did not know whether or not the San
Pedro would hold together.
The officers did
their best to cheer
us though. "And then the day broke, the light coming on gradually, and
penetrating slowly through the cloud of mist and fog that seemed
wrapped about us. As the sun rose, it came up a dull, bloody red, and
hanging low in the skies, it cast a ruddy glow over the swishing waves
on which floated all manner of wreckage, and which in turn washed over
the wreck of the Columbia, and the last resting place of God alone
knows how many souls. "As the day broke, we could see who had been
saved, and who had been lost. Oh, that sight!
It was awful to
look about the deck
of the San Pedro, and see men and women and children, nearly all half
naked or clad only in their night clothes, to see the frenzy still on
their faces, to see the horror and the sorrow for loved ones lost, and
to know that only a few hours before we had been a happy, merry party,
ever so much larger, on the Columbia. Everything was desolate and
dismal, and we could do nothing. Then the Elder came up. We were
transferred to that ship, where we were cared for and taken to Eureka."
--------
SAN PEDRO
ANSWERED COLUMBIA'S SIGNALS
(By Associated Press)
SAN FRANCISCO. July 23 - Three of the officers of the Columbia who
arrived here today on the steamer Pomona made statements under oath to
Inspectors of Hulls and Boilers - Bolles and Bulger. Second Officer
Richard Agerupp said: "At 12 midnight, Saturday, July 20, I relieved
First Officer W. F. Whitney on the bridge of the Columbia, being 68
miles to the north of Point Arena by the ships log and steering N. W.
3-4 N. by pilot-house compass. Captain Doran was also on the bridge, as
the weather was foggy, but he went down to his room for about two
minutes. Then he returned to the bridge again.
"About 12:15 a.m.
Sunday
I heard a whistle on the starboard side and I reported to the captain,
who said he had heard it too. We kept our whistle going regularly, and
so did the other steamer. The sound apparently still came from the
starboard bow, which proved later to be the case, for about 12:20 we
saw the other steamer's headlights and her red sidelight, about two
points off the starboard bow. We were going full speed ahead as shown
by the indicator on the bridge. The captain ordered me to blow
two blasts.
While blowing the second blast the other steamer answered
with one blast. The captain then ordered the engineer 'full speed
astern;' His order was answered from the engine room and the captain
himself blew three whistles.
Soon after the steamer collided with the
Columbia and struck her about 30 feet from the stern on the starboard
side. This was about 12:22 as I looked at the clock. "Captain Doran
shouted: 'What are you doing man?' and told the other steamer to stand
by us as she was loaded with lumber.
"Captain Doran whistled down to
the engineer on watch to learn if the ship was making any water. I went
down to the engine room and asked the first assistant engineer, M.
Burpee, if there was any water making. He said there was not. Returning
to the bridge I reported to the captain.
Just then the watchman came on
the bridge and reported that the water was streaming in forward. "The
first officer came on the bridge and the captain ordered him to take
the bridge and for me to take off the head covers and get the boats
ready for hoisting. By this time the ship listed to starboard and
started to go down by the head.
Several men were by this time getting
the boats over. "The captain ordered me to cut the after life rafts
adrift. While doing this I heard the whistle blow and looking around
saw the bridge nearly under water. I saw there was no time to spare, so
I threw a life buoy overboard and jumped over the stern into the sea.
As I struck the water the Columbia disappeared and the suction brought
me down with it. I got to the surface and about 30 minutes later was
picked up in No. 10 boat by one of the quartermasters."
ARM BROKEN BUT HE
SWAM TO SAFETY
SAN FRANCISCO. July 23 - To his own prowess as a swimmer, John Swift,
ex-fireman on the Columbia, can attribute his safe arrival on the
Pomona this morning. With an arm broken in two place, he swam to some
wreckage after the Columbia, sank and clung there until taken aboard
the George W. Elder. Swift, with John Roach, was working in the
Columbia's fire room when the crash occurred. Roach went on deck to
find out what had occurred and to lend a hand in clearing away the
boats. Not until Roach yelled down the ventilator that the ship was in
great danger, did Swift know what had occurred. He scrambled up the
iron stairway of the fire room ad had hardly reached the deck when the
vessel gave a lurch and the whole starboard side went under
water.
