Mary Ann Allen Koontz died 155 years ago today, 7 September 1864, in Fort Wayne, Allen County, Indiana.  Mary Ann was born in 1836, also in Indiana, to Robert and Mary Allen.  She was the second of seven children.  On 15 April 1855, in Markle, Huntington County, Indiana, Mary Ann married Ezra Peter Koontz, the son of Peter and Elizabeth Derr Koontz.  The couple had five children: Huntington (1854), Ephriam (1855), Casmear P. (1857) [my great grandfather], Harriett Honora J. (1859), and Orrin Deforest (1862).  Grandfather married Mary Anna Sibert on 29 December 1867 in Noble County, Indiana, with whom he fathered an additional three children.

Much information is gathered from Ezra Peter’s obituary:

Ligonier Leader, 31 January 1907

Obituary — Ezra P. Koontz

“Ezra Peter Koontz was born at Navarre, Ohio, May 15, 1832. He came to Indiana in 1846, walking from Ft.Wayne to Ligonier where he was engaged in manufacturing of chairs for a year or more. He went to Markle, Ind., where he was married to Mary Ann Allen April 11, 1853. [According to the State of Indiana Vital Records, the date reported above is the correct date and the one in the obituary is off by 2 years] To this union was born four children: Ephraim R., who died in infancy [under age 2]; Casmear P. of Columbus, O., Harriet H. J. Smith of Port Clinton, O., Orrin D. of Glenville, Minn. [Son, Huntington, not mentioned, also died in early childhood – under age 2]

“In 1863 he moved to Huntington, Ind., remaining there a year. He then moved to Ft. Wayne, Ind. where on Sept 7, 1864, the wife and mother answered the devine [sic.] summons from this life here to a life of the blessed, beyond this world of pain. After the death of his wife he removed to Navarre, O., leaving the motherless children with their grandmother. He soon returned to Indiana, settling in Ligonier in the spring of 1865, where he engaged in the manufacture of furniture for thirty years.

“He was married to Mary Anna Sibert in Ligonier, Ind., Dec 29, 1867. To this union there were three children born: Phineas H., who died at the age of six years; Ezra B. E. of Savage, Neb, Geo D. of Chicago, Ill.

“The children were all present the funeral except one, who arrived later.

“Mr. Koontz answered the roll call on Monday morning at 4 o’clock, Jan 21, 1907, aged 74 years, 8 months, and 6 days. The lamp of this temporal life went out, but to be relighted on the shores of God’s eternal bliss.

“Those present from a distance were: Mr. and Mrs. C. P. Koontz, Columbus, O.; Dr. Sirvenius [Sylvanis] Koontz, Roanoke, Ind.; Mr. Wm. Koontz, Roanoke, Ind.; Mr. and Mrs. Aaron Koontz, Milford, Ind.; Mr. and Mrs. Tuff and daughter, Gladys, Kendallville, Ind.; Messrs Harry and Herman Smith, Port Clinton, O.

“Card of Thanks

“We desire to than the friends and neighbors who so kindly assisted us during the sickness and death of husband and father.

“Mrs. E. P. Koontz [Mary Anna Sibert] and Children”