Bios: Kunts/Kuntz/Koons Family History: Montgomery (formerly Phil) Co Contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by Bob Wilson. bobw22@ix.netcom.com USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing free information on the Internet, data may be freely used by non-commercial entities, as long as this message remains on all copied material. These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organizations. KUNTS/KUNTZ/KOONS Family History George Michael KUNTZ arrived in the port of Philadelphia on 24 Sep 1727, according to the notation in his family bible which was still available in 1884. According to the book "Oath of Allegiance" by William Henry Egle, he arrived from Rotterdam aboard the boat "James Goodwill" and was qualified Sep 30 1727 under the name Jung Michael KUNTS. He arrived with Hans Michael KUNTS, probably a brother or maybe his father. The "Abridged Compendium of American Genealogy" states that he came from the Palatinate, Germany. He settled on lands along Swamp Creek, Frederick Township, Montgomery County, PA, and married Eve ENGELHART, sister to Ludwig ENGELHART, on the 1st day of April, 1732. George Michael was probably born about 1700, and died 10 Aug 1759. Eve died 27 Jun 1772. Both are buried in the Leydich Burying Ground, (a four family cemetery) of which he had provided 1/4 of the property. George Michael and Eve (ENGELHART) KUNTZ were the parents of: I. Mary KUNTZ, b. 12 Nov 1734, m. John STETLER II. Maria Catharine KUNTZ, b. 14 May 1738, m. John REIMER, III. Susan KUNTZ, b. 24 Oct 1740, m. Ludwig REIMER IV.George Michael KUNTZ, b. 7 Jul 1742 d. 7 Jul 1824 V. Frederick, KUNTZ, b. 6 Jul 1744 VI.John KUNTZ, b. 26 Jun 1747 VII.Catharine KUNTZ, b. 9 Feb 1750, m. 1st Michael KREBS, m. 2nd John RICHARDS VIII.Elizabeth KUNTZ, b. 12 Jan 1754, m. Jacob ZEIBER **** V. Frederick KUNTZ (now spelled KOONS), son of George Michael and Eve (ENGELHART) KUNTZ, born 6 Jul 1744, died 19 Aug 1823, age 79. He married Mary KENDALL, b. 7 Apr 1750, d. 31 July 1825. Frederick purchased land in Limerick Township, Montgomery County, PA, 19 Jun 1779 from John UMSTED and wife Catharine (20 acres) and 27 May 1796 from Henry BOYER and wife Susanna, (26 acres). He died in Limerick Twp., Montgomery County, PA. Frederick and Mary KOONS were the parents of: (locations were as of the date of the deed, 3 April 1826. A. John KOONS, in[n]keeper, of Limerick Twp., Montgomery Co., PA B. Abraham KOONS of Perkiomin Twp., Montgomery Co., Hatter C. Henry KOONS, of Union Twp., Berks Co., PA D. Frederick KOONS, of the State of NY, blacksmith E. Hannah KOONS, married Abraham HALMAN, both from Limerick Twp. F. Sarah KOONS, married John HOLLEBUSH (HOLLOBUSH, or HOLLOWBUSH) of Limerick G. Mary KOONS, married Henry TRUMBOWER (TRUMBAUR) H. Elizabeth KOONS, married Nicholas BROWER, of Union Twp., Berks Co., PA I. Catharine KOONS, married Samuel GRAFF, of Limerick, Montgomery Twp., PA **** A. John KOONS was supposedly one of the first to convert from Kuntz to Koons. He was born in 1770 and died in 1830. He married Elizabeth BOYER, who died in 1851. Their son Frederick KOONS, born 1796, died 1871, married Mary HAWK, born 1794, died 1868. Their son Frederick Augustus KOONS, born 1825, died 1918. He married, 1859, Catharine SCHWARZ, born 1840, died 1924. She was the daughter of Dr. Gustav SCHWARZ from Germany. THE DESCENDANTS OF HENRY KOONS Henry KOONS, son of Frederick and Mary KOONS, born 29 Jun 1778, PA, probably Limerick Twp., Montgomery Co., died 14 Jan 1859, Defiance Co., OH. He married Mary Magdalena ____, born 22 Feb 1782, PA. Mary died 3 Dec 1868, Defiance Co., OH. Henry KOONS is listed in the 1830 census for Union Township, Berks County, PA In the 1860 census for Brunersburgh, Noble Township, Defiance County, OH, Henry is not listed, since he died in 1859, but Mary is listed as living with Frederick A. KOONS, and her age was 78. Both Henry and Mary are buried in Brunersburgh Cemetery, Defiance County, OH. In March, 1820, Henry purchased some 86 acres in Union Township, Berks County, PA from Nicholas Brower, his brother-in-law, for $6000. At