Biography

Known as Frederick Ernest Kurth. The deceased died as a result of injuries received in a vehicle accident at Davyhurst on 14 July 1914. It was the verdict of Fox Esq., JP, the Acting Coroner, at an inquest held at Davyhurst on 10 August 1914, that no blame was attachable to anyone. He had lived for several years in the eastern states.

It is thought that at age 14 he left home and went to sea, which continued for 15 years until he was 29 years of age, when he left this occupation, ultimately making his way to Hahndorf, South Australia, where he met and married Ceaserine Emma Muller in Hahndorf on the 8th May 1890.  Interestingly, his address on the wedding certificate lists Broken Hill for his address and his occupation as Miner.

Emma was born on 13 August 1869 off the Cape of Good Hope while her parents were in transit on the ship Ceaser Godeffroy to Hahndorf South Australia.  Their three children were born while they were living in Broken Hill.  Frederick moved his family to Western Australia late in the 1890’s with Frederick working in Goongarrie away from his family as indicated by a letter sent to Emma dated 13th August 1896.

It has not been determined when Frederick and Emma started running the Davyhurst Store as either the Kurth's Union Store, and later the E. Kurth General Store, but it can be assumed that it was after 1896 when he was working in Goongarrie and prior to 1902 when Frederick advertised for a baker and hand in the store.

In 1911, Frederick had the misfortune to have in his employ a character named John George Hunter who made off with two tons of chaff valued at £24.  The constabulary caught up with Mr Hunter and he was found guilty of stealing as a servant and ordered to make restitution to Frederick, was fined and ordered to pay costs totalling £31 /06.

Frederick was involved with the community of Davyhurst sitting on the Progress Association, and was appointed to the Davyhurst Cemetries Board in September 1904. Their sons Leslie and Ernest attended school in Davyhurst with Ernest excelling and attending Scotch College on a scholarship.  Frederick suffered fatal injuries in an accident in mid-July 1914 which was reported in the Kalgoorlie Sun on the 19th of July: “Storekeeper Kurth of Davyhurst met with a serious accident a few days ago inflicting injuries which are still causing grave concern to his friends. Getting into his buggy to proceed to Goongarrie, there to entrain to Kalgoorlie, a restive horse between the shafts in its plunges threw him over the wheel. Mr Kurth fell heavily face-downwards on a stump, receiving terrible injuries in the region of the stomach and bowels. The doctor, arriving with all speed from Menzies, over 30 miles distant, at once applied remedies and operated but the recovery of the patient was said to  "be doubtful”.” 

Frederick left an estate of £1436.11s to Emma.

Emma passed away in Hobart Tasmania on the 29thof June 1938 at the age of 68 years. She was buried on the 1st of July 1938 in the Cornelian Bay Cemetery in the Methodist Wesleyan UMET area, Section B, Site Number 119. 

Ernest Carl Edgar Kurth passed away at the age of 70 years on the 4th of January 1966. He is buried at the Cornelian Bay Cemetery in Tasmania in the Church of England Area Section CK Site Number 139.

Leslie Arnold Kurth passed away July 1980 in Tasmania at the age of 88 years, he was cremated and his ashes appear to have been placed at the same plot as his mother.