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Martin Kortz

Martin Kortz[1, 2]

Male 1830 - 1916  (86 years)Deceased

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  • Name Martin Kortz 
    Birth 1830  Silesia, Prussia Find all individuals with events at this location  [1] 
    Gender Male 
    Emigration 14 Sep 1872  Hamburg, Germany Find all individuals with events at this location  [3] 
    Immigration 14 Oct 1872  New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana Find all individuals with events at this location  [4] 
    Census 1 Jun 1880  DeWitt Co., Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Occupation Farmer  [6] 
    Death 10 Feb 1916  near, Yorktown, DeWitt Co., Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  [1, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12] 
    • Martin Kortz died from wounds inflicted with an ax by his step-son John Biemer after an altercation. John had come over to the two room house of Martin to take some butter. They became drunk from several drinks of whiskey and renewed a year long quarrel. John claimed he struck Martin with his fists. He said Martin did not fall to the floor, but first grappled with him and then came towards him and threatened him with an ax. John then took the ax and struck Martin with it and went home. About midnight John's mother (Martin's wife) came by and told John that his step-father had died. In the morning, John went into town to buy a coffin. When asked who had died, he answered that his step-father had killed himself with an Ax the night before. The officers arrived at the house, they found Martin dressed in clean clothing. They then found Martin’s bloody clothing and blood stains in both rooms of the house which showed signs of having been recently cleaned. They also found a vest with blood about fifty yards from the house. John was arrested and later posted a bond of $5000. At the time, John was one of the largest land owners in the county.
    Burial 11 Feb 1916  Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery, Panna Maria, Karnes Co., Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  [13, 14] 
    Martin Kortz (1830-1916) - Find a Grave Memorial    		 Martin Kortz (1830-1916) - Find a Grave Memorial
    FamilySearch ID LZLG-Q8G 
    Person ID I22  Wendel Voigt Family Tree
    Last Modified 29 Apr 2021 

    Family Patronella "Nellie" Drazmala,   b. 31 May 1832, Prussia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 23 Oct 1919, Hobson, Karnes Co., Texas Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 87 years) 
    Census 1 Jun 1880  DeWitt Co., Texas Find all individuals with events at this location  [5] 
    Children 
    +1. Jan "John" Biemer,   b. 24 Jun 1862, Prussia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 16 May 1941 (Age 78 years)  [Father: Stepchild]
    +2. Felix Biemer,   b. 30 May 1864, Germany Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 24 Mar 1952, Bexar Co., Texas Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 87 years)  [Father: Stepchild]
    +3. Antonia Kortz,   b. 13 Jun 1865, Silesia, Prussia Find all individuals with events at this locationd. 19 Oct 1932, Weesatche, Goliad Co., Texas Find all individuals with events at this location (Age 67 years)
     4. Theodore Kortz,   b. Abt 1873, Texas Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
     5. Cartizene Kortz,   b. Abt 1875, Texas Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
    +6. Peter Kortz,   b. 11 Sep 1877   d. 2 May 1950 (Age 72 years)
     7. Bertha Kortz,   b. Abt 1879, Texas Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
     8. Agnes Kortz,   b. Abt Dec 1879, Texas Find all individuals with events at this locationd. Yes, date unknown
    Family ID F19  Group Sheet  |  Family Chart
    Last Modified 8 Jan 2024 

  • Event Map
    Link to Google MapsBirth - 1830 - Silesia, Prussia Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChild - Jan "John" Biemer - 24 Jun 1862 - Prussia Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChild - Felix Biemer - 30 May 1864 - Germany Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChild - Antonia Kortz - 13 Jun 1865 - Silesia, Prussia Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsEmigration - 14 Sep 1872 - Hamburg, Germany Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsImmigration - 14 Oct 1872 - New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChild - Theodore Kortz - Abt 1873 - Texas Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChild - Cartizene Kortz - Abt 1875 - Texas Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChild - Bertha Kortz - Abt 1879 - Texas Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsChild - Agnes Kortz - Abt Dec 1879 - Texas Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1 Jun 1880 - DeWitt Co., Texas Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsCensus - 1 Jun 1880 - DeWitt Co., Texas Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsDeath - 10 Feb 1916 - near, Yorktown, DeWitt Co., Texas Link to Google Earth
    Link to Google MapsBurial - 11 Feb 1916 - Immaculate Conception Catholic Cemetery, Panna Maria, Karnes Co., Texas Link to Google Earth
     = Link to Google Earth 
    Pin Legend  : Address       : Location       : City/Town       : County/Shire       : State/Province       : Country       : Not Set