Fortunately, he
had come out on the
port side, where, in the darkness, he did not know what to do. Before
the enormity of the disaster dawned upon him there was another lurch, a
wave swept him from his feet, and the next minute he was swimming in
the water. "I don't remember what happened after the until I came to,
floating about in the water. It was perfectly dark. I did not have a
life preserver on and I don't know how I managed to keep afloat all
that time. I tried to move. My left arm hurt terribly. Then I noticed
it was limp and realized it must have been broken. I swam to a piece of
timber floating by. I clung there until the Elder came along and picked
me up.
STEERAGE BERTHS
THE VICTIMS COFFINS
SAN FRACISCO. July 23 - Chief Engineer J. Y. Jackson told the story of
his personal experiences in the wreck. He said: "I was in my stateroom
when the crash occurred and I scrambled into a few clothes and came
upon deck. All was confusion and turmoil. The roar of the water as it
poured in the hole of the Columbia's side was deafening. Then
desperately swimming I caught a rope thrown from the deck of the San
Pedro. From there I looked back at the Columbia, just in time to see
her plunge beneath the waves. As she sank I could dimly see many men
dash across the deck toward the San Pedro; the next moment the fog had
hidden the dreadful scenes. "I am sure that many steerage passengers
did not leave their staterooms as the interval was so short between the
time she struck and the time that she sank that the men on watch in my
department had no time to get to the deck, and those that did jump
overboard were sucked down by the dreadful vortex created by the
sinking vessel. "When I rushed about the deck it seemed to be deserted
but I knew that many were about me, for the screams and cries were
awful. I thank God that I am safe, but would willingly have given my
life as Captain Doran did, to save those that perished. "I did not
realize that the vessel was going to sink as soon as it did and I
believe Captain Doran was of the same opinion."
STEWARD'S COOL
HEAD SAVED LIVES OF
MANY
SAN FRANCISCO. July 23 - The cool head of Second Steward A. Marks of
the Columbia, saved many lives when the Columbia sank. As soon as the
ship struck, the steward ran into the "glory-hole" where his men slept
and ordered them to their posts. The men were well drilled and wasted
no time in their duty of waking the passengers. They ran through the
cabins assigned to them dragging the people out of bed and adjusting
their life preservers for them. This accounts for the fact that all
those who were on deck had life preservers on them. When the waiters
were about half through their work on the starboard side the vessel
gave a heavy list and all those who still remained in their staterooms
on that side of the boat were doomed. The vessel filled to the deck and
the doors of their cabins were jammed so that they were unable to break
their way free before the vessel up-ended and dived to the bottom. The
starboard deck was filled with half dressed people when the fatal list
came. Those who were already on the deck were able to climb to the port
side and cling there until the last plunge was made. The vessel went
down without a noticeable suction but the passengers found that they
were unable to remain on the surface of the water, although buoyed up
by the life preservers. Many assert that they sank as far as 80 feet
before they began to rise.
--------
NUMBER WITH
FRIGHT, WOMEN GIVEN AID
SAN FRANCISCO. July 23 - C. Murphy, a waiter, one of the survivors of
the Columbia, who arrived here today said: "When the San Pedro struck
us, the shock awoke me right away. The next moment, the Second Steward,
Marks, called us to our fire drill posts and I ran to the deck on the
starboard side toward the stern where my post was. When I saw the San
Pedro I knew what was up. I was pretty sure she was sinking, so I ran
into every cabin, shaking the people in the bunks and dragging out
their life preservers. "I remember putting life preservers on eight
women on that side. Everybody was cool but nobody knew what to do. They
stood around dazed and let me put the straps over their shoulders just
like children without asking any questions or trying to help
themselves. I would not let them stop to dress. "The boat laid on her
right side until she sunk. When we were all clinging to the port rail,
hardly any of us with any clothes on, the captain stood on the bridge
and looking down on us and said: " 'Well, boys, I did all I could for
you, and I can do no more. She's a goner. Goodbye.' "
WHO SOME OF THE
DEAD VICTIMS WERE
El Paso, Tex. - Misses Edna Bessie Wallace, sisters, were El Paso
school teachers who had been in attendance upon the National
Educational Association convention at Los Angeles.
Colorado Springs,
Color. - Miss
Katrina Hayden was a school teacher of this city who had been in
attendance at the National Educational Association convention, in Los
Angeles. Her parents reside at Cripple Creek.
