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Cause of Death:Exposure to cold weather
General Notes: Scotch-Irish and German parentage-- Benjamin's grandfather, Jacob Koontz, Sr., came from Germany to America during the 18th century. Jacob settled in Virginia, married and reared his family there. His youngest son, Jacob Koontz, Jr., grew up, married Deborah Combs, about 1816 in Virginia, then moved to Brownsville, Ohio and then eventually moved to Indiana where Benjamin Franklin Koontz was born, grew up and married.Benjamin, being a daring and venturesome youth, at the early ageof 23, became interested in the discovery of gold in California. In 1849, he persuaded his brother-in-law, William Huntington, to accompany him to California. The two men were so industrious and diligent that by the following summer they had accumulated sizeable fortunes and decided to return East for their families. By the early spring of 1851, they had gotten together and organized a huge ox-drawn wagon train which they financed largely themselves.
BRINGS FAMILY WEST Although on the way West they did not encounter any Indians, actually on the warpath, they were followed, harassed and delayed by them and kept in a continual state of unrest. The wagon train was often held up by sickness and death.That dread disease; Cholera, struck and took its toll. In 1852, the William Huntington family lost two daughters. The sorrowing mother tore up her wedding gown from which she made burial dresses for the children. At last the Rockies were reached but not without many hardships.
William Huntington, being a minister and having had a years experience in a mining camp, had decided along with his wife before starting on their long westward journey, they would not bring up their family in a mining district, but would instead join his brother living in the agricultural district of southwestern Washington. When the wagon train reached southern Idaho, in spite of much fruitless persuasion, they continued their journey on the Old Oregon Trail while the Koontz portion, with its followers, turned slightly to the south toward northern California, which they reached late in the fall. They remained in the vicinity of Sacramento for 12 years where Benjamin Franklin added to his already considerable fortune by engaging in the mercantile business, mining and other lines. During the spring of 1860, the Koontz party was joined by his sister Eliza Jane and William Huntington's family, Sarah and Jack Guthrie's family and Tabor Reed, his young nephew. The party having come from the East coast by ocean steamer by way of the Isthmus of Panama.
OREGON IN UNION Oregon was admitted to the union on St. Valentine's Day of 1859 while the eastern part of the state was still a wilderness, the only white settlement was the Indian Mission at The Dalles. During the winter of 1862, the whole country was electrified with the surprising news that on October 24, 1861, a party of men under the leadership of Dave Littlefield were searching for the "Lost Blue Bucket Mine". While prospecting, one of the men in the party discovered gold in good paying quantities at a place a few mile southwest of thepresent Baker, Oregon. In honor of its discoverer, Henry Griffin, the place was named Griffin's Gulch. The men having only prospector's tools, a gold pan, pick and shovel, plunged into work. Later that winter, needing food and gum boots, they make their way to Walla Walla, WA , where they paid for their purchases in gold dust and nuggets. The news spread fast and the country went wild with excitement.
NEWS OF GOLD STRIKE The news of the rich gold strike in eastern Oregon soon reached the Koontz party in northern California and they quickly prepared to answer the call of gold. It would take a year for Benjamin Franklin to dispose of his interest there but he promptly went to work and by the spring of 1863 embarked from San Francisco for Portland, Oregon. Here they purchased covered wagon outfits, this time horse-drawn and se
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Welcome to Gandalf's Genealogy
When I first encountered genealogy I was told that genealogy without documentation was a work of Fantasy. Well welcome to Gandalf's fantasy. I am attempting to database all of the major political leaders of the United States. So far I have finished the following: Presidents, Vice Presidents, First Ladies. I am currently working on the signers of the declaration of Independence, Articles of Confederation, and the U.S. Constitution. Other interests include Army/Navy Generals of the War of Independence, War of 1812, Civil War; Members of the Senate, House of Representatives, and the Judiciary. Also contained within this data base are Actor’s, Authors, Poets, Composer’s, Directors, Financial Wizard’s and Industry Leader’s. This File contains over 2500famous Americans. Also contained within this database is an extensive file on the Royalty of Europe.Each Famous Personalities file also contains a biography.
