Page:The Biographical Dictionary of America, vol. 06.djvu/320

 KUNZE

KYLE

cago, 111., 1893. He was an honorary special agent of mines at the Atlanta exposition in 1895, and the Omaha exposition in 1898; served on special investigations of the U.S. fish commis- sion on American pearls, 1892-98; and was hon- orary special agent to the commissioner-general of the United States at the Paris exposition of 1900. He was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, a memher of the New York Academy of Science, vice-president of the American Institute of Min- ing Engineers, and a member of other scientific societies at home and abroad. He was decorated "officier de I'academie " by the French govern- ment in 1889, and received the honorary degree of A.M. from Columbia college in 1898. He was a specialist on precious stones in the preparation of the Century Dictionary, and wrote the " Re- ports on Gems " in the annual volumes of the " Mineral Resources of the United States " (1884- 99); and is the author of: Gems and Precious Stones of North Amei'ica (1890), and of articles on gems, minerals, meteorites and folk-lore, con- tributed to scientific journals, reviews and maga- zines.

KUNZE, John Christopher, clergyman, was born in Aitern, Saxonj% Aug. 4, 1744. He was a student at the Orpl:an House of Halle, studied theology at the Univei'sity of Halle, became a teacher in Closter-Bergen, near Magdeburg, and was later inspector of the Orphans' Home at Gratz. He was sent to America in 1771 by the theological faculty of the University of Halle, to preside over St. Michael's and Zion Lutheran congregations, Philadelphia, Pa., and served as their minister until 1784. He established a theo- logical seminary in Philadelphia, which was closed by the Revolutionary war. During the occupa- tion of Philadelphia by the British, Zion church was used as a hospital and St. Michael's was em- ployed for religious services for the garrison. Dr. Kunze was professor of German at the University of Pennsj'lvania, 1780-84, and pastor of the Ger- man Lutheran church in New York city, 1784-1807. He was professor of oriental languages and litera- ture in Columbia college, New York, 1784-87 and 1792-97. He accepted the presidency of the second synod of the American Lutheran church on its formation in 1786, and was an early and prominent advocate of adopting the use of the English language in Lutheran churches and schools. He received from the University of Pennsylvania the honorary degree of A.M. in 1780, and that of D.D. in 1783. He was elected a member of the American Philosophical society in 1779. He is the author of: Concise History of the Lutheran Church; Something for the Under- standing and the Heart (poems); A Table of New Construction for Calcidating the Great

Eclipse, expected to happen June 16, 1806; Hymn and Prayer Book for the use of such Lutheran CJiurches as rise the English Language (1795); Catechism and Liturgy (1795), and historical essays. He died in New York city, July 24, 1807.

KURTZ, Benjamin, clergyman, was boi'n in Harrisburg, Pa., Feb. 28, 1795; a grandson of the Rev. Jolin Nicliolas Kurtz. He was educated at Harrisburg academy, and was a teacher there, 1810-13. He was licensed to preach in 1815; was assistant to his uncle, the Rev. John Daniel Kurtz (q.v.), was pastor at Hagerstown, Md., 181.5-31; and at Chambersburg, Pa., from 1831 until 1833, when he retired, owing to ill-health. He was editor of the Lutheran Observer, 1833-62. He was one of the founders of the general synod; of the Lutheran Theological seminary at Gettys- burg, Pa., in 1826, and of the Missionarj' institute at Selinsgrove, Pa. He was a trustee of Pennsylvania college, and a member of the board of directors of the Lutheran Theological seminary for over thirtj' years. He received the degree of D.D. from Washington college. Pa., in 1838. and that of LL.D. from Wittenberg college, Springfield, Ohio, in 1858. He visited Europe in 1825. He is the author of: First Principles of Religion for Chil- dren (1821); Sermons on Sabbath ScJiooIs (1822); Faith, Hope and Charity (1823); Infant Baptism and Affusion, rcith Essays on Related Subjects (1840); Theological Sketch Book, or Skeletons of Sermons, Carefully Arranged in Systematic Order, original and selected (2 vols., 1844); Why Are You a Lutheran 9 (1847); Lutheran Prayer Booh (1856). He died in Baltimore, Md., Dec. 29, 1865.

KURTZ, John Daniel, clergyman, was born in Germantown, Pa., in 1763. His father, John Nicholas Kurtz, a native of Germany, was edu- cated at the University of Halle; settled in New Hanover, Montgomery county. Pa., 1745; was, or- dained to the ministry in 1748, at the first meet- ing of the Lutheran synod in America; was pas- tor at Tulpehocken, Pa., 1748-71, and at York Pa.. 1771-89, and resided with his son at Baltimore, Md., from 1789 until his death there May 12, 1794. John Daniel Kurtz studied theology with his father, and with the Rev. Dr. Muhlenberg, and was licensed to preach by the synod of Penn- sylvania in 1784. He was an assistant to his father at York, Pa., and pastor of a congregation near York, 1784-86, and pastor of the leading Lutheran church in Baltimore, Md., 1786-1832. He was one of the founders of the general synod and a director of the Evangelical Lutheran semi- nary at Gettysburg, Pa. He received the degree of D.D. from the University of Pennsylvania in 1816. He died in Baltimore, Md., June 30, 1856.

KYLE, James Henderson, senator, was born near Xenia, Oliio, Feb. 24, 1854: son of Tliomas Beveridge and Margaret Jane (Henderson) Kyle;