PAGE COUNTY, VA - CEMETERIES – Koontz-Shuler Cemetery

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Source: Library of Virginia Digital Collection


LVA Titled Files: Survey Report, Koontz, Shuler graveyard:
                  1936 Sep. 19
                  Research made by Cannie C. Morris

Cemetery Location:  1 miles northwest of Alma, Virginia
                    Page County, Virginia


DATE:

Oldest marked grave 1832.

OWNERS:

 Clarence Shuler, present owner. (1936)

DESCRIPTION:

This is a very old graveyard, with but few inscriptions on the markers.  It is 
in very good condition.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE:

The oldest marked grave is that of John Koontz who was almost one hundred years 
old when he died.  He was a Primitive Baptist Preacher, the first in this part 
of the country.  He preached at the famous old White House Church near the banks 
of the river, southwest of Luray, Virginia, as well as other places in the 
valley.  Harry Strickler speaks of him in his History of Massanutton.  He was 
severely punished for this belief but remained steadfast, trying to deliver 
God’s teachings to the world.  The preachers in those early days suffered 
grevious persecutions, and John Koontz had his share.  He lived and died an Old 
School Baptist Preacher.

Another grave is that of Isaac Newton Koontz who was shot by order of Colonel 
Hussey, a northern army officer, at the close of the war, after the surrender, 
on June 27, 1865.  Captain George Summers was executed at the same time.  These 
two young men were going over the Massanutton Mountains to get their parole from 
the army when they came suddenly upon a group of Federals.  These men had some 
horses which had been taken from people in that vicinity and the two young 
Confederates took them at the point of a gun.  In a few days they were arrested 
and were tied to a stake and shot, on Rude’s Hill near Newmarket, Virginia.  
Captain Summers and Isaac Koontz were members of Company D, 7th Virginia 
Regiment, Cavalry.

Near this graveyard General Jackson and his army were encamped in the winter of 
1862-63.

The following are the inscriptions on the tombstones here:

Anna Koontz
Born Feb. 19, 1813
Died Nov. 4, 1852
Aged 39 years, 8 mo. 15 days


Preacher
John Koontz
Died April 25, 1832


Isaac Newton Koontz
Born April 3, 1845
Killed June 27, 1865
Aged 20 years, 2 months and 24 days
At the close of the war
Between the North and the South
This noble young man was
Unjustly condemned to be shot
By order of Colonel Hussey
A Northern Officer.



SOURCES OF INFORMATION:

Informants:  Mr. John Short, Shenandoah, Virginia
             Mr. John Foltz, Shenandoah, Virginia
             Mr. Isaac Shuler, Shenandoah, Virginia
             Miss Lettie Reed, Shenandoah, Virginia

Tombstone Inscriptions

Visit by worker.

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	This file was contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives 
	by:  Joan Renfrow

	NOTICE:  I have no relationship or further information in 
	regards to this family.
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