Wayne Koontz Notes

I do know that Wayne had done a lot of research on the family and while I know that he had written many notes, this is what I have recieved to date. They are transcribed from photocopies given to me by my father - Ken Koontz

 

Koontz Genealogy
Historical Background of Pennsylvania Dutch

The records of sailing ships indicate that a number of Koontz, Kunz, Coontz, Kuns, and similarly named persons came over to the New World during the 1600s and 1700s.  Most originated in the fertile Rhine Valley, a rich farming area near coal and iron deposits.  This area includes the Palatinate and these farmers and serfs were drafted into first one and then another conquerors army as different princes conquered the region and then as the small city and castle kingdoms disappeared the German and French states and or religious groups dominated.  The people fled to escape being crafted and to secure religious and personal freedom. One such group in the Palatinated chartered a large vessel and ended up in Queen Elizabeth’s England with the request that they be sent to her colonies.  Because it was winter and some months prior to the sailing season they were quarantined on board ship until spring and then sent to the governor of New York with instructions that they be indentured until their passage was worked out.  Because there were so many, the governor took them out along the Hudson and gave each a plot so wide at the river bank and so far back as they cared to go.  I suppose being thrifty Germans they took full advantage of the opportunity.  Many died during the voyages and the quarantine in England.

Names:

The researcher must realize that many such immigrants were unschooled and the spelling of the names may have been given phonetically by the purser on the ship or later by the tax collector. However there was one Phillip Koontz in Pennsylvania in the County of York and township of Huntington or Mannheim or Lyon, which were taken together in the census – Daniel Koontz, great, great-grandfather William brother (whose obituary is given later lists Huntington Township, Pennsylvania, as the place of his birth). There were also other Kuns and Kunz in the area, and there is no record of such a family in Huntington County.

A look at the map will show you that New York state and the Hudson Valley are just cast of the fertile and beautiful Susquehanna River, where the above York County and other Pennsylvania and Virginia farming country is located and it was here what they Pennsylvania “Dutch” settled.  Although I have made some attempts I cannot locate our grandfather’s or great grandmother’s birthplace any closer thus far. Each said in Pennsylvania to the census taken and Grandmother Catherine was remembered by one son as having said that the closest city of size to her birthplace was Lancaster, Pennsylvania, in this area.

I wish to point out that up to this point I am giving general history and it did happen that way to some of our people and there is some indication that ours were among them. From this point on I am quoting records. Please inform me if you who read this have further or different information. Since this goes back to 1814, it is very difficult to get back of that but it should be interesting to try.

Pennsylvania Dutch country is most interesting to visit. These people gave much to their new county. They were outstanding as farmers they were ironworkers and originated what became known as the Kentucky rifle; they settled on the early frontiers and were traders; they built the first Conestoga wagons.

Factual material concerning the Koontz family:

Madison Koontz obituary: Born in Portage County, Ohio, on October 8, 1840, and died November 17, 1900. He was second in a family of 15 children, four of whom survive. The survivors include Mrs. Dora Duncan of Mayville, Illinois, Mrs. Eliza J.S. Sagerfoos of Elkhart, Indiana, Mr. David Koontz of East St. Louis, and William Koontz of Camden, Illinois. The Koontz family moved from Ohio to Camden, Illinois, when Madison was 15 (in 1850). He lived there until his marriage and then moved to Augusta for 5 years and then to Elm Grove for 3 years, and then to the family home near La Prairie from 1876 on.

Mr. Koontz enlisted in the Union army on August 8, 1862, In Co. F, 119th Regiment of Illinois Infantry Volunteers and was honorably discharged August 26th, 1865, at Mobile Alabama.

Madison married Miss Martha A. Cox of Mount Olive, Illinois and she and five of their six children survive him; Charles of Loraine, Edwin C. of Pittsfield, Theodore Frank of Stillwell, Lillie Della at home and John at home.

The 1860 Census records for Camden Township include a William and Catherine Koontz, birthplace of each given as Pennsylvania and all children listed except Madison who may have been living away from home at the time. His discharge papers are there and one may obtain his war record by writing to Military Service Records (NNES), National Archives (GSA), Washington D.C. 20408.

In the Western Reserve Historical Society of Cleveland, Ohio I secured this 1850 census of Portage County:
William Koontz, 35, born Pennsylvania
Catherine (Stambaugh) Koontz, born Pennsylvania
Matilda 11, Madison 10, Hiram 8, Jacob H. 7, William H. 3, John 1. (John 18, Lucinda 17, Mary 12, Hannah, 10, Esther 5.) All were born in Ohio.

