USMA Class of 1842. Cullum No. 1114. His remains were originally interred at the Presbyterian Cemetery in Georgetown. In August 1893 his remains were removed to Oak Hill Cemetery.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Thursday, October 18, 1877
Obituary
Lieutenant Colonel John D. Kurtz
Lieutenant Colonel John D. Kurtz, of the Engineer Corps of the United States Army, died suddenly on Tuesday last, at the residence of his brother-in-law, at Georgetown, D.C.
John D. Kurtz was born in the District of Columbia and at the time of his death was about fifty years of age. From July 1, 1838 to July 1, 1842, he was a cadet at West Point; on his graduation he was appointed to Second Lieutenant in the Engineer Corps. From 1842 to 1851 he served as Assistant Engineer in the construction of the fortifications of Charleston harbor and as superintending engineer of the repairs of Forts Macon and Caswell, North Carolina from 1851 to 1852. From 1853 to 1856, when he was promoted to the rank of Captain, he filled various important positions along the Atlantic coast. During the rebellion he served as Chief Engineer of the Department of Annapolis, in June and July 1861.
In July 1864, he acted as Assistant Engineer in the defense of Washington against General Early’s command and on March 13, 1865, he was promoted to brevet Lieutenant Colonel for meritorious services in the Engineer Department during the rebellion. On August 8, 1866, he was again promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers.
In 1874 Coronel Kurtz was sent to this city in charge of a Board of Engineers to make a survey of the Delaware River, looking to the improvement of the channel at what is known as the Horseshoe. In accordance with the recommendations of the board and supported by his personal efforts, an appropriation was granted by Congress for that purpose and Colonel Kurtz was assigned to superintend the work, which is now nearly completed. He had also taken part in several other improvements made lower down the river, more especially in the construction of the stone piers at New Castle. His office was at No. 1328 Chestnut Street, where the plans of all the works were kept while he was in charge of them. His family reside at Forty-seventh Street and Kingsessing Avenue.
The Evening Star Tuesday, October 16, 1877
Sudden Death Of An Army Officer
Lieut. Colonel John D. Kurtz of the Engineer Corps, United States Army, died at the residence of his brother-in-law, Prof. T. [J.] E. Nourse, of the Naval Observatory, Green and Stoddard Streets, Georgetown, at six o’clock this morning of angina pectoris. Colonel Kurtz left Philadelphia yesterday at noon to meet the Board of Army Officers for a final report in regard to the Washington Monument. Yesterday morning he felt an unpleasant sensation about his chest and arms. He arrived in Georgetown about six o’clock PM, appearing well, ate a very light supper and about half-past eight o’clock complained of severe heart pangs. Dr. Grafton Tyler being summoned, gave him temporary relief, but he rested badly through the night and died, as stated, this morning. Colonel Kurtz graduated at West Point in 1842 among the first five of his class. At the time of his death he was in charge of the fortifications on the Delaware. He was during the war with General Banks at Harper’s Ferry and other places. Colonel Kurtz was the son of the late John Kurtz, of Georgetown, for a long time President of the Farmers’ and Mechanics’ Bank and was well known and highly esteemed.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Thursday, October 18, 1877
Obituary
Lieutenant Colonel John D. Kurtz
Lieutenant Colonel John D. Kurtz, of the Engineer Corps of the United States Army, died suddenly on Tuesday last, at the residence of his brother-in-law, at Georgetown, D.C.
John D. Kurtz was born in the District of Columbia and at the time of his death was about fifty years of age. From July 1, 1838 to July 1, 1842, he was a cadet at West Point; on his graduation he was appointed to Second Lieutenant in the Engineer Corps. From 1842 to 1851 he served as Assistant Engineer in the construction of the fortifications of Charleston harbor and as superintending engineer of the repairs of Forts Macon and Caswell, North Carolina from 1851 to 1852. From 1853 to 1856, when he was promoted to the rank of Captain, he filled various important positions along the Atlantic coast. During the rebellion he served as Chief Engineer of the Department of Annapolis, in June and July 1861.
