The Koontz Family — Casmear (C.P.), Mary Ann, Ezra Peter, Hattie. Orrin DeForest in Ezra’s lap.

161 years ago, on 11 August 1859, in Markle, Indiana, my great grandaunt, Harriett Honora J. Koontz was born to Ezra Peter and Mary Ann Allen Koontz.   Aunt Hattie was the sister of my great grandfather, C. P. Koontz.

Hattie married Columbus Washington Smith, the son of Lewis and Emma Grange Smith, on 16 February 1879, in Ottawa County, Ohio.   They were the parents of 5 children:  Harry Cassemere (1880) [another variation on C.P.’s first name], Herman DeForest (1881), Olive E. (1887), Alta (1888), and Chester Arthur (1889).

Chester Arthur was President of the United States from 1881-1885.  Possibly, Aunt Hattie and Uncle Columbus admired him.

Uncle Columbus died in 1912.   Aunt Hattie continued until April 1930.  If I were a suspicious person, I would wonder about her death — the cause of death as recorded on her death certificate:  pneumonia complicated by accidental fall down stairs.