Denver. - Miss
Mary Persons was a
Denver school teacher. She was traveling in company with Miss Alice
Watson, another Denver teacher who was saved. She was 50 years old.
Decatur, Ill. -
Mrs. George E.
Kellar, and her three daughters, Thelma, Effie, and Grace, were
residents of this city. Mr. Kellar is a secretary of the Decatur Racing
Association and is one of the wealthiest stockmen in Central Illinois.
Omaha, Neb. - Mr.
and Mrs. C. A.
Winslow, of Omaha were well known here.
Litchfield, Ills.
- W. H. Truesjale
was a musician from this city.
--------
REVISED LIST
SHOWS NINETY-SEVEN
DROWNED
(not all children and adults were not on this list - there were names of the lost missing)
SAN FRANCISCO. July 23 - The revised list of those who are missing as
the result of the steamship Columbia disaster shows that 97 persons
were drowned.
Cabin Passengers
Missing
A - Miss R. Anderson, Franklin Aulf
B - W. J. Bachman, Miss Alma Bahleen, Mrs. J. Benson, Miss A. Bernal,
Mrs. Jane E. Best, Gertrude Butler, W. E. Butler, Mrs. W. E. Butler
C - Mrs. R. B. Cannon, Miss Clarana Carpenter, J. W. Carpenter, L.
Clasby, Mrs. L. Clasby, Marion Clasby, Steven Clasby, Miss A. B.
Cornell, Mrs. A. F. Cornell, Miss Lena Cooper
D - L. L. Drake Jr., J. C. Durham
F - Mrs. K. Fagalde
G - Miss Mabel Gerter, Mrs. Blanche R. Gordon, Mrs. A. Gray
H - Mrs. A. Happ, C. H. Harrington, Miss A. Hayden, L. E. Hill
K - Miss Alma B. Kellar, Miss Effie B. Kellar, Miss Grace F. Kellar,
Mrs. G. A. Kellar
L - Florence Lewis, E. Liggett, Ray Lewis, Mrs. B. Lippman
M - Lewis Malkus, Mrs. Lewis Malkus, Julia Matek, L. Mero, John B.
McFadyen, Miss Margaret McKearney, Chew Moch
N - Miss Louise G. Nake, Miss Nellie A. Nake
P - Miss Mary Parsons, J. E. Paul, Mrs. J. E. Paul
S - Miss Frances Schroeder, Miss Cora Shult, Miss Sarah Shult, G. A.
Smith, Mrs. William H. Soules, George Sparks, J. D. Springer, Miss
Elsie May Stone
W - Miss B. Wallace, Miss Edna Wallace, Mrs. S. Waller, William Waller,
Miss W. White, G. F. Wilson, C. A. Winslow, Mrs. C. A. Winslow, Mrs. H.
P. Winters, Roland Winters, Miss H. Wright
Y - J. K. Young
Total - 72
Steerage
Passengers Missing
Frank Giune, M. Mayo, C. W. Merill, John Miller, J. Premus, E. Silva,
Mrs. E. Silva, A. Spieler, B. Viants
Total - 9
Officers and Crew
Missing
P. A. Doran, captain; W. F. Whitney, first officer; C. Christensen,
quartermaster; H. C. Dupree, first assistant engineer; Max Claus,
second assistant engineer; C. Peterson, skaman; W. T. Anderson, water
tender; Alexander, water tender; Ed Larkin, oiler; J. Maddison, oiler;
A. Schneider, baker; Frank D. Davis, second cook; E. R. Drayer,
pantryman; J. G. Alley, waiter; R. J. Alley, waiter; A. L. Blocker,
waiter;
Total - 16
Daily Nevada
State Journal, Reno, NV
24 Jul 1907
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Please click on
the photos below for a full
size view.
Click "Back" to return
Swaim Family Collection
Working
cattle at the Jake Kurz Ranch.
|
The Jake
Kurz cattle brand
|
Back out at the Ranch, where the work seamed to never
be done.
This picture (above left) is of Jake Kurz watching the cowboys work
cattle,
dehorning, shots, branding and making steers out of the young
bulls.
The cowboy with the bucket is for collecting the mountain oysters which
will be taken to the house for the women to clean and fry up with other
fixings for a big feast when working cattle is finished. The
Jake
Kurz Ranch was started by older his brother Joe, Jake arrived in1885,
the
ranch is still in the family today operated by 5th and 6th generations
of Jake & Rosa. Jakes original brand JK** is still
used today
by Oller Farms, Jake sold some cattle when he was retiring to his
grandson
Ernest J. Oller that already had the brand on them, so the brand was
transferred
also.
