My brother is Art Kurtz, who is also a contributor on this site. I was born and raised in Watertown, New York, where I still live. My mother's family has resided in Northern New York since the 1830's. Prior to that they lived in the Mohawk Valley from at least the mid 1700's. My father's family were German and Gottschee German immigrants who settled in Hardin County, Ohio in the late 1850's to mid 1880's.

My brother is Art Kurtz, who is also a contributor on this site. I was born and raised in Watertown, New York, where I still live. My mother's family has resided in Northern New York since the 1830's. Prior to that they lived in the Mohawk Valley from at least the mid 1700's. My father's family were German and Gottschee German immigrants who settled in Hardin County, Ohio in the late 1850's to mid 1880's.