The disparity in ages of the two sets of children is unaccounted for but they do not seem to have moved to Illinois as a group as the second John and all after him were never listed there.Next door to William Koontz some Stambaughs are listed as living and in the Randolph Cemetery of Portage County some Stambaughs are buried.

From the Argus, published at Astoria, Illinois, September 14, 1887: William C. Koontz, a well known citizen of Argus died at his home on W. Main Street about 11 o’clock on Monday morning , September 12, 1887, after an illness of about 36 hours. The deceased was a son of Jacob and Sallie Koontz. He was born December 20, 1804, in Stark County, Pennsylvania. (Note: this may be an error as other sources give the date as 1814.) There is no Stark County in Pennsylvania, but William and Mary were married in Stark County, Ohio.  William moved to Ohio about the time he became of age and in January of 1839 he was united in marriage to Catherine Stambaugh. (I confirmed this about 2 years ago by writing to the probate clerk County, Ohio. I was hoping to get a record of their birthplace but it was stated only as Pennsylvania. Canton, Ohio is the county seat of Stark County.

In 1857 Mr. Koontz came to Illinois and located near Camden in Schuyler County. On the fourth of August, 1873, his faithful wife died. In 1876, he left Camden and came to Astoria and on April 15th he married Mrs. Susan Smith who survives him. The deceased was a member of the Methodist Church and had lived a Christian life. His occupation during that time was that of a farmer and plasterer. His death was a surprise to those who knew him because although nearly 73 years of age he was as spry as a man of fifty. Reverend Wilkin made a prayer at the residence and the remains were taken to Camden for burial.

There is now a Schuyler County Museum in Nashville in the old jail that has been of considerable help to me. There I got my first leads and information. I found that William and Catherine are buried in a small cemetery just back of a pig lot on the main road between Rushville and La Prairie, about 1 ½ miles from the La Moine River and about ½ mile from their farm. Her name and his are both on the large stone but his death date was never marked – I suppose that his second marriage alienated the children or at least made them feel less responsible since he sold his farm after he had remarried,  and the younger children apparently went elsewhere to live. It records on the stone that one boy of about 23 had died and I was told by the librarian  at the museum and historical center that he had killed himself soon after his marriage. Also, there were four children who had died within four days of some epidemic, probably cholera, which was often severe at that time. The little grave yard is well cared for and a road had been maintained into it. You can’t help feeling a pang of sympathy for our great, great great-grandparents when you realize the losses they took in so short a time and in a country-side which was still fairly new to them. The children died about 1851.

This is from the Western Reserve Library also. One of the librarians there found it in a “Stark County Ohio History” by Haskin and Beaty, 1881. Page 708 lists under “Prominent Farmers”.

David Koontz, a farmer born in Huntington County, Pennsylvania, June 13, 1813, a son of Jacob and Mary Obenour Koontz. Jacob was a son of Peter Koontz. The children of Jacob and Mary were: John, Susie, Jacob, Daniel, William, Lydia, Mary, Betsy, Barbara, Frederick, Christine, Sally, and Parrison. (Daniel and David seem to have been the same person.) When the history was written, David said that his brother William was in Schuyler County, Illinois.

 

2nd Collection, partial

From Cover Letter:

…bored sometimes. I need to do more – not housework as Rebecca urges!

I’ve spent some time on genealogy. Our great grandfather William C., Jacob’s father was born in PA and married Catherine Straunbaugh in Canton Ohio. They lived in Portage Co. Ohio a while – grandfather Madison was born there, then moved to Schuyler Co Camden Twp. I have his obit. His father and mother, my great, great grandfather were Jacob and (Polly/Sally) but I don’t know where they were born or lived.
I’ve uncovered relatives in St. Louis Mo., Montana, and S. Dakota and a few more. Apparently most Koontz’s came to this country in the 1600’s and there were some 30 or 40 individuals. We’ll be delighted to see you when you can come by any or all.

From “Genealogy” notes:

Eldora Dunham Koontz family
Father William Koontz
Birthplace in Ohio, place not known, Portage Co. Ohio, Dec. 24, 1814
Mother Cathryne Stambaugh [born] iin Penn June 12, 181?
Married Jan 3, 1839

Children
Matida born  Oct 6, 1839  -Harman
Madison        Oct 8, 1840
Hiram           Dec. 14, 1841
Jacob Henry  Oct 8, 1843
Jane Louisa   Jan.14, 1847-Sagerfoos
Mary            Dec. 2, 1851
[Sidney?]      Oct 6, 1852
Olive            Feb. 3, 1854
Eldora          Feb. 14,1860-Dunham

Some of the older ones were born in Ohio-younger one’s born in Illinois.