that time, Henry was from Upperprovidence Township, Montgomery County, PA. (Berks Co., PA deed #34, page 144). In March, 1830, Henry purchased an additional 6 acres adjacent to his first property in Union Township, from the estate of Abraham Brower for $212.50. (Berks Co., PA deed #39, page 174) In March, 1832, Henry, then a resident of Philadelphia and an Innkeeper, and his wife Mary Magdalena, sold the 6 acres and the original 86 acres for the sum of $4900 to George SNYDER. (Berks Co., PA deed #39, page 610) Henry's will, dated 1856, in Defiance County, Ohio, lists his children as follows: I give and bequeath to my beloved wife, in lieu of her dower, all the property both real and personal of which I may die possessed for and during her natural life. At the death of my said wife, if she survive me, or if not, then at my death, the above mentioned property shall be divided amongst my four sons, Frederick A. Koons, Henry Koons, George M. Koons and Frederick W. Koons, share and share alike: but out of the share of my last mentioned son, Frederick W. Koons, the following two bequests shall be paid, to wit. To my grandson Henry D. Koons, son of my deceased son, Philip Koons, the sum of three hundred (300) dollars, and to my son George M. Koons, above named, the sum of one hundred (100) dollars. In case my said son George M. Koons should not be living at the distribution of my property as above directed, then the share and legacy which I have bequested unto him, as above, shall be distributed amongst his children, share and share alike. I do hereby nominate and appoint my sons Frederick A. Koons, and Henry Koons the executors of this my last will and testament. Henry and Mary M. KOONS were the parents of: I. Frederick A. KOONS, b. 22 Mar 1805 II. Henry KOONS, alive in 1856 III. George M. KOONS, alive in 1856 IV. Frederick W. KOONS V. Philip KOONS, died before 1856 ***** I. Frederick A. KOONS, son of Henry and Mary M. KOONS, born 22 Mar 1805, PA, married, 18 Oct 1825, Falkner Swamp Lutheran Church, Montgomery County, PA, Elizabeth FRITZ, daughter of Peter and Susanna FRITZ, born 28 Jul 1805, Falkner Swamp, Montgomery County, PA. He died 8 Sep 1872, Defiance Co., OH, she died 1896. Both are buried in Brunersburgh Cemetery, Noble Township, Defiance Co., OH. Frederick A. KOONS may also have been an innkeeper in Philadelphia at one time. In his will he named his son Frederick M. KOONS as administrator. The estate was inventoried 19 Oct 1872. Of interest in the estate inventory were: 35 head sheep @ $1.75 per head, 1 buggy @ $75, 1 mare horse @ $100.50, 1/2 interest in crosscut power wind saw @ $35, 1 table, 6 chairs, 6 knives and forks, 6 plates, 6 tea cups and 4 saucers, 1 sugar dish, 1 milk pot, 1 tea pot, and 12 spoons. The family bible was specifically mentioned in the inventory, but no mention of who received it. Frederick A. KOONS is listed in the 1830 census for Union Township, Berks County, PA. In March, 1830, Frederick A. KOONS purchased some 17 acres from Thomas M. GREEN for the sum of $400. This property was in Union Township, Berks County, adjacent to Henry, his father. (Berks County deed #39, page 116). In 1860 Frederick A. and Elizabeth are listed in the census for Brunersburgh, Noble Township, Defiance Co., Ohio. His occupation was listed as farmer. Frederick A. and Elizabeth (FRITZ) KOONS were the parents of: A. Benjamin KOONS, b. 22 Jul 1826, d. 1827 in infancy B. Carlinda KOONS, b. 15 Sep 1827, d. 1827 in infancy C. Mary E. KOONS, b. 24 Nov 1828 D. Jared J. KOONS, b. 3 Nov 1830, Berks Co., PA E. Peter F. KOONS, b. 6 Feb 1833 F. Wm. F. KOONS, b. 29 Jan 1835, d. 1836 in infancy G. Wayne A. KOONS, b. 10 Feb 1837, d. 1900 H. Frederick M. KOONS, b. 11 May 1839, d. 1915 I. Matilda (Sarah M.) KOONS, b. 19 Sep 1841 **** C. Mary E. KOONS, daughter of Frederick A. and Elizabeth (FRITZ) KOONS, born 24 Nov 1828, married John NAGLE. She died 1897. D. Jared J. KOONS, son of Frederick A. and Elizabeth (FRITZ) KOONS, born 3 Nov 1830, Berks Co, PA, married, 19 Sep 1852, Brunersberg, Defiance Co., OH, Ellen SEWELL, daughter of William and Rebecca