George Lutz

GEORGE LUTZ, a retired druggist and ex-mayor of Mound Valley, was born at Mount Carmel, Wabash county, Illinois, in 1841. He is a son of Nicholas Lutz.

Nicholas Lutz was born of German extraction, and followed the trade of a shoe-maker. He lived in Pittsburg, Pennsylvania, for a number of years, and later in life moved to Illinois, where he now lives having reached the advanced age of eighty-eight years. He has been thrice married; his first wife died when her son, George, was quite young. She left one other son, Philip, who is a farmer and cotton planter, of Texas. The second marriage of Nicholas Lutz resulted in one child, Mary, who married Lucian Turner. She now lives in Hammond, Indiana. His third union was with Mamie Good, and was blessed with six children: William; John; Fannie; Ella; Laura; and Ada.

George Lutz, the subject of this sketch, was reared in Illinois, where he attended the common schools. In 1861, at the call of President Lincoln for volunteers, Mr. Lutz enlisted in Company 1, 40th Reg., Ill. Vol. Inf., and served as a private in the 15th Army Corps, under General Logan. He served far three years, in the 40th Regiment, and for one year in the 8th Reg., Veteran Vol. Inf. He was wounded in the eye at the battle of Shiloh. After Mr. Lutz was mustered out he returned to Illinois, where he attended the business college at Olney. On completing the course, in 1867, he moved to Kansas, where he studied pharmacy, and assisted in different drug stores. He had no aid from his father, and has made his own way in the world. In 1868 Mr. Lutz took up a claim in Mound Valley township,the northwest quarter of section 11, township 33, range 18. He farmed but little, but held and kept the land in good state of improvement. In 1870 he became a clerk in the general merchandise and drug store of Anderson & Tanner. In partnership with Mr. Harnady, in 1876, Mr. Lutz bought a grocery business, and one year later the partnership was dissolved. In 1877 he purchased a drug store of R. Blackley, which he later sold. Subsequently he purchased the drug business owned by Dr. Tanner, which he conducted until June, 1899. James Lear, Jr., now owns the store, and Mr. Lutz has been retired for the past two years.

Mr. Lutz is one of the six members of the Mound Valley National Gas & Mineral Company, four of the other members being: A. P. Sanders, president; Mr. Ellsworth, vice-president; L. H. Wise, secretary; and Albert Wise, treasurer. They furnish the town with abundant gas for fuel and lighting purposes. Mr. Lutz was postmaster of Mound Valley, during President Arthur's administration. Mr. Lutz is a Republican, in politics, and is one of the most influential citizens in the town. He served as mayor of Mound Valley, for two terms, the second term having just expired. He filled this office to the entire satisfaction of all, and with credit to himself. Albert Wise is his successor. Fraternally, Mr. Lutz is a member of the G. A. R. Post; he is a member of the A. F. & A. M., Mound Valley Lodge, No. 218, and also of the I. 0. 0. F., - having joined the last named organization in the "sixties." In religious views, he is liberal,giving his support to all churches. Mr. Lutz is a self made man, and is very popular in Labette county, where he is well known.