Horace Frederick Shurtz1,2,3,4

Family Chart
ID# 18969, (1859 - 1943)
FatherFrederick J. Shurtz5,6,7 (1832 - 18 May 1892)
MotherMargaret Ann Derr5,6,8 (14 May 1829 - 18 Sep 1865)

Key Events:

Birth: 12 Dec 1859, Lewis Twp., Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania9,10,11
Marriage: 2 Apr 1890, Phillips Co, Kansas, Sarah Salena Schaeffer (12 May 1864 - 29 Mar 1947)12,13,14
Death: 29 Mar 1943, 213 N. Lincoln Ave., Beloit, Mitchell Co., Kansas15,16
Burial: Elmwood Cemetery, Beloit, Mitchell Co., Kansas17

Copyright Notice

Narrative:

     Horace Frederick Shurtz was born on 12 Dec 1859 in Lewis Twp., Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania.9,10,11 He appeared on the 1860 Federal Census of Lewis Twp., Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, in the household of his parents, Frederick J. Shurtz and Margaret Ann Derr.18
     He moved to St. Joseph Co., Michigan, about 1864 with his parents.19
     His mother died on 18 Sep 1865, when Horace was 5 years old.20,21 Horace appeared on the 1870 Federal Census of Centerville, St. Joseph Co., Michigan, in the household of his father and stepmother, Sarah Elizabeth Riegel.22
     Horace moved to Iowa with his father and stepmother about 1880. He appeared on the 1880 Federal Census of Fisher Twp., Fremont Co., Iowa, in the household of his father, and stepmother.23
     Horace moved to Belmond, Iowa, before 1885.5 Horace appeared on the 1885 State Census of Belmond, Wright Co, Iowa, in the household of Barney Hinsdell and Mattie Shurtz, his sister and her husband.24
     He then moved to Kansas in 1886 where he was engaged in farming near Logan for a time.5
     Horace married Sarah Salena Schaeffer, daughter of Beniville Schaeffer and Mary Clarissa [surname unknown], and sister of the man his sister Margaret had married twelve years before, on 2 Apr 1890 in Phillips Co, Kansas.12,13,14
     Horace and Lena Schaeffer moved to to Glen Elder, Kansas, after their marriage, where they began a grocery business. Horace also was a partner with a relative in a livestock business, buying and selling cattle and hogs.25,26
     They sold the grocery store and moved to to Beloit, Kansas, in Mar 1891 with their infant son.25,27 They appeared on the 1895 State Census of Beloit, Mitchell Co., Kansas. Their son Horace was listed as living with them.28
     Horace and Lena appeared on the 1900 Federal Census of Beloit, Mitchell Co., Kansas, at 403 N. Bell St., enumerated 15 Jun 1900, reporting that they owned their home, which was mortgaged. Their children Horace and Perry were listed as living with them, as were his sister Margaret and her daughter Beulah A. Schaeffer, and Elmer T. Schaeffer, brother-in-law to his sister.29 They appeared on the 1905 State Census of Beloit, Mitchell Co., Kansas, reporting that they owned their home. Their children Horace, Perry, Earl and Melvin were listed as living with them.30
     Horace and Lena appeared on the 1910 Federal Census of Beloit, Mitchell Co., Kansas, at 403 N. Bell St., enumerated 9 May 1910, reporting that they owned their home, which was mortgaged. Their children Horace, Perry, Earl, Melvin, Beulah and Edwin were listed as living with them.31
     Horace and Lena appeared on the 1915 State Census of Beloit, Mitchell Co., Kansas, reporting that they owned their home and a library of 90 books. Their eldest son Horace is listed as the next household and as renting, and curiously all their youngest children, Perry, Earl, Melvin, Beulah and Edwin, are listed in his household and not theirs. It is unclear whether this was an accurate depiction of their living arrangement or an invention of the enumerator.32
     Horace founded his produce business in Beloit in 1891, with a spring wagon driving around the area buying eggs and poultry. The eggs were candled and cased, and chickens were packed, and both were shipped by train car loads to both the east and west coasts. A new limestone building was built for the firm in 1905, from stone quarried on a farm south of town. The business grew until it was shipping as many as 20 car-loads at one time during World War I. The firm carried the Shurtz name except for a period from 1896 to 1900 when it operated as a branch of the Armour Packing company in Kansas City, Kansas.25,33,34,35,36,37
     In May 1915 a shipment of eggs to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on the Missouri Pacific Railroad was damaged. Failing to get satisfaction from the railroad, Horace sued for $1,143.46 in damages. To secure his claim he sought an attachment on property of the railroad it claimed "would seriously handicap the road." A temporary restraining order was issued in Feb 1917, but the final outcome has not been learned.38
     Horace took his two sons Horace and Ward in as partners on 1 Jul 1919, and the Shurtz Produce House was then known as H. F. Shurtz & Sons.39 Son Earl became a partner after graduating from high school, and Melvin and Edwin did later. Ward sold his interest in 1921 when he joined the J. C. Penny company, and Horace moved to Hutchinson in 1926 to open his own produce company, but kept his ownership interest. Earl, having been manager for 16 years, died in 1942 and Melvin and Edwin assumed management roles. Daughter Beulah was a bookkeeper at the firm for 25 years.33,40,41,42,43,44 The firm finally closed in 1968, after 76 years of operation.33
     Horace and Lena appeared on the 1920 Federal Census of Beloit, Mitchell Co., Michigan, at 207 N. Lincoln Ave., enumerated 7 Jan 1920, reporting that they owned their home, free from mortgage. Their children Earl, Melvin, Beulah and Edwin were listed as living with them.45
     Horace and his siblings and half siblings evidently maintained close contact. For example, he and his family were visited by his half brother Harry and half sister Elenora and her husband and daughter in Jul 1921. They drove from Shenandoah, Iowa for the visit.46 In celebration of Horace and Lena's golden wedding anniversary in Apr 1940 the out-of-town guests included Harry and Elenora's son Mark Eischeid and his wife from Shenandoah, Iowa, sister Clara and her daughter from Denver, and sister Mattie's daughter Clara May Sorrency from Warrensburg, Missouri.47
     Horace and Lena appeared on the 1925 State Census of Beloit, Mitchell Co., Michigan, at 209 N. Lincoln Ave., reporting that they owned their home. Their children Melvin, Beulah and Edwin were listed as living with them.48 They appeared on the 1930 Federal Census of Beloit, Mitchell Co., Michigan, at 209 N. Lincoln Ave., enumerated 10 Apr 1930, reporting that they owned a home valued at $5,000 and owned a radio. Their children Beulah and Edwin were listed as living with them.49
     Horace and Lena appeared on the 1940 Federal Census of Beloit, Mitchell Co., Michigan, at 209 N. Lincoln Ave., enumerated 15 Apr 1940, reporting that they owned a home valued at $2,500 and that they had lived in the same house in 1935. Their daughter Beulah was listed as living with them.50
     Horace died on 29 Mar 1943 in 213 N. Lincoln Ave., Beloit, Mitchell Co., Kansas, at age 83, at his home.15,16 He was buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Beloit, Mitchell Co., Kansas.17