Please click
on the photos below for a
full size view.
Click "Back" to return
Swaim Family
Collection
Note:
this picture was taken in late 1930s
Back Row: Unknown,
Unknown, son-in-law John
Swaim, Unknown, grandson Ernest J. Oller & Jake Kurz.
Front Row:
Neighbor Vaughn Coles, Unknown, Sons-in-law Fred Parker and Ernest M.
Oller
and Unknown

Swaim Family Collection
Cutting
wheat at the Ranch with horse
drawn header.
|
Wheat harvest was
also a very busy time at
the ranch. Family and neighbors would work together to try to
get
the wheat cut at each others ranches, before a hail storm or super
heavy
rains did the harvest for them, sometimes for a total loss
Jake's 1910
Ford, the first auto in the county
|
Ron Kurz Collection
Always
proud of his cars, Jake saved each
purchase in his collection.
Model T
|

Ron Kurz Collection
L-R: Sitting, Jake
Kurz in his work car a
1914 Model T Ford, Rosa Kurz standing next to their family car a 1914
Essex,
Rosa’s Brother John Henry Deubler and Wife, Mellie Orilla
Hazen standing
next to their 1915 Model T Ford, Olga Kurz standing & Anton
Kurz sitting
in their 1916 Grant Six Touring Car.
|
Jacob
& Rosa's 50th wedding anniversary.
Standing behind them is their three daughters (l. to r.), Mable, Rosie
and Ethel. This was taken in 1942.
Beeley Family
Collection
|
Jake
& Rosa Kurz home built in Coldwater,
KS abt.1914. Jake had always taken great interest and pride in the
construction
of his homes. This was their city home.
Ron Kurz Collection
|
Daughters of Jake & Rosa
Kurz

Rose
Henry Kurz Collection |

Mable
(standing) and Rose
Henry Kurz Collection |
Ethel
Rosa
Mable
|
Swaim Family Collection
Ethel Swaim, Rosa
Oller, Mable Parker |

Philipp Kurz was the
first to homestead in
Kansas 1882. He sold his land to brother Jake due to illness. Philipp
had
started homesteading in the late 1870's in Minnesota with brother Jake
.
Kurz. Jacob was
traveling in 190 at the time
of the ship wreck, to visit Philipp Kurz and sister Katherine Kurz
Maier
Murry at whose fruit orchard Philipp was recovering from Spinal TB in
Oregon.
Mary Fern Collection
|
Vincent
Kurz, was the youngest brother
and came from Ladysmith, Wisconsin, to help care for brother Jake in
his
final days - 1950's. Henry and Vincent owned Kurz Brothers'
Meats
and Groceries.
Henry Kurz Collection
|
Anton Kurz,
also pictured below, came from mining
in Colorado and Wyoming to Kansas for a visit with brother Jake and
stayed
to homestead in nearby Oklahoma in 1900.
Mary Fern Collection
|
3
Kurz Brothers

Swaim Family Collection
Anton
Jake
John
|
Rosa
& Jake with Jake’s Sister and
Family in Hayes Wisconsin

Swaim Family Collection
Left to Right:
Rose Kurz, Jake Kurz,
John Holl (Brother-in-law),
Veronica Kurz Holl (Jake's sister), Elizabeth Holl Wagner (niece), Anna
Holl (niece) and Holl grandchild being held. c:1930
|
3 Kurz
Brothers

Ron Kurz Collection
John,
Jake
&
Peter
|

50th Wedding
Anniversary
1942
Ernest Oller Jr.,
Aunt Rose & Uncle Jake
Kurz oldest
grandson
was at this 50th Anniversary;
he was about 16 then.
He identified these
people left to right,
back row as:
his great uncles,
Rose's brothers William
(Bill) Deubler,
John Henry Deubler
and Jakes brother Anton
Kurz.
Front row:
Jake and Rose
Kurz. Ernest said that
Uncle Vincent was not there for
the 50th Anniversary
Party but came a few
years later when Uncle Jake was
sick just before he
died.