SEWELL, born 13 May, 1836, Tuscarawas Co., OH. Jared died 19 Sep 1906, Kidder, Caldwell Co., MO. Ellen died 4 May 1915, St. Joseph, Buchanan Co., MO. Both are buried in the Kidder Cemetery, Caldwell Co., MO. Jared J. KOONS and Ellen came to Missouri in 1878, settling on a farm north of Hamilton. Later they moved to a farm north of Kidder. About 1900 he engaged in the grocery and dry goods business in Kidder and subsequently embarked in the furniture and undertaking business in Kidder, until his death from typhoid fever. He served at one time on the town board. At the time of his death he was living in Kidder, Caldwell Co., MO where he lived on North Elm Street at Fifth Street. The following is an excerpt from Jared's will, filed 22 Sep 1906, Caldwell County, MO: I give bequeath, and dispose of as follows, to-wit. To my beloved wife Ellen all my estate real and personal during her natural lifetime or during her widowhood without her giving bonds or security therefore of any kind, after her death or remarriage the whole property real and personal shall be equally divided between all my children, William F., Wayne A., Wallace W., Ida Belle Wilson, and Anna Gertrude, share and share alike, except that my daughter Anna Gertrude if she remain unmarried and in bad health to the time of final division, as herein provided for, shall have two hundred (200) dollars in addition to her share. The inventory is listed as follows (it obviously included the store stock): The dwelling house and Buildings on Lots One (1) Two (2) Three (3) Four (4) Thirteen (13) Fourteen (14) Fifteen (15) & Sixteen (16) in Block Thirty Two (32) and the Store Building & Ware House on the South 1/2 of Lot Seventeen (17) in Blk Ten (10) in the Village of Kidder, County of Caldwell, State of Missouri. Jared J. and Ellen (SEWELL) KOONS were the parents of: 1. Willard KOONS, b. 13 Oct 1853, d. in infancy 2. William F. KOONS, b. 5 Aug 1856, OH 3. Frank KOONS, b. 16 Feb 1859, OH, d. in infancy 4. Wayne A. KOONS,. b. 16 Mar 1861, OH 5. Ida Belle KOONS, b. 25 Jul 1865 6. Wallace W. KOONS, b. 29 Feb 1868, OH 7. Emma Gertrude KOONS, b. 5 Apr 1872, IL **** 2. William F. KOONS, son of Jared J. and Ellen (SEWELL) KOONS, born 5 Aug 1856, OH, died 31 Jan 1929. He was living in Kansas City in 1906. 4. Wayne A. KOONS, son of Jared J. and Ellen (SEWELL) KOONS, born 16 Mar 1861, OH. He was living in Kansas City in 1906. 5. Ida Belle KOONS, daughter of Jared J. and Ellen (SEWELL) KOONS, born 25 Jul 1865, Brunersberg, Defiance Co., OH, married 12 May 1886, Kidder, Caldwell Co., MO, Garrison Harker WILSON, born 9 May 1862, Chillicothe, Livingston Co., MO. See section on Garrison Harker WILSON, page 51 Garrison Harker and Ida Belle (KOONS) WILSON were the parents of: a. Leslie Garland WILSON, b. 5 Mar 1887 b. Merle Ellsworth WILSON, b. 18 Sep 1890 6. Wallace W. KOONS, son of Jared J. and Ellen (SEWELL) KOONS, born 29 Feb 1868, Defiance, Defiance Co., OH, and died 1 Oct 1940. He was living in Earlville, IL in 1906. When Wallace went to work for the family business, Mc William Dredging Company of Chicago, the paymaster added the letter "e" to KOONS. Because of this clerical error, Wallace started using the name "KOONSE". Wallace W. KOONSE was the parent of twins: a. Maurice KOONSE, son of Wallace W. KOONSE, born about 1900, married Helen ____. He died in the 1980's b. Twin sister 7. Gertrude Emma (Anna) KOONS, born 5 April 1872, Bushnell, IL, died 1 Feb 1960. She married _____ SUTTON and was living in Kansas City in 1906. E. Peter F. KOONS, son of Frederick A. and Elizabeth (FRITZ) KOONS, born 6 Feb 1833, died 10 Aug 1909. He married 16 Nov 1856, Defiance Co., OH, Rebecca A. SEWELL, born 28 Jan 1833, died 13 Oct 1914. Both are buried in the Brunersburgh Cemetery, Noble Township, Defiance County, Ohio.. III. George M. KOONS, son of Henry and Mary M. KOONS, was alive in 1856, was presumably married and had children. IV. Frederick W. KOONS, son of Henry and Mary M. KOONS. He was alive in 1856. V. Philip KOONS, son of Henry and Mary M. KOONS, was deceased by 1858. He was the father of: A. Henry D. KOONS