Children:
     Children with Sarah Salena Schaeffer:

  • Horace B. Shurtz51,52,29 (15 Jan 1891 - Jan 1974)
  • Perry Ward Shurtz51,29,53 (30 Aug 1895 - 3 Jun 1991)
  • Earl Truman Shurtz51,53,31 (26 Jul 1901 - 28 Jul 1942)
  • Melvin Allen Shurtz51,53,31 (17 Jul 1903 - 1 Sep 1987)
  • Beulah Myrth Shurtz51,31,45 (3 Jun 1905 - 15 Oct 1985)
  • Edwin William Shurtz51,31,45 (3 Mar 1907 - 9 Aug 1988)

Citations

  1. [S4985] Cochrane, Family File "Margaret Ann Derr family," 24 Oct 2014, shows name as Horace Frederick Shurtz.
  2. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 67771199, Horace F Shurtz, and includes tombstone photo showing same.
  3. [S4752] Frederick Shirts household, 1860 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, shows name as Horace Shirts.
  4. [S4753] Frederick Shortz household, 1870 U.S. Census, St. Joseph Co., Michigan, shows name as Horace Shortz.
  5. [S5001] H. F. Shurtz obituary, unknown newspaper, most likely The Beloit Daily Call.
  6. [S4752] Frederick Shirts household, 1860 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  7. [S6017] "Mrs. Sarah Shurtz Summoned on High," Shenandoah World, 30 Nov 1920.
  8. [S4985] Cochrane, Family File "Margaret Ann Derr family," 24 Oct 2014.
  9. [S5001] H. F. Shurtz obituary, unknown newspaper, most likely The Beloit Daily Call, shows date, "near Turbotville," and state.
  10. [S4985] Cochrane, Family File "Margaret Ann Derr family," 24 Oct 2014, shows date, township, county, and state.
  11. [S4752] Frederick Shirts household, 1860 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania, shows age 6/12 and state.
  12. [S5006] "Personals," The Herald, 4 Apr 1890, shows license issued.
  13. [S5000] Mrs. H. F. Shurtz obituary, unknown newspaper, most likely The Beloit Daily Call, shows date.
  14. [S5005] "Family Business Ends after Three-Quarters of Century," The Salina Journal, 28 Dec 1967, shows year and county, as Logan Co.
  15. [S5001] H. F. Shurtz obituary, unknown newspaper, most likely The Beloit Daily Call, shows date, address, and at his home.
  16. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 67771199, Horace F Shurtz, shows date, as 31st, and includes tombstone photo showing year.
  17. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 67771199, Horace F Shurtz, includes tombstone photo.
  18. [S4752] Frederick Shirts household, 1860 U.S. Census, Northumberland Co., Pennsylvania.
  19. [S5001] H. F. Shurtz obituary, unknown newspaper, most likely The Beloit Daily Call, shows the family moved when he was 4 years old.
  20. [S4985] Cochrane, Family File "Margaret Ann Derr family," 24 Oct 2014, shows date, town, county, and state.
  21. [S500] Findagrave.com, online, memorial # 79601008, Margaret Ann Derr Shurtz, shows date, town, county, and state.
  22. [S4753] Frederick Shortz household, 1870 U.S. Census, St. Joseph Co., Michigan.
  23. [S4754] F. Shurtz household, 1880 U.S. Census, Fremont Co., Iowa.
  24. [S5008] Barney Hinsdell household, 1885 Iowa State Census, Wright Co., Iowa, Belmond.
