BIOGRAPHY
Otto Julius Heinrich SCHULZ was born in what is now known as Letowo, Poland, previously part of Prussia, the eldest child of Wilhelmine Schulz. When he was 18 Otto emigrated with his mother Wilhelmine and his 3 half sisters to Queensland, Australia. This allowed him to avoid military service which was unpopular. He worked in the sugar cane fields in North Queensland between 1883 and 1887. In 1887 Otto emigrated to New Zealand.
Otto settled at Hurleyville, south Taranaki, and owned two farms there. He married Dorothea Magdelena Catherina KORTE at Awatuna in 1896. Otto and Dora lived at Hurleyville where they farmed for 27 years and raised ten children. Otto was a director of the Hurleyville Dairy Factory for 17 years and had an on-going association with Hurleyville School, being appointed as a school commissioner for the Hurleyville District in 1907.
Otto and Dora retired to Eltham in 1927. Otto died in 1933 and Dora in 1942. Otto was buried alongside his mother Wilhelmina in the family plot in Eltham Cemetery.
In his will Otto bequeathed one farm to his son Frederick and the second to his son Albert. The Commissioner of Stamp Duties made a claim for stamp duties on the land transfer and this was contested by the brothers. When the case was heard by Mr Justice Balir in 1934 he found in favour of the brothers. The case then went to the Court of Appeal, which found in favour of the Commissioner of Stamp Duties. The brothers lost the case because they had to take out mortgages, which resulted in the transactions being considered as sales. Albert was required to pay £5291 and Frederick £3914.
Dora died in 1942 in Eltham and was burried with Otto in Eltham Cemetery.
VALEDICTORY.
MR. AND MRS. O. SCHULTZ AND FAMILY.
The many friends of Mr. and Mrs. O. Schultz and family gathered in the Hurleyville Hall on Wednesday last to bid them farewell, as, after 27 years residence in the district, they are shortly leaving in order to retire in Eltham.
During the evening the following items were ably rendered and thoroughly enjoyed, the audience calling for repeated encores:? Songs: Mrs. Barclay, Miss Poppy Hurley, and Messrs. Hartenberg and Langslow; recitations, Miss Harvey and Messrs. Hogg and Hartenberg. In between the items dance numbers added variety to the programme, the music being in the capable hands of Miss H. Hurley.
During the evening Mr. R. S. Scown, on behalf of the settlers of the district, presented Mr. and Mrs. Schultz with a handsome chiming clock as a slight token of the esteem in which they had been held by all during their long residence at Hurleyville. Mr. Schultz had always taken an active interest in local affairs, being for many years a member of the School Committee and a director of the local factory for 17 years. The family would be sorely missed but he joined with their friends in wishing them every happiness and prosperity in their new home. (Applause.) Mr. D. Hurley, jun., and Mr. Barber also spoke highly of the guests, Mr. Barber saying that the ten children of Mr. and Mrs. Schultz had all gone through their schooling at the Hurleyville School without a break, surely a record to be proud of.
Mr. Schultz briefly responded, thanking the settlers for their beautiful gift, which would ever remind him and his wife and family of the happy years spent at Hurleyville. It was not an easy thing to say goodbye to so many friends, and he trusted that when opportunity offered they would visit him in his new home. He again thanked them for their kind remarks, good wishes, and beautiful gift.
The gathering then rose and sang "For They Are Jolly Good Fellows" followed by "Auld Lang Syne," the evening being brought to a close by the handing round of a dainty supper.
Source: Patea Mail, 8 June 1927, Page 3.
OBITUARY.
Mr. Otto Henry Schultz died on Tuesday at his residence, King Edward Street, Eltham. Mr. Schultz was a prominent member of the Eltham Bowling Club. Born in Germany 68 years ago, Mr. Schultz arrived in New Zealand at the age of 21. He spent many years in bush-felling and pioneer farming in the Alton district, and was living there at the time of his marriage 37 years ago. For the past five years Mr. Schultz lived in retirement at Eltham. He is survived by his widow, and an adult family of five sons and five daughters.
Source: Patea Mail, 13 January 1933, Page 3.
Chris Korte's New Zealand Genealogy Project
1865 - 1933 (67 years)
Has 2 ancestors and more than 100 descendants in this family tree.
[1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6] 
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