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Sarah Ellen “Ella” Jolliff Kurtz

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Birth	:	1855 Ohio, USA
Death	:	7 Jun 1889 Lewistown, Fergus County, Montana, USA
Burial	:	Lewistown City Cemetery, Lewistown, Fergus County, USA
Coordinate	:	47.0674600, -109.4449700
Description	:	Sarah E. Jollloff is listed on the 1860 census as a resident of East Union Township, Wayne County, Ohio, in the household of Andrew and Catherine Jolloff; age 5, born in Ohio. Sarah Ellen Jolliff and Joseph Kurtz were married on February 26, 1874 in Wayne County, and by 1880 they had moved to a farm at Franklin, Marion County, Iowa. They then moved to Lyons in Burt County, Nebraska and from there they traveled west to Montana Territory, where they worked at keeping the boarding house at the Grass Valley Mine, four miles west of Helena. ... Read More	Sarah E. Jollloff is listed on the 1860 census as a resident of East Union Township, Wayne County, Ohio, in the household of Andrew and Catherine Jolloff; age 5, born in Ohio. Sarah Ellen Jolliff and Joseph Kurtz were married on February 26, 1874 in Wayne County, and by 1880 they had moved to a farm at Franklin, Marion County, Iowa. They then moved to Lyons in Burt County, Nebraska and from there they traveled west to Montana Territory, where they worked at keeping the boarding house at the Grass Valley Mine, four miles west of Helena. In January of 1889 they adopted Ida Schaus, the daughter of recently-widowed, Julius Schaus, a Helena resident they had befriended, who felt that because of his declining health they would be better suited to raise his daughter. In March their friends Enoch and Lucina Biggs, also of Lyons, had joined them at the Grass Valley camp, but soon thereafter operations were suspended and the two families decided to locate to the mining camp at Maiden in central Montana for new opportunities. They hired a guide, a man named James Wilber, and on May 26th they left Helena headed eastward. On the evening of June 7, just one day from their destination, they camped at the abandoned George Leary ranch, also known as Von Tobel Springs, two miles west of Lewistown. It was here that all five were murdered by Wilber. The following day the murderer dumped the bodies by the Judith River near a place called Samples Crossing, about 25 miles northwest of Lewistown. The bodies were found several days later and buried there along the banks of the Judith. They were later reburied in Lewistown. Shortly after her death, an article in the Great Falls Tribune states that Ella left three brothers and one sister living in Lyons, Burt County, Nebraska. Although not mentioned, both her parents were still living also. Other than the adopted daughter, Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz were childless. ~~ 'The Independent-Record,' Helena, MT 17 January 1889, page 4: Joseph Kurtz and Ella Kurtz, his wife, were granted leave by Judge Howey yesterday to adopt Ida Schause, a five-year-old motherless girl. The father was in court and gave consent to the adoption. ~~ 'The New North-west,' Deer Lodge, MT 28 June 1889, Image 2 (excerpt): Fergus County Argus; a messenger brought the following note from County Attorney: "Samples' Ranch, June 18. Four bodies (five in all) have been found, indicating the most atrocious murder in the history of Montana. Organize a party and come out and help us. F. E. Smith." ~~ 'Great Falls Tribune,' Great Falls, MT 3 July 1889, Image 3 (edited): Col. Majors was at the scene of the Judith valley murders. He says it is only two miles from Lewistown and that the cowboys were ready to lynch Wilber if he came back. The details of the inquest which the Fergus County Argus gives shows that each of the men and women killed by Wilber were shot. The little girl was probably immersed in the pool near by until she died. The Argus says: "Thos. Garlic was authorized to construct coffins for the bodies, and when ready for interment his wife furnished fresh white sheets for each, while his daughters gathered and placed beautiful flowers in the coffins and over the graves. Thus they were consigned to their untimely, final resting place by strangers with care and kindness. But yesterday, as it were, buoyant with health and bright hopes, today they sleep on the banks of the Judith river, slain by the hands of a demon in human form whom the dead had succored." ~~ 'Butte Semi-Weekly Miner, ' Butte, MT 26 June 1889, Image 1 (excerpt): From the Helena "Herald:" The Kurtz family was mostly highly respected and well liked among their numerous acquaintances. The little girl was the daughter of Mr. Julius Schauss, a trusted employe of the firm of DeWitt & Arnold, of this city. Health and other causes made it imperative for him to go East, and he placed the little girl in the hands of Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz, his wife having died some time previous. "This bright, fair-haired little darling," said a prominent attorney, "was the pleasure of all who knew her, and when I made out the papers for adoption last summer, congratulated the family on their acquisition." Mr. Schauss is now in Omaha, and the news of his daughter's tragic end will no doubt be a severe shock to him. ~~ 'Lone Wolf In The Promised Land,' 2003, Samuel K. Phillips, Jr., page 74: "The last solemn bit of business was to have a Christian burial for the slain party. The bodies were moved from the Judith River ranch of Emory Huson and taken to the Lewistown city cemetery." On July 12, Allen Crowell and Frank Joliff (brothers of the murdered women who had come to Montana) saw to it that Ida, Mr. and Mrs. Kurtz, and Mr. and Mrs. Biggs were given Christian burials at Lewistown. ~~ James Wilber, aka Harry Patterson, was eventually tracked down, captured and arrested for the crimes, and, while being held in the Cascade County jail in Great Falls, committed suicide.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Sarah Ellen “Ella” Jolliff Kurtz's memorial?
Sarah Ellen “Ella” Jolliff Kurtz's memorial is located at: Lewistown City Cemetery, Lewistown, Fergus County, USA.
When did Sarah Ellen “Ella” Jolliff Kurtz death?
Sarah Ellen “Ella” Jolliff Kurtz death on 7 Jun 1889 in Lewistown, Fergus County, Montana, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Sarah Ellen “Ella” Jolliff Kurtz's memorial?
Latitude: 47.0674600
Longitude: -109.4449700