  25. [S5005] "Family Business Ends after Three-Quarters of Century," The Salina Journal, 28 Dec 1967.
  26. [S5000] Mrs. H. F. Shurtz obituary, unknown newspaper, most likely The Beloit Daily Call, shows they moved Glen Elder.
  27. [S5000] Mrs. H. F. Shurtz obituary, unknown newspaper, most likely The Beloit Daily Call, shows date, as 9th.
  28. [S4990] H. F. Shurtz household, 1895 Kansas State Census, Mitchell Co., Kansas, Beloit.
  29. [S4988] Horace F. Shurtz household, 1900 U.S. Census, Mitchell Co., Kansas.
  30. [S4991] H. F. Shurtz household, 1905 Kansas State Census, Mitchell Co., Kansas, Beloit.
  31. [S4992] Horace F. Shurtz household, 1910 U.S. Census, Mitchell Co., Kansas.
  32. [S4994] Horace F. Shurtz household, 1915 Kansas State Census, Mitchell Co., Kansas, Beloit.
  33. [S5003] "Family Produce Firm Closes After 76 Years," The Kansas City Star, 10 Jan 1968.
  34. [S4990] H. F. Shurtz household, 1895 Kansas State Census, Mitchell Co., Kansas, Beloit, shows occupation as produce dealer.
  35. [S4988] Horace F. Shurtz household, 1900 U.S. Census, Mitchell Co., Kansas, shows occupation as produce dealer.
  36. [S4992] Horace F. Shurtz household, 1910 U.S. Census, Mitchell Co., Kansas, shows occupation as merchant, industry as produce.
  37. [S4994] Horace F. Shurtz household, 1915 Kansas State Census, Mitchell Co., Kansas, Beloit, shows occupation as produce merchant.
  38. [S5007] "Egg Suit Nearly Tied Up Mo. P.," The Topeka Daily Capital, 14 Feb 1917.
  39. [S5002] "H. F. Shurtz & Sons," The Beloit Daily Call, 24 Jun 1919.
  40. [S4993] Earl Truman Shurtz obituary, The Beloit Daily Call, shows he had been manager for 16 years.
  41. [S4996] H. F. Shurtz household, 1920 U.S. Census, Mitchell Co., Kansas, shows occupation as merchant, industry as produce.
  42. [S4997] H. F. Shurtz household, 1925 Kansas State Census, Mitchell Co., Kansas, Beloit, shows occupation as merchant, industry as produce.
  43. [S4998] Horace F. Shurtz household, 1930 U.S. Census, Mitchell Co., Kansas, shows occupation as merchant, industry as produce house.
  44. [S4999] H. F. Shurtz household, 1940 U.S. Census, Mitchell Co., Kansas, shows occupation as produce buyer, industry as poultry & egg.
  45. [S4996] H. F. Shurtz household, 1920 U.S. Census, Mitchell Co., Kansas.
  46. [S4965] "News and Comments," The Beloit Daily Call, 21 Jul 1921.
  47. [S5027] "A Golden Wedding," Gazette, 4 Apr 1940.
  48. [S4997] H. F. Shurtz household, 1925 Kansas State Census, Mitchell Co., Kansas, Beloit.
  49. [S4998] Horace F. Shurtz household, 1930 U.S. Census, Mitchell Co., Kansas.
  50. [S4999] H. F. Shurtz household, 1940 U.S. Census, Mitchell Co., Kansas.
  51. [S5000] Mrs. H. F. Shurtz obituary, unknown newspaper, most likely The Beloit Daily Call.
  52. [S4990] H. F. Shurtz household, 1895 Kansas State Census, Mitchell Co., Kansas, Beloit, shows them apparently living as parent and child.
  53. [S4991] H. F. Shurtz household, 1905 Kansas State Census, Mitchell Co., Kansas, Beloit, shows them apparently living as parent and child.