The Carthage Republican
Carthage, Illinois
Wednesday
January 6, 1937
Page 8
Column 3

PASSING OF T. J.
KOONTZ HERE ON
LAST WEDNESDAY

Born Near Plymouth
91 Years Ago

Thomas Jefferson Koontz, one of the pioneer settlers of Hancock county passed away at the home of his daughter, Mrs. W. I. Earls, Wednesday evening at 7 o'clock, Dec. 30, 1936, aged 91 years, 6 months and 29 days.

Mr. Koontz was the eldest son of John and Arminda Smart Koontz, and was born June 1, 1845, near Plymouth, Ill.  Of a family of nine, 6 brothers and 3 sisters, William H., J. E. and John of California, a sister, Mrs. Malinda Helms of Carthage, Ill., and Mrs. Ellen Shanen of Bardolph, Ill.  Two brothers, Bennet and Neal Koontz and a sister, Mrs. David Proctor passed away several years ago.  He was united in marriage to Sarah F. Briley, Aug. 19, 1884 in Carthage, Ill., who passed away May 26, 1934.  To this union were born three daughters and two sons, a son and daughter dying in infancy.  Those surviving are two daughters, Mrs. W. I. Earls and Mrs. Alfred Wear of Carthage, a step daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Earls who always gave him devoted love and care as a daughter, and a son, Ross of California; a son, W. E. Koontz by a former marriage passed away November 11, 1934.  A daughter Caro May passed away October 1905.  He also leaves 23 grandchildren.

Mr. Koontz was of a kind and cheerful nature always seeing the bright side and always having a kind word and greeting to all his friends.  He enjoyed the fellowship of his old acquaintances and will be sadly missed by his family and friends.

    I cannot think of them as dead
    Who walk with me no more
    Along the path of life I tread,
    They have but gone before.

Funeral services were held at the Elms at two o'clock Saturday afternoon, Jan. 2, with Rev. Fred Nichols officiating.  Burial was in Franklin cemetery.

Out of town relatives who attended the funeral of T. J. Kunz on Saturday, were: Mr. and Mrs. D. J. McGinnis of Chicago, Mr. and Mrs. Glen Washburn of West Point, Ia., Miss Dorothy Earls of Galesburg and Mr. and Mrs. Bob Bly of Macomb.

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