BIO: Charles R. KURTZ, Centre County, Pennsylvania

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives by Wayne Barner

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Commemorative Biographical Record of Central Pennsylvania: Including the 
Counties of Centre, Clearfield, Jefferson and Clarion: Containing Biographical 
Sketches of Prominent and Representative Citizens, Etc. 
Chicago: J. H. Beers, 1898.
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COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD, pages 75-76

CHARLES R. KURTZ, of Bellefonte. The ability to meet the emergencies of an 
exacting profession in a quiet, yet prompt and efficient manner, is a test of a 
well-disciplined mind, and a visit to the sanctum sanctorum of the gifted editor 
of The Centre Democrat, one of the leading Democratic papers of Centre County, 
impresses one with the value of this rare acquirement, the large and rapidly 
developing business of the establishment being managed with apparent ease. Mr. 
Kurtz, the editor and publisher of The Centre Democrat, has had unusual 
advantages in the way of preparation for journalism, having been practically 
trained to it from boyhood in the office of The Centre Hall Reporter, of which 
his father, Hon. Frederick Kurtz, is editor. Notwithstanding the arduous labors 
which have brought the Democrat to its present prosperity, Mr. Kurtz has also 
found time to share in the various progressive movements of his locality, and is 
especially prominent in political work. Gifted as an orator, his services in 
that line are frequently in demand, which shows growing appreciation, and points 
to a brilliant future.
Mr. Kurtz has been identified with Centre County from his birth, which occurred 
at Aaronsburg, October 31, 1864. His academic education was mainly obtained in 
the schools of Cen-

COMMEMORATIVE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD - 76

tre Hall, where he attended until the age of seventeen. He then entered the 
University of Lewisburg (now Bucknell University), completed a scientific 
course, and was graduated in 1886. Returning home, he took charge of The Centre 
Hall Reporter for two years, and in 1888 went to Bellefonte to conduct The 
Centre Democrat. At that time, and for many years previous, the paper was 
financially involved, and had proven a bad venture from its inception. It then 
had a very small circulation, but little advertising and little or no patronage.  
Under the able management of Mr. Kurtz, it soon showed marked improvement in 
both respects.  The subscription list has grown from seven hundred to almost two 
thousand substantial names, and its columns are patronized by the leading 
businessmen of the vicinity. In July, 1895, Mr. Kurtz purchased the entire 
business, which had previously been owned by a stock company, The Centre 
Democrat Co., and has equipped it throughout with late and improved type, fast 
presses, folder and engine. When Mr. Kurtz took charge of the plant it had a 
small circulation. Now it boasts of having the largest number of readers of any 
Democratic paper in Centre County. 
  With the past as a basis for Judgment, we may safely predict for this clever 
and energetic worker an enviable success, and many friends whom his gentlemanly 
bearing has won for him will rejoice to see the realization of his plans and 
hopes.