Revised 4/10/2017. Copyright @2017; The following Documentary Timeline has been compiled and created by Paul Rhetts. It may be copied for research purposes; but it may not be reproduced for inclusion in any printed or electronic distribution of any kind without the express written permission of the author. Any requests to use this information should be sent to Paul Rhetts, LPDPress@q.com.
George Washington KOONTZ (1784-1848) m. 1808 Catherine WOLFENSBARGER (1783-1874)
s/o Christian Koontz 1759-1837 m. 1777 Anna Catherine Lamp 1760-1824
d/o
Rockingham-Lawrence OH Lawrence OH Greenbrier VA – Lawrence OH
1784 birth Rockingham, VA; date from WV Archives Death Certificate
1790 Federal Census Rockingham, Virginia; shows Christian [Kunse] in Rockingham Co. 6 souls, 1 dwelling, 1 other building (could be Christian with wife, Anna and 1. John L. b. 1780, 2. George W. b. 1784, 3. Jacob b. 1787 4. Phillip b. 1789) (p.76)
1800 Sep 20 Amanda Malvina born Lawrence OH (1810 Federal Census Lawrence OH; listed her as under age 10, p.17) [NOTE: this is probably wrong as it would make her birth 8 years before her father’s marriage] [married John Honhsell aft 1818]
??1800 Federal Census Lawrence OH
1807 Nov 18 Sarah J born Lawrence OH (1810 Federal Census Lawrence OH; listed her as under age 10, p.17) [NOTE: this is probably wrong as it would make her birth 1 year before her father’s marriage] [married James Harvey Drury 21 Jul 1829 in Lawrence OH]
1807 Catherine’s family settled near Burlington, Lawrence OH; she was known as “Aunt Katie”
1808 settled in Fayette Twp, Lawrence OH (Hardesty Atlas, 1882, says he was 4th settler family; FAYETTE TOWNSHIP — from Hardesty Atlas, Lawrence Co. OH published 1882 — William Davidson, perhaps the first settler of this township settled there in 1798. After he came James Davidson, who settled there in 1801; Samuel Ankrim, in 1807; George Koons, in 1808; James and Samuel Crawford, in 1820; William Brammer in 1822; William Ward in 1827; George Freeman in 1828; Dr. C. S. Hall and John Howell, in 1837. Amos More in 1851 and Stanford More in 1859.) “Uncle George’s brother Andrew Pennell settled near mouth of Symmes Creek before 1808
1808 marriage to Catherine Wolfensbarger at Thomas Campbell residence by Rev B Spurlock, Fayette Twp, Gallia County (now Lawrence) OH; Taken from Hardesty's WVA Counties-Monroe/Putnam/Tyler; Page 60
??1809 Jun 3 daughter Margaret born Lawrence OH [married Jonas Combs 19 Nov 1827 in Kenton, Hardin, OH]
1810 Federal Census Lawrence OH; listed his age as bet. 26-44 (p.17)
??1811 Mar 7 daughter Nancy born Lawrence OH [married 1-James Crawford 10 Feb 1829; 2-James Gibbs 8 Jun 1858 in Greenup, KY] [see The Davidson Genealogy, p 324]
??1813 daughter Elizabeth born Lawrence OH [married William Campbell 5 Feb 1833]
??1814 Oct 11 daughter Mary born Lawrence OH
??1815 daughter Emiline born Lawrence OH [married Hugh Crawford 24 Mar 1835 Lawrence OH]
??1816 daughter Delilah born Lawrence OH [married James McCoy 28 Mar 1837 in Lawrence OH]
1818 Mar 11 bought land in Burlington, Lawrence OH from brother Henry who was moving to Boone, IN; Henry had purchased land from Barnaby and Jean Johnston in 1795 (Sep 29) in Greenbrier near Indian Creek; other records show that Henry may have moved from Lawrence County betw 1822 and 1828.
1818 Nov 25 bought land in Lawrence OH
1818 listed as taxpayer in Fayette Twp, Lawrence OH
1819 Apr 15 sold land to Joshua Downey (Vol.1, pg. 262)
??1820 Jul 20 daughter Ann L born Burlington, Lawrence OH [married Thomas C Crawfor 26 Apr 1840 in Lawrence OH]
1820 Aug 7 Federal Census Fayette Twp, Lawrence OH; age 26-44; (one male 10-16; one male 16-26; one male 26-45; 6 females under 10; 2 females 10-16; one fem. 26-45 — total of 12 in household; numbers and ages are off so not sure this is correct George)
1820 Aug 8 bought land from Chas. McCoy (Southern Ohio Taxpayers in the 1820's)
1822 listed as taxpayer, Fayette Twp, Lawrence OH (Southern Ohio Taxpayers in the 1820's)
??1824 Sep 13 daughter Catherine born Lawrence OH [married Samuel Crawford 23 Jun 1844 in Lawrence OH]
1824 Oct 22 mother Anna Catherine died Lawrence, OH
1826 Sept 26 bought land from Chas. McCoy (Southern Ohio Taxpayers in the 1820's)
1827 Jul 27 son George Washington born Lawrence OH (listed on father’s Federal Census 1830, Cabell WV age under 5) (Son George received March 5, 1858 a Land Grant (#2064) in Twp 2 in Range 17, Chillicothe, OH) [married 1-Sarah E Scovell 22 Jan 1850 in Lawrence OH; 2-Elizabeth Apperson Prosser, n.d.]
1828 listed as taxpayer, Fayette Twp, Lawrence OH (Southern Ohio Taxpayers in the 1820's)
1828 Aug 12 bought land from Chas. Drischler near river (Southern Ohio Taxpayers in the 1820's p316)
1830 Feb 1 daughter H. W. born Burlington, Lawrence OH; died 25 Jan 1831, age 11 mos; buried at Green Lawn Cemetery, Burlington, Lawrence, OH (Find a Grave)
1830 Federal Census Fayette, Lawrence OH; age 44-49 (1m under 5-George W Jr age 3; 1m 10-14 ?; 1f under 5-Catherine age 6; 2f 10-14-Anne L age 10; Delilah age 14; 2f 15-19— Emiline age 15; Mary age 16; Nancy age 19; and 1 f 40-49-Catherine); also shows 1 free colored male 10-23
1832 sold 1 ac to Chas. Drischler for $250 (Vol. 6, pg 172.)
1834 Mar 5 bought 87.44 ac land, Ohio River Survey, from US General Land Office (Lawrence, Twp 2-N, Range 17-W, Section 35 (OH0190.45, Chillicother Land Office, Doc #2064)
1836