In July 1864, he acted as Assistant Engineer in the defense of Washington against General Early’s command and on March 13, 1865, he was promoted to brevet Lieutenant Colonel for meritorious services in the Engineer Department during the rebellion. On August 8, 1866, he was again promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers.
In 1874 Coronel Kurtz was sent to this city in charge of a Board of Engineers to make a survey of the Delaware River, looking to the improvement of the channel at what is known as the Horseshoe. In accordance with the recommendations of the board and supported by his personal efforts, an appropriation was granted by Congress for that purpose and Colonel Kurtz was assigned to superintend the work, which is now nearly completed. He had also taken part in several other improvements made lower down the river, more especially in the construction of the stone piers at New Castle. His office was at No. 1328 Chestnut Street, where the plans of all the works were kept while he was in charge of them. His family reside at Forty-seventh Street and Kingsessing Avenue.
The Evening Star Tuesday, October 16, 1877
Sudden Death Of An Army Officer
Lieut. Colonel John D. Kurtz of the Engineer Corps, United States Army, died at the residence of his brother-in-law, Prof. T. [J.] E. Nourse, of the Naval Observatory, Green and Stoddard Streets, Georgetown, at six o’clock this morning of angina pectoris. Colonel Kurtz left Philadelphia yesterday at noon to meet the Board of Army Officers for a final report in regard to the Washington Monument. Yesterday morning he felt an unpleasant sensation about his chest and arms. He arrived in Georgetown about six o’clock PM, appearing well, ate a very light supper and about half-past eight o’clock complained of severe heart pangs. Dr. Grafton Tyler being summoned, gave him temporary relief, but he rested badly through the night and died, as stated, this morning. Colonel Kurtz graduated at West Point in 1842 among the first five of his class. At the time of his death he was in charge of the fortifications on the Delaware. He was during the war with General Banks at Harper’s Ferry and other places. Colonel Kurtz was the son of the late John Kurtz, of Georgetown, for a long time President of the Farmers’ and Mechanics’ Bank and was well known and highly esteemed.
USMA Class of 1842. Cullum No. 1114. His remains were originally interred at the Presbyterian Cemetery in Georgetown. In August 1893 his remains were removed to Oak Hill Cemetery.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Thursday, October 18, 1877
Obituary
Lieutenant Colonel John D. Kurtz
Lieutenant Colonel John D. Kurtz, of the Engineer Corps of the United States Army, died suddenly on Tuesday last, at the residence of his brother-in-law, at Georgetown, D.C.
John D. Kurtz was born in the District of Columbia and at the time of his death was about fifty years of age. From July 1, 1838 to July 1, 1842, he was a cadet at West Point; on his graduation he was appointed to Second Lieutenant in the Engineer Corps. From 1842 to 1851 he served as Assistant Engineer in the construction of the fortifications of Charleston harbor and as superintending engineer of the repairs of Forts Macon and Caswell, North Carolina from 1851 to 1852. From 1853 to 1856, when he was promoted to the rank of Captain, he filled various important positions along the Atlantic coast. During the rebellion he served as Chief Engineer of the Department of Annapolis, in June and July 1861.
In July 1864, he acted as Assistant Engineer in the defense of Washington against General Early’s command and on March 13, 1865, he was promoted to brevet Lieutenant Colonel for meritorious services in the Engineer Department during the rebellion. On August 8, 1866, he was again promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers.
In 1874 Coronel Kurtz was sent to this city in charge of a Board of Engineers to make a survey of the Delaware River, looking to the improvement of the channel at what is known as the Horseshoe. In accordance with the recommendations of the board and supported by his personal efforts, an appropriation was granted by Congress for that purpose and Colonel Kurtz was assigned to superintend the work, which is now nearly completed. He had also taken part in several other improvements made lower down the river, more especially in the construction of the stone piers at New Castle. His office was at No. 1328 Chestnut Street, where the plans of all the works were kept while he was in charge of them. His family reside at Forty-seventh Street and Kingsessing Avenue.