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General Notes: The first is from a little pamphlet that Lydia's father in law,Harry Case put together and had passed out to the family members when they metfor reunions. He died in 1949. All those * have been added by her. From Page 2on it is in chart form so have just written it for you.Page 1. Jacob and Deborah (Combs) Koontz were natives of Virginia coming to Brownsville, Ohio in 1820 and in 1825 to Indiana, settling at Alfunia in Lafayette county. A few years after moving to Henry County where in 1829 he platted the town of Middletown,where he died the next year, 1830 and was buried where one of the streets of that town now is. He was survived by his widow and six children, Mary Jane; Alllison B; Frank; J Harve and Lorenzo D. who was born February 14,1830 after the death of his father. The widow later married William Daugherty of Ohio and to this union were born four children, Sarah, Isbel, Deborah and William.
May 4, 1851 L.D.Koontz married Matilda Green, daughter of William and Elizabeth Green.Matilda (Green) Koontz was born in Maryland November 24,1835. As early as 1837the Green family came to Indiana locating at Yorktown where William Green for a number of years engaged in blacksmithing also becoming quite successful in the accumulation of property and was highly respected by all who knew him. He departed this life in the year 1846.. He was proceeded in death by his wife the previous year and they are buried in the Yorktown Cemetery. May 4, 1851 L.D. Koontz married Matilda Green. To this union was born eleven children. January 19, 1852 born in Indiana Jacob Mitchell, William Joseph (Indiana)October 7, 1835, Mary Jane (Indiana) November 14, 1855, Deborah (Indiana) July 22, 1858, Martha Ellen (California) September23, 1861; Albert Davis (California) February 16, 1863; Urilla Bell (Oregon) September 4, 1865; Amanda Viletta (Indiana) June 6, 1868, Indonia Josephine (Indiana) January 11, 1870, Carrie Montana (Indiana) March ? ; Clara Maud (Indiana) April 21, 1877.
L.D. Koontz was engaged in stone quarrying and furnished the stone for the Muncie (Delaware County, IN)*Court House. He also owned quite a bit of land adjoining Yorktown most of which was sold for lots.
While the oldest members of the family were quite young. L.D. and Matilda Koontz started west making the trip mostly if not all the way in a wagon in 1859. While living in Oregon about 1860 an Indian came to their home and while Mr. Koontz was showing this curious fellow a gun it accidently exploded the bullet barely missing the Redman. They tried to explain it was not intended but were afraid this was not successfully done so decided to leave this settlement which they did immediately going to San Francisco. Just one week later the entire settlement was massacred by some Indians. In about 1865 Mrs. Koontz unaccompanied except for her seven small children returned by boat, from California to Panama, crossing the Isthmus of Panama by wagon and horseback, then taking aboat from there to New York and a train from New York to Indiana. Mr. Koontz followed later.
L.D. Koontz died at the age of 62 November 1, 1892, Matilda Koontz spent the remainder of her life in Delaware County, (Indiana)* passing away at the age of 91, May 1927.
In the minds of children, grandchildren and some great grand children there will always be the picture of this faithful and courageous little lady, of her it can truly be said "She was a Christian". So if like her we try to be, then we know we are a Christian. And in these times when we have less faith than she and lack the courage of the pioneer lady let us think of the courage it must have taken to face death with small children to start out in a covered wagon to California and again when she started on a boat with seven small children back to her home, a journey today that would be enviedby us all, but at that time, I am sure we would have been lacking in courage. God seems to hover around to be with and protect c
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Note:
Info from Family Bible of Lela Grace Koontz. I also have the obituaryAccording to writen record of George Koontz he settled in Hancock Co., IL
in 1837. In 1855 he and his wife moved to Knox County, MO where they were
stillliving in 1887.
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Info from Family Bible of Lela Grace Koontz. I also have the obituaryAccording to writen record of George Koontz he settled in Hancock Co., IL
in 1837.In 1855 he and his wife moved to Knox Co., MO where they were
still living in1887.
I have more research if interested
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Barbara Ellen- Elendor ROSENBERGER
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