Madera County, California GenWeb - Madera Genealogies: KOONTZ

THE KOONTZ FAMILY HISTORY

NAME: EVELYN KOONTZ FISHER

DATE: December 2007 (Recorded by the Coarsegold Historical Society)

As told to her daughter Royelyn Wootten

Virgil Koontz was born October 28, 1848, in what is now called West Virginia. He married Mary LaVinnia Turner who was born December 17, 1855, in Missouri. Mary went by the name Vinnie and was the daughter of S. Vaughn Turner, who was called Vaughn.

Vaughn made four trips by wagon hauling freight between Missouri and California. The first trip he used a span of oxen instead of horses to pull the wagon. Vaughn later settled in Raymond. His brother, Nicholas Turner, settled in LeGrand.

Virgil and Vinnie Koontz came to California part way by train and part way by covered wagon. They lived in Mariposa County next to the Harris Ranch which was famous all over the area for its apples. While living there, they had three sons: Singleton Nicholas, born May 22, 1876; Alius Vaughn, born March 15, 1878, and Eldridge Elias born July 25, 1882. Later they moved to Plainsburg in Merced County.

The family moved to Raymond in about 1888 where they built the Koontz Ranch approximately one mile from Road 600 near Willow Creek. In addition to their three sons, they also raised a foster daughter, Jean Latouche, after her father died. Jean was born in 1889.

My dad, Eldridge Koontz used to tell me stories about their life on the ranch when he was young. The family would usually get up about 5 a.m. Grandpa Virgil would go out to milk the cows and tend to chores while Grandma Vinnie cooked a large breakfast, often including biscuits and gravy, eggs and bacon, on the wood burning stove. My dad and Jean walked three miles to the Willow Brook School. Grandma and Grandpa worked all day on the ranch, as did the kids when they weren’t in school. At night after everyone else was in bed. Grandma often stayed up to make overalls and other clothes for the boys on her Singer treadle sewing machine.

Virgle and Vinnie also owned the Koontz Meadow above Fish Camp where they took the cattle from the Raymond ranch in the spring and drove them back down in the fall. This is where I had some of my best childhood memories. It was a beautiful, peaceful meadow surrounded by a split rail fence. It had a creek running though it that had fish and a swimming hole. The meadow had tall grass. Black Eyed Susans and Johnny Jump Ups that grew as high as the cows’ bellies.

Virgil’s father-in-law, Vaughn Turner, although not a formal minister, was always preaching. He organized the Presbyterian Diocese in Raymond and, in about 1894, Virgil and Vaughn built the Presbyterian Church where Vaughn continued to preach. This church is still standing today.

Virgil and Vinnie’s oldest son, Singleton Nicholas (Sing) married Emma Dick, and they had three daughters: Winifred, who only lived for about five months; then several years later, Mildred and then Dorothy. In 1910 Singleton and John Krohn bought the butcher business in Raymond that had been first established by G. R. Vignola.

Alius V. Koontz (Allie) married Annie Dowd and had three sons, Leroy V. born in 1903; Cecil, born in 1904; and Everett. Allie and Annie lived in Madera while their family was growing up.

Eldridge Elias helped his father work their cattle ranch. In about 1910 he became a partner in the Koontz and Palmer Blacksmith Shop located near where the Raymond post office is now. Eldridge married Alice Evelyn Footman in 1914. Alice, born in 1890, the daughter of William Footman and Jane Mann, both born in England. William and Jane Footman owned the Summit House and their ranch was adjoining the Koontz Ranch.

Eldridge and Alice lived in town near the fork where Road 600 comes into Raymond. I was born in 1917. I remember one thing that happened when I was little. My dad had always had a mustache. One day when I was about four he knocked on the

front door and had shaved off his mustache. I answered the door, but didn’t know who he was.

I went to the Raymond Grammar School where my aunt Emma Footman was the principal. The school had two rooms: grades one through four were in one room, and grades five through eight were in the other. All of the kids in Raymond went through school together. Our rival was the Knowles Elementary School which the children of the granite quarry workers attended. We often had relays against each other.

At one time, there were movies in Raymond on Wednesday nights at Luke’s Hail. Of course these were silent movies, but well worth the ten cents it cost to get in! The

movies were very well attended by most of the folks in town. We all tried to get there

early enough to sit on the risers at the back of the hall where we had the best view of the screen.