The Evening Star Tuesday, October 16, 1877
Sudden Death Of An Army Officer
Lieut. Colonel John D. Kurtz of the Engineer Corps, United States Army, died at the residence of his brother-in-law, Prof. T. [J.] E. Nourse, of the Naval Observatory, Green and Stoddard Streets, Georgetown, at six o’clock this morning of angina pectoris. Colonel Kurtz left Philadelphia yesterday at noon to meet the Board of Army Officers for a final report in regard to the Washington Monument. Yesterday morning he felt an unpleasant sensation about his chest and arms. He arrived in Georgetown about six o’clock PM, appearing well, ate a very light supper and about half-past eight o’clock complained of severe heart pangs. Dr. Grafton Tyler being summoned, gave him temporary relief, but he rested badly through the night and died, as stated, this morning. Colonel Kurtz graduated at West Point in 1842 among the first five of his class. At the time of his death he was in charge of the fortifications on the Delaware. He was during the war with General Banks at Harper’s Ferry and other places. Colonel Kurtz was the son of the late John Kurtz, of Georgetown, for a long time President of the Farmers’ and Mechanics’ Bank and was well known and highly esteemed.
The Philadelphia Inquirer
Thursday, October 18, 1877
Obituary
Lieutenant Colonel John D. Kurtz
Lieutenant Colonel John D. Kurtz, of the Engineer Corps of the United States Army, died suddenly on Tuesday last, at the residence of his brother-in-law, at Georgetown, D.C.
John D. Kurtz was born in the District of Columbia and at the time of his death was about fifty years of age. From July 1, 1838 to July 1, 1842, he was a cadet at West Point; on his graduation he was appointed to Second Lieutenant in the Engineer Corps. From 1842 to 1851 he served as Assistant Engineer in the construction of the fortifications of Charleston harbor and as superintending engineer of the repairs of Forts Macon and Caswell, North Carolina from 1851 to 1852. From 1853 to 1856, when he was promoted to the rank of Captain, he filled various important positions along the Atlantic coast. During the rebellion he served as Chief Engineer of the Department of Annapolis, in June and July 1861.
In July 1864, he acted as Assistant Engineer in the defense of Washington against General Early’s command and on March 13, 1865, he was promoted to brevet Lieutenant Colonel for meritorious services in the Engineer Department during the rebellion. On August 8, 1866, he was again promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Corps of Engineers.
In 1874 Coronel Kurtz was sent to this city in charge of a Board of Engineers to make a survey of the Delaware River, looking to the improvement of the channel at what is known as the Horseshoe. In accordance with the recommendations of the board and supported by his personal efforts, an appropriation was granted by Congress for that purpose and Colonel Kurtz was assigned to superintend the work, which is now nearly completed. He had also taken part in several other improvements made lower down the river, more especially in the construction of the stone piers at New Castle. His office was at No. 1328 Chestnut Street, where the plans of all the works were kept while he was in charge of them. His family reside at Forty-seventh Street and Kingsessing Avenue.
The Evening Star Tuesday, October 16, 1877
Sudden Death Of An Army Officer
Lieut. Colonel John D. Kurtz of the Engineer Corps, United States Army, died at the residence of his brother-in-law, Prof. T. [J.] E. Nourse, of the Naval Observatory, Green and Stoddard Streets, Georgetown, at six o’clock this morning of angina pectoris. Colonel Kurtz left Philadelphia yesterday at noon to meet the Board of Army Officers for a final report in regard to the Washington Monument. Yesterday morning he felt an unpleasant sensation about his chest and arms. He arrived in Georgetown about six o’clock PM, appearing well, ate a very light supper and about half-past eight o’clock complained of severe heart pangs. Dr. Grafton Tyler being summoned, gave him temporary relief, but he rested badly through the night and died, as stated, this morning. Colonel Kurtz graduated at West Point in 1842 among the first five of his class. At the time of his death he was in charge of the fortifications on the Delaware. He was during the war with General Banks at Harper’s Ferry and other places. Colonel Kurtz was the son of the late John Kurtz, of Georgetown, for a long time President of the Farmers’ and Mechanics’ Bank and was well known and highly esteemed.
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