Beeley Family Collection |
Ron Kurz Collection
L to R
standing: Wood & Dorothy Beeley,
Fred & Mable Parker, Rosa & Ernest M. Oller, Ethel
& John Swaim.
Sitting: Jacob Kurz holding grandson John Jacob Swaim, Rosa Kurz and
their
grandson Ernest J. Oller
|
Ron Kurz Collection
Jacob
& Rosa are surrounded by members
of both their families, The Deubler family to the left and the Kurz
family
to the right with their children and grand children behind and near
them.
|
Published in the Western
Star, Coldwater, Kansas between
May 14 – 17, 1951.
contributed from the Beeley
Family Collection
JACOB KURZ
8000 Acre Cattle Ranch in Rumsey Township
Which He Developed and Operated
Was One of the Finest in Southwest Kansas
Death claimed the life of one
of Comanche county’s pioneer ranchers, Jacob Kurz, who passed
away in the
Comanche County Hospital Monday of this week at the age of 88
years.
He had been in failing health for several years.
Funeral Services were held in the Methodist
Church in this
city Thursday afternoon, May 17, at 2:30 p.m. and were in charge of the
pastor, Rev. Donald A. Kessler. A mixed quartet composed of
Mrs.
Martin Zerby, Mrs. Ferrel Guizlo, Rev. Bill Dial, and Wallace White
sang
“When The Roll Is Called Up Yonder” and
“Shall We Gather At the River?”
with George Wolf as organist.
Burial was in Crown Hill
Cemetery. The active pallbearers
were Winston Williams, Victor Allerdice, Lovedner Hall, John McMoran,
Charley
Jackson, and J.W. Brewer. The honorary pallbearers were Win
Sunderland,
Charles Allerdise, Dr. J.J. Shelley, Joe Darroch, Dan Jackson, Ray
McMoran,
Otha Landess, Horace Rich, George H. Helton, and Eyman Phebus.
OBITUARY
Jacob Kurz, well known Comanche County
rancher, was born in
Green Bay, Brown county, Wisconsin, to Peter and Kathrine (Biblehouser)
Kurz on November 2, 1862. Jacob’s parents were
immigrants from Germany.
He grew to manhood in Green Bay and when he
was about 21 years
of age, he moved to Warren, Minnesota. After two summers
there he
joined his brother, Joe, at Medicine Lodge, Kansas.
The following spring, 1885, Jacob came to
Comanche county,
Kansas, to file a claim on government land in Rumsey Twpt., Comanche
county,
Kansas. Jacob endured the blizzards, droughts, and fleas that
were
in the grass.
Jacob worked for sometime helping to build
the new Santa Fee
railroad line from Kiowa, Kansas through Indian Territory, before
Oklahoma
became a state, and down into Texas. About 1890, he also
helped replace
the narrow gauge railroad from Salt Lake City, Utah, to Ogden, Utah,
and
also in Montana and Idaho.
It was while working in Ogden, Utah, that
he was called back
to Kansas by the illness of his brother Joe. He then began
farming
and acquired cattle in this county meanwhile living in a dug out which
he built. Jacob built the first wood frame house in Comanche
county
which still stands today at the Parker – Beeley Ranch.
It was at this time, Jacob turned from
farming to cattle raising.
He acquired Durumas breed cattle, then went to Gallaways.
Finally
he and his son-in-law, Fred Parker, turned to Herefords. They
built
up one of the finest herds of Hereford cattle in Comanche
county.
The ranch brand was the “JK” brand.
On November 2, 1892, Jacob and Miss Rosa
Deubler were united
in marriage. To this union were born six children, three of
which
reached adulthood.
In 1907, tragedy struck the Kurz
family. Jacob, Clara
and Charles were en route from California to Oregon to visit
Jacob’s brother.
There were sailing on a new steamship, the Columbia, when it was struck
broadside by a lumber boat. It sunk immediately.
Charles and
Clara drown and Jacob himself was one of the few survivors.
In 1913, the Kurz’s purchased one
half block in the 500 block
of Maple in Coldwater. They then built a home there so Rosa
could
remain in town while Rosa and Ethel attended school in
Coldwater.
Jacob continued to operate his ranch. A few years after the
marriage
of his daughter, Mable to Fred L. Parker, they formed a partnership
which
continued in operation until 1947. Jacob then sold his cows
and leased
the ranch to his children.