Family Members:

Parent

Andrew Jolliff

(1831 - 1914)

Catherine Cary Jolliff

(1838 - 1897)

Spouse

Joseph Kurtz

(1851 - 1889)

Siblings

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Lewistown City Cemetery
Lewistown, Fergus County, USA
Coordinate: 47.0674600, -109.4449700

2. Calvary Cemetery
Lewistown, Fergus County, USA
Coordinate: 47.0755140, -109.4238710

3. Central Montana Memorial Gardens
Lewistown, Fergus County, USA
Coordinate: 47.1526000, -109.4297000

4. Beaver Creek Cemetery
Lewistown, Fergus County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9510994, -109.5397034

5. King Colony Cemetery
King Colony Ranch, Fergus County, USA
Coordinate: 47.0557000, -109.6416000

6. Hilger Cemetery
Hilger, Fergus County, USA
Coordinate: 47.2297000, -109.3446000

7. Giltedge Cemetery
Giltedge, Fergus County, USA
Coordinate: 47.1323800, -109.2033700

8. Great Divide Cemetery
Piper, Fergus County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9978000, -109.2046000

9. Moore Cemetery
Moore, Fergus County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9693985, -109.6802979

10. Kendall Cemetery
Fergus County, USA
Coordinate: 47.2848000, -109.4541000

11. Fort Maginnis Cemetery
Giltedge, Fergus County, USA
Coordinate: 47.1869011, -109.1461029

12. Danvers Cemetery
Danvers, Fergus County, USA
Coordinate: 47.2292810, -109.7181200

13. Deerfield Cemetery
Fergus County, USA
Coordinate: 47.2604000, -109.6819000

14. Forest Grove Cemetery
Fergus County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9909000, -109.0752000

15. Moccasin Cemetery
Moccasin, Judith Basin County, USA
Coordinate: 47.0411830, -109.9093000

16. Buffalo Cemetery
Judith Basin County, USA
Coordinate: 46.8526000, -109.8242330

17. Ayers Ranch Colony Cemetery
Ayers Ranch Colony, Fergus County, USA
Coordinate: 47.0508000, -108.9514000

18. Ayers Ranch Hutterite Cemetery
Grass Range, Fergus County, USA
Coordinate: 47.0507550, -108.9514013

19. Philbrook Cemetery
Hobson, Judith Basin County, USA
Coordinate: 46.9831009, -109.9558029

20. Ford's Creek Colony
Grass Range, Fergus County, USA
Coordinate: 47.1306882, -108.9208610

21. Ubet-Garneill Cemetery
Judith Basin County, USA
Coordinate: 46.7478330, -109.7800000

22. Benchland Cemetery
Judith Basin County, USA
Coordinate: 47.0839005, -110.0500031

23. Hillcrest Cemetery
Denton, Fergus County, USA
Coordinate: 47.3133011, -109.9349976

24. Roy Cemetery
Roy, Fergus County, USA
Coordinate: 47.3404680, -108.9571450