In 1931 my folks moved to the Koontz Ranch to help Grandma, whose eyesight had failed. My grandpa Virgil Koontz had died in 1924. My dad had taught me how to drive his Model T Ford when I was 11 while we were still living in town. He’d let me drive when we’d go out to the ranch. I remember the first time I drove to the ranch without my dad. He was out of town, so Mom and I were taking supplies to my grandma, and it had snowed the night before. That’s the only time I remember it snowing in Raymond.

I also attended the Raymond Granite Union High School, which all the kids from Raymond and Knowles attended. Because 1 had to drive from the ranch into Raymond, I got my driver’s license when I was 14. My cousin Azalia was 11 years older than I and was married to Leslie Brayton who was a musician. I used to love to go to the dances at Luke’s Hall in town to hear the band play on Saturday nights. Sometimes Azalia and Les would take me to other places when Les played piano at the dances.

I graduated in 1933 when I was 16. There were 12 students in our graduating class. I went on to attend Fresno State College, then entered Stanford School of Nursing in San Francisco. It was while I was in nursing school that I met Roy Fisher, who I married in 1939. We lived in the Bay Area where we raised our six children.

Virgil and Vinnie’s oldest son, Sing, died in a hunting accident at the age of 50 in 1926. His wife Emma died in 1963. Their daughter Mildred married John Radley and they had one son. They lived for many years on part of the original Koontz Ranch on Road 600. Mildred died in 1981, and John died in 1986. Sing’s youngest daughter, Dorothy Koontz Griffith, at this time is living in Madera and will celebrate her 98^th birthday on July 4, 2008 in Madera.

The second son, Allie and his wife Annie, lived their later years in Oakland, California. Annie died in 1955 and Allie in 1971. Their son Leroy also died in 1971. Cecil married Lucille Phillips and had two children. Lucille died in 1988 and Cecile died in 1994. Allie and Annie’s youngest son, Everett and his wife Yvonne had one daughter. Yvonne died in 1979 and Everett died in 1991.

My father lived the remainder of his life at the Koontz Ranch and died in 1962. My mother sold the ranch in 1963 and moved to Madera. She later moved to Concord, California, to live with our family and died in 1977. I’m still living in Concord.

Descendants of Elias Auline Koontz and Mary Crites

First Generation

1. Elias Auline Koontz was born in 1814 in Mason Co., WV. (Elias was the son of George Koontz and Ona Hendrick.) He died in 1856 in Boonville, Cooper Co., MO. Elias married Mary Crites daughter of John Crites and Glori Pfost on 16 Jan 1842 in Jackson Co., WV. Mary was born on 10 Jun 1823 in Mason Co., WV.

In 1850 Alias Kounts farmed in the 27th District of Jackson Co., VA (page 216). He lived next to his

brother, Henry. [Jackson Co. became part of West Virginia.]

They had the following children:

2 F i. Rebecca Koontz was born in Jun 1843 in VA. She died on 22 May 1925 in Carlinville, IL. Rebecca married William C. Fite on 2 May 1861 in Cooper, MO. William was born in 1832/1833 in TN. He died before 1900 in IL.

In 1881 William farmed in Nilwood, Macoupin Co., IL with wife Rebecca and 6 children.

In 1900 Rebecca was a widow and housekeeper in South Otter, Macoupin Co., IL with

sons William V. A. and Frankland W.

3 F ii. Melissa Koontz was born on 18 Aug 1846 in Kanawha Co., WV. She died on 3 Apr 1914 in Coatsburg, Adams Co., IL.

+ 4 M iii. Virgil Elias Koontz was born on 28 Oct 1848 in WV. He died on 11 Sep 1924.

5 M iv. Benjamin Franklin Koontz was born in Nov 1850 in VA. He died in 1910 in Litchfield, Montgomery Co., IL.

Benjamin married Lavina Thomas .

6 M v. Abraham P. Koontz was born on 30 Mar 1855 in VA. He died on 13 Jun 1914 in Aaron's Fork, Kanawha Co., WV.

7 M vi. William Finley Koontz was born in Dec 1856 in WV. He died on 8 Oct 1924 in Ansted, Fayette Co., WV.

Second Generation

4. Virgil Elias Koontz (Elias Auline) was born on 28 Oct 1848 in WV. He died on 11 Sep 1924 in Madera Co., CA. He was buried on 14 Sep 1924 in Arbor Vitae Cemetery, Madera, Madera Co., CA.