On retirement, Jacob turned active
management of his ranch
and farms over to his son-in-law, Fred Parker. In time he was
assisted
by the two other sons-in-law Ernest Oller, and John Swaim.
Jacob
also owned extensive holdings in the city of Coldwater.
Jacob had been in ill health for a number
of years, although
he continued to get around until the last 12 days of his
life. He
was public spirited and erected a modern brick business property on
Main
street of Coldwater, besides several dwelling houses and kept up his
farm
property, one of the finest ranches in Southwestern Kansas.
Jacob is survived by his wife, Rosa, and
three daughters, Mrs.
Mable Parker, Mrs. Rosa Oller and Mrs. Ethel Swaim, one brother Vincent
Kurz of Ladysmith, Wisconsin; five grandchildren and 3 great
grandchildren,
all of Coldwater, several nieces and nephews and a host of friends.
Preceding him in death were his three
children, Clara, Charles
Jacob, and an infant daughter, his parents, three sisters and five
brothers.
Jacob Kurz was a good, kind and loving
husband, father and
neighbor and will be greatly missed by all. He was of the old
school
of rugged pioneers whose word was as good as their bond, whose honesty
was never questioned and who was never known to have an
enemy. The
passing of Jacob Kurz brings to a close the life of one of Comanche
County’s
finest citizens [end].
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
contributed from the Beeley Family
Collection
ROSA DEUBLER KURZ
Death claimed the life of Rosa Kurz
last Monday night at 8:30 p.m. She had been a patient in the Comanche
County
Hospital for ten years lacking only about a month. At the
time of
her death she was 91 year, 6 months, and 14 days of age.
Funeral
services will be held at the Methodist Church, Coldwater at 2 p.m. on
Thursday,
October 7, 1965. Rev Vernon A. Horney will be in charge of
the services.
Singers will
be Mrs. Lena Haun and Mrs.
Martha Cline. Songs chosen are “In the
Garden” and “In the Sweet
Bye and Bye”. The organist is Mrs. Hazel McMurray.
Pallbearers
are John McMoran, Harry Lohrding,
Winston Williams, Bill Steele, Jim Herrington, and Bob Gilchrist.
********
OBITUARY
Rosa Kurz
was born in Wausau, Illinois,
March 20, 1874 and passed away at the Comanche County Hospital on
October
4, 1965
Her parents,
natives of Germany, came to
the U.S. on their honeymoon and never returned to their native
country.
They owned a shoe shop and home in Wausau, Illinois. They had
eleven
children, Rosa being the youngest. Mr. Deubler died at the
age of
39. Three children were already married at this
time. Mrs.
Deubler decided at this time to move West. She left Rosa with
a married
sister in Wichita. Mrs. Deubler homesteaded near the
homestead of
Jacob Kurz on Salt Fork Creek. It wasn’t long till
Rosa came by stage
coach to join her mother. She was 13 years old at this
time.
She lived with her mother until her marriage to Jacob Kurz.
Jacob and
Rosa were married November 2,
1892, by Shelby P. Duncan, Probate judge of Comanche county,
Kansas.
They lived on Jacob’s claim where the first wooden home in
the county was
built. In 1893, when the Cherokee Strip opened, they
accumulated
more land and their holdings became extensive. At first Jacob
tried
raising crops but later turned to cattle.
Jacob and
Rosa had six children, Clara,
Mable, Charles Jacob, Rosa Marie, Ethel May and a daughter who lived
but
two days.
In 1907,
they lost their eldest daughter,
Clara and their only son Charles, when the ship, the Columbia, sand at
sea. {NOTE: See story following this for further
details about
the wreck}.
Rosa moved
to Coldwater in 1915, with her
family where she remained until 1955 when she entered the Comanche
County
Hospital.
Jacob and
Rosa celebrated their Golden Wedding
Anniversary in 1942.
She is
survived by her three daughters:
Mable Parker, Rosa Oller and Ethel May Swaim.
Grandchildren:
Dorothy Beeley, Junior Oller, John Jacob Swaim, Robert Dean Swaim and
Farin
Ann Bennett. Great Grandchildren: Woody Beeley, Leo, Linda
and Larry
Oller, and Michelle and Mitchell Bennett.
Proceeding her in death were her husband, Jacob Kurz, son
Charles,
daughter Clara, and an infant daughter; her parents, four sisters and
five
brothers.
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