  • Sources 
    1. [S90] Death Certificate for Martin Kortz, De Witt Co. Cert. # 3917.
      Informant was Peter Kortz. Death certificate indicates that he was murdered near Yorktown at the age of 86.
    2. [S35] Baptism records of Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Book 1, Microfilm #0025295, p. 152, FHL Microfilm #0025295.
      RESIDENCES: parents given as Thomas Warwas and Antonia (father Martin Korz from Silesia).
    3. [S1025] Passenger List: Hamburg (Ancestry.com), microfilm no.:K_1717, Volume: 373-7 I, VIII A 1 Band 027 B, p. 1021 [Warwas p. 131].
      Hamburg Passenger Lists, 1850-1934; Name: Martin Korcz; Gender männlich (Male); Departure Age: 32; Birth Date: abt 1840; Residence Place: Lazisk, Schlesien; Departure Date: 14 Sep 1872; Departure Place: Hamburg, Deutschland (Germany); Arrival Place: New Orleans; Occupation: Landmann; Ship Name: Saxonia; Captain: Brandt; Shipping Clerk: Aug. Bolten Wm. Miller's Nachfolger; Shipping Line: Hamburg-Amerikanische Packetfahrt-Actien-Gesellschaft; Ship Type: Dampfschiff; Ship Flag: Deutschland; Accommodation: Zwischendeck
    4. [S1026] Passenger List: New Orleans Index 1853-1952, 29 April 2021; https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9PR-S7NL, [Warwas p. 133].
      Name: Martin Korcz; Event Type: Immigration; Event Date: 1872; Event Place: New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, United States; Sex: Male; Age: 32; Birth Year (Estimated): 1840.
    5. [S83] 1880 U.S. Census, DeWitt Co. TX, E.D. 48, Sheet 19, Lines 39-47.
      Gives age as 44, born in Prussia, worked as a farmer.
    6. [S83] 1880 U.S. Census, DeWitt Co. TX, E.D. 48, Sheet 19, Lines 39-47.
    7. [S91] Interview with Mary Kortz Holloway, San Antonio TX, [Warwas p. 1].
      COMMENT: Martin Kortz (her Grandfather) was killed with an axe by Nellie Kortz's son from a previous marriage. The son made his mother clean up the mess, and then took her to San Antonio for hiding since she was the only witness. Martin was killed because he asked for money to buy a new suit.