In 1860 Virgil Koontz and his brother Frank lived in Lebanon, Cooper, Co., MO with B. F. Koontz and family. In 1880 Vigil Coons worked on a farm at

Magoon, Mariposa Co., CA (page 180) with his wife Maud L. and children Alias V. and Singleton V.

Virgil came to Madera Co., CA in 1891 and farmed in Raymond. He was responsible for organizing the

Presbyterian Diocese Church in Raymond in about 1894. He is described in the Madera County Great Register

in 1896 as age 47, 5' 6", dark complexion, gray eyes, dark hair, and a scar over his right eye.

In 1900 Virgil farmed in Township 4 of Madera County with his family; also with him were his father-in-law

Singleton V. Turner, born Dec 1829 in MO, and Jean Latoucha, born July 1889 in CA. In 1920 he and his

wife lived alone.

Virgil married Mary Levina "Vinnie" Turner daughter of Singleton Vaughn Turner and Emerine Fox. Mary was born on 17 Dec 1855 in MO. She died on 3 Oct 1943 in Madera Co., CA. She was buried on 7 Oct 1943 in Arbor Vitae Cemetery, Madera, Madera Co., CA.

Madera Tribune, Volume LI, Number 184, 5 October 1943:

MARY L. KOONTZ CLAIMED BY DEATH

Mrs. Mary L. Koontz, 88, native of Madera county, and resident of Raymond for the post 50 years, passed

away Sunday in Oakland. Surviving her are; One son Eldridge Koontz of Raymond, and one daughter.

Allius Koontz of Oakland; six grandchildren, Roy Koontz of Oakland, Cecil Koontz of Los Angeles, Everett

Koontz of the U. S. army. Mrs. Mildred Radley of Madera and Mrs. Evelyn Fisher of San Francisco; and

five great grandchildren. Services will be held Thursday afternoon at 2 o'clock at the Jay chapel. Interment

will be in the Arbor Vitae.

Virgil and Mary had the following children:

+ 8 M i. Singleton Nicholas Koontz was born on 22 May 1876. He died on 3 Oct 1926.

+ 9 M ii. Alius Virgil Koontz was born on 15 Mar 1878. He died on 19 Aug 1971.

+ 10 M iii. Eldridge Elias Koontz was born on 25 Jul 1882. He died on 26 Nov 1962.

Third Generation

8. Singleton Nicholas "Sing" Koontz (Virgil Elias, Elias Auline) was born on 22 May 1876 in Madera Co., CA. He died on 3 Oct 1926 in Madera Co., CA in a hunting accident. He was buried on 5 Oct 1926 in Arbor Vitae Cemetery, Madera, Madera Co., CA. Singleton married Emma D. Dick daughter of Joseph Dick and Mary E. Pratt. Emma was born on 22 May 1882 in CA. She died on 22 Dec 1963 in Madera Co., CA. She was buried in Arbor Vitae Cemetery, Madera, Madera Co., CA.

Singleton is described in the Madera County Great Register of 1898 as age 22, 5' 10u " high, dark

complexion, brown eyes, black hair, and a mole on his right cheek. He was able to read and write.

In 1905 Singleton was a miner living in Raymond. In 1910 Singleton came down from Coarsegold to

Raymond and with John Krohn bought the butcher business first established by G. R. Vignola and later by

Weber & Leidig. In 1920 he lived in Raymond with his wife, Mildred, and Dorothy.

Singleton and Emma had the following children:

11 F i. Winifred Pauline Koontz was born on 15 Aug 1903 in Fresno Flats, Madera Co., CA. She died on 27 Mar 1904 in Madera Co., CA. She was buried in Oakhill Cemetery, Oakhurst, Madera Co., CA.

+ 12 F ii. Mildred Agusta Koontz was born on 5 May 1905. She died on 4 Oct 1981.

13 F iii. Dorothy Vivian Koontz was born on 4 Jul 1910 in Madera Co., CA. She died on 3 Jul 2008 in CA. She was buried in Arbor Vitae Cemetery, Madera, Madera Co., CA.

