- August Valentine Kautz was born in Germany on January 5, 1828. Shortly thereafter the family, including close relatives, emigrated to America and settled on land previously purchased in Ohio. When he grew up, August Kautz had a long career in the United States Army. He graduated from West Point Military Academy in 1852, serving in many places, including Fort Steilacoom, and later as a General in the Civil War. He retired from active service on January 5, 1892, in Vancouver, Washington.
- Historic Fort Steilacoom Association (historicfortsteilacoom.org)
Fort Steilacoom is located on the grounds of the Western State Hospital, overseen by the Washington State Department of Social & Health Services and cared for and paid for by the Historic Fort Steilacoom Association, (HFSA). In 1978, the final four remaining buildings were in deplorable condition. Plans for the hospital included demolition of the fort structures. Preservation efforts, in the early 1980s, by the Washington State Historic Preservation Office, Heritage League of Pierce County, and HFSA restored these officers’ quarters, which became the Fort Steilacoom Museum.
- August Valentine Kautz was born in Germany on January 5, 1828.
- While at Fort Steilacoom, [August Valentine] Kautz had a common law relationship with “Kitty” an Indian woman and daughter of Quiemuth. She gave him two sons, Nugent and Agustus.
- August Kautz died on September 4, 1895, at the age of 69 in Seattle
- she [Fannie Markbreit Kautz] lived with her son’s family in Washington D.C. and died at the home of one of her daughters in New Jersey on August 11, 1913, at the age of 65.
- [August Valentine] Kautz and his wife Fannie [Markbreit Kautz] purchased Day Island in Tacoma as a long-term investment.
- He [August Valentine Kautz] retired from active service on January 5, 1892, in Vancouver, Washington.