      Date: 4 June 1989
    8. [S1022] Newspaper: Daily Advocate (Victoria, Texas), Aged Man's Head Is Split Open With Ax; His Stepson Now In Jail; 12 February 1916; https://www.newspapers.com/image/436182308; online; 15 May 2020; Courtesy of Elizabeth Skadden; p. 1 [Warwas p. 125].
      AGED MAN’S HEAD IS SPLIT OPEN WITH AX; HIS STEPSON NOW IN JAIL
      Yorktown, Texas, Feb. 12 [1916] – Martin Kort, a Polish farmer, about eight miles of this place, is dead from wounds inflicted with an ax, one of which almost split his head open, and John Biemer, his stepson, is in jail at Cuero in connection with the killing.
      The first information that local officers had of the death of the aged man was early in the day when Biemer came here to buy a coffin and a bystander questioned him about who was dead.
      He said that his stepfather had killed himself during the night.
      Biemer said that he went to the home of his stepfather to take some butter and that they had several drinks of whiskey and while in the yard an altercation started and he struck the old man with an ax then, but he cannot remember just what did happen.
      On arriving at the cabin the officers found that the dead man had been dressed in clean clothing, but the bloody clothing was found and blood stains were found in both rooms, although each showed evidence of having been recently scrubbed. A bloody vest also was found about fifty yards from the house.
    9. [S1023] Newspaper: Austin American (Austin, Texas), Held For Killing His Stepfather With An Ax; 14 February 1916, p. 3; https://www.newspapers.com/image/385037660; online; 15 May 2020; Courtesy of Elizabeth Skadden; [Warwas p. 126].
      HELD FOR KILLING HIS STEPFATHER WITH AN AX
      Special to The American. Cuero, Texas Feb. 13 [1916] – Deputy Sheriff John Holland brought in John Biemer, a Polander of the Yorktown community, Friday night and placed him in the county jail. He is charged with killing his step-father with an ax Thursday night. Interviewed at the county jail he said he did not remember exactly what happened. He claims he and his step-father were drunk; that they renewed an old quarrel of a year’s standing and he was threatened with an ax, while in the hands of his step-father, and he thinks he took it away from him and struck him with his fists.
      He says his step-father did not fall to the floor, but grappled with him. He then went to his home and about midnight his mother called and told him his step-father had died. He said he then went to Yorktown, told the officers and brought a coffin. Reports have it that buying the coffin attracted attention and he was asked who was dead and he said his step-father. His arrest followed.
      Biemer is 54 years of age, his step-father being about 81. The inquest verdict from the justice of the peace at Yorktown has not been filed here yet.
    10. [S1023] Newspaper: Austin American (Austin, Texas), Heavy Criminal Docket Before Court At Cuero; 22 June 1916, p. 7; https://www.newspapers.com/image/385043468; online; 15 May 2020; Courtesy of Elizabeth Skadden; [Warwas p. 127].
      HEAVY CRIMINAL DOCKET FEFORE COURT AT CUERO
      Special to The American. Cuero, Texas, June 21 [1916] – District court took up the criminal docket Monday. The state of Texas vs. ex parte John Biemer, charged with having killed his step-father was the first case called. The docket is heavy, the grand jury having returned fifty-three indictments.
    11. [S1024] Newspaper: Houston Post (Houston, Texas), Farmer Near Yorktown Found Dead With Head Split; 12 February 1916, p. 10; https://www.newspapers.com/image/94911958; online; 15 May 2020; Courtesy of Elizabeth Skadden; [Warwas p. 128].
      FARMER NEAR YORKTOWN FOUND DEAD WITH HEAD SPLIT
      Step-Son Held in Connection With the Killing of Martin Kort
      (Houston Post Special.) Yorktown, Texas February 11 [1916] – Martin Kort, a Polish farmer, about eight miles east of this place, is dead from wounds inflicted with an ax, one of which almost split his head open, and John Biemer, his stepson, is in jail at Cuero in connection with the killing.
      The first intimation that local officers had of the death of the aged man was this morning when Biemer came here to buy a coffin, and a bystander questioned him about who was dead. He said his stepfather had killed himself with an ax last night.
      City Marshal Lenz, who also is a deputy constable, and Justice of the Peace B. L. Hausmann accompanied Biemer to the two-room house in which the aged man had lived, and by close questioning drew from Biemer the fact that he and his stepfather had quarreled last night.
      Biemer said that he went to the home of his stepfather to take some butter, and that they had several drinks of whisky, and while in the yard an altercation started and he struck the old man with his fist. Kort, he said, attacked him with an ax then, but he says he can not remember just what did happen.
      Biemer is one of the wealthiest farmers in the county and owns several hundred acres of rice agricultural land. He first was brought here, but this afternoon was taken to the county jail at Cuero.
    12. [S1024] Newspaper: Houston Post (Houston, Texas), Biemer Held in $5000. Man Accused of Killing Step-Father With Ax Got Bail; 16 February 1916, p. 2; https://www.newspapers.com/image/94916131; online; 15 May 2020; Courtesy of Elizabeth Skadden; [Warwas p. 129].
      BIEMER HELD IN $5000.
      Man Accused of Killing Step-Father With Ax Got Bail
      (Houston Post Special.) Cuero, Texas, February 15 [1916] – John Biemer, charged with killing his step-father, Martin Kurz, a few nights ago with an ax, has been admitted to bond of $5000, which he gave and is now at liberty til the June term of Dewitt county district court. He owns considerable valuable land.
    13. [S940] Find A Grave, 12 May 2015; http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=117074846.
      Martin Kortz; Birth: 1830; Death: Feb. 10, 1916, DeWitt County, Texas, USA; Spouse: Petronela Kortz (1832 - 1919); Burial: Panna Maria Cemetery, Panna Maria, Karnes County, Texas, USA; Created by: Bruce Hicks; Record added: Sep 14, 2013; Find A Grave Memorial# 117074846.
    14. [S90] Death Certificate for Martin Kortz, De Witt Co. Cert. # 3917.
      Informant was Peter Kortz. Death certificate indicates that he was murdered near Yorktown at the age of 86. Burial at "Catholic Cemetery" with address given as "Yorktown, Texas". It is not clear if the address is the cemetery address or the undertaker's address.



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