Dorothy married (1) Kenneth Richard Griffith son of Miss :Price. Kenneth was born on 30 Oct 1905 in Los Angeles Co., CA. He died on 8 Apr 1993 in San Bernardino Co., CA. He was buried in Arbor Vitae Cemetery, Madera, Madera Co., CA.

Dorothy married (2) John C. Watson on 25 Apr 1942 in Gallup, NM.

9. Alius Virgil Koontz (Virgil Elias, Elias Auline) was born on 15 Mar 1878 in Mariposa Co., CA. He died on 19 Aug 1971 in Alameda Co., CA. He was buried on 23 Aug 1971 in Arbor Vitae Cemetery, Madera, Madera Co., CA.

In 1910 Alius farmed in Madera County with wife Annie and sons Roy and Cecil with farming partner

William V. Houlding, his wife Lydia, and their son Frank. In 1930 he was an airport laborer at 8921

Dowling Street, Oakland with Annie, 3 sons, and mother. In 1938 Alius and Annie lived in Oakland, CA.

Alius married Annie Ethel Dodd daughter of Millard Filmore Dodd and Mary Lee "Molly" Fine in 1901 in Madera Co., CA. Annie was born on 26 Mar 1882 in Empire, Stanislaus Co., CA. She died on 18 Aug 1955 in Oakland, Alameda Co., CA.

Oakland Tribune, August 19, 1955:

KOONTZ-In Oakland, August 18, 1955, Annie Ethel; beloved wife of Virgil Koontz; loving mother LeRoy,

Cecil and Everett Koontz; sister of Lola Prentice, Edna Calvin, Eva Dodd. Holland, A Walter, Leslie,

Stanislaus and Benton native of County; aged 73 years. Chapel Friends the may call at N. the Elmhurst of

Clarence Cooper tuaries, 8901 East 14th Street until p.m. Saturday. Remains will be forwarded to the Jay

Funeral Home Madera for services and interment, Monday, August 22, at 2 p.m.

Alius and Annie had the following children:

14 M i. Leroy Virgil "Roy" Koontz was born on 8 May 1903 in Raymond, Madera Co., CA. He died on 13 Jun 1971 in Napa, Napa Co., CA. He was buried in Arbor Vitae Cemetery, Madera, Madera Co., CA.

In 1950 Roy was never married and in the Modesto State Hospital mental institution.

+ 15 M ii. Cecil Millard Koontz was born on 1 May 1904. He died on 19 Mar 1994.

+ 16 M iii. Everett Alius Koontz was born on 14 Jul 1919. He died on 7 Jan 1991.

10. Eldridge Elias Koontz (Virgil Elias, Elias Auline) was born on 25 Jul 1882 in CA. He died on 26 Nov 1962 in Madera Co., CA. He was buried on 28 Nov 1962 in Arbor Vitae Cemetery, Madera, Madera Co., CA.

Eldridge was a partner in Koontz & Palmer blacksmith shop in Raymond from about 1910. Koontz Hill

was named for his place on the road from Raymond to Ahwahnee, just after you cross Willow Creek

before you start up the hill. In 1920 Eldridge lived in Raymond with his wife, daughter, and sister-in-law

Theresa Footman, born 1887/8 in NY. He still lived in Raymond in 1943.

Eldridge married Alice E. Footman daughter of William Frederick Footman and Jane Mann in 1914 in Summit House, Raymond, Madera Co., CA. Alice was born on 27 Oct 1890 in Buckeye Springs, Raymond, Madera Co., CA. She died on 3 Sep 1977 in Concord, Contra Costa Co., CA. She was buried in Arbor Vitae Cemetery, Madera, Madera Co., CA.

Eldridge and Alice had the following children:

17 F i. Evelyn J. Koontz was born on 13 Apr 1917 in Raymond, Madera Co., CA. She died on 7 Dec 2014 in Concord, Contra Costa Co., CA. She married Roy Allen Fisher son of Richard Farress Fisher and Georgia Amy Congdon on 7 Nov 1939 in Stockton, San Joaquin Co., CA. Roy was born on 20 Jul 1912 in Spokane, Spokane Co., WA. He died on 27 Oct 1993 in Concord, Contra Costa Co., CA.

Evelyn and Roy had 6 children.

Fourth Generation

12. Mildred Agusta Koontz (Singleton Nicholas, Virgil Elias, Elias Auline) was born on 5 May 1905 in Raymond, Madera Co., CA. She died on 4 Oct 1981 in Madera Co., CA. She was buried in Arbor Vitae Cemetery, Madera, Madera Co., CA. Mildred married John Oscar Radley son of John Oscar Radley and Laura Jones. John was born on 29 May 1906 in Madera, Madera Co., CA. He died on 15 May 1986 in Samoa, Humbolt Co., CA.

In 1940 John was a truck driver for fuel oil at 703 4th Street, Madera with wife Mildred (advocate nurse)

and mother-in-law Emma Shepherd.

John and Mildred had the following children:

18 M i. Ray Leland Radley was born on 25 Jul 1941 in Madera Co., CA. He died on 23 Aug 2020 in Missoula Co., MT. Ray married Elizabeth Haase. Elizabeth was born in 1942 in Bonn, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. She died in 2023 in Bullhead City, Mohave Co., AZ.

Ray served in Vietnam. His tombstone reads "Gone Fishing."

15. Cecil Millard Koontz (Alius Virgil, Virgil Elias, Elias Auline) was born on 1 May 1904 in Madera Co., CA. He died on 19 Mar 1994 in Daughter's home in Bellflower, Los Angeles Co., CA. He was buried on 1 May 1994 in Arbor Vitae Cemetery, Madera, Madera Co., CA.

Cecil and Lucille lived in the mountains above Madera from 1960 to 1984. After this they owned a

fireplace business in Crest Park, CA and were active with the trailer groups and a coffee klatch that met at

the Villager Coffee Shop in Blue Jay. In 1988 Cecil lived at 760 E. 9th Street, San Bernardino, CA.

Cecil married (1) Lucille Lillian Phillips daughter of James Workman Phillips and Nora Isabelle Erickson on 23 Oct 1938 in Alameda Co., CA. Lucille was born on 27 Aug 1916 in IA. She died on 19 Jul 1988 in San Bernardino County Hospital, San Bernardino, CA. She was buried on 1 Aug 1988 in Arbor Vitae Cemetery, Madera, Madera Co., CA.

Lucille was cremated. A memorial service was held on 30 July 1988 at the Community Baptist Church of Lake Arrowhead.

Cecil and Lucille had the following children:

19 M i. Leonard Melvyn Koontz was born on 2 May 1940 in Los Angeles Co., CA.

Leonard married Carol .

+ 20 F ii. Arleen Cecile Koontz was born on 17 Nov 1941.

16. Everett Alius Koontz (Alius Virgil, Virgil Elias, Elias Auline) was born on 14 Jul 1919 in Madera Co., CA. He died on 7 Jan 1991 in Alameda Co., CA. He was buried in Arbor Vitae Cemetery, Madera, Madera Co., CA.

Everett married Yvonne Marie Renshaw on 11 Aug 1940 in Oakland, Alameda Co., CA. Yvonne was born on 7 Aug 1922 in Nebraska. She died on 16 Oct 1979 in Alameda Co., CA. She was buried in Arbor Vitae Cemetery, Madera, Madera Co., CA.

In 1950 Everett was a linoleum salesman at 1424 Avecon Avenue, Oakland with wife Evonne and daughter Judie.

They had the following children:

21 F i. Judie Margaret Koontz was born on 6 Dec 1946 in Alameda Co., CA.

Judie married (1) Gary Ned Bosch on 21 Sep 1969 in St. Leanders Catholic Church, San Leandro, Alameda, California, USA.

Judie married (2) Edward M. Gluck on 3 Sep 1972 in Alameda Co., CA.

Fifth Generation

20. Arleen Cecile Koontz (Cecil Millard, Alius Virgil, Virgil Elias, Elias Auline) was born on 17 Nov 1941 in Los Angeles Co., CA. Arleen married David D. Edwards on 10 Aug 1963 in Los Angeles Co., CA. David was born in 1938.

In 1994 Arleen lived at 9277 Prichard Street, Bellflower, CA.

They had the following children:

22 F i. Terri I. Edwards was born on 23 Jul 1968 in Los Angeles Co., CA.

23 M ii. David D. Edwards was born on 18 Sep 1969 in Los Angeles Co., CA.

24 M iii. Kelly P. Edwards was born on 7 Oct 1971 in Los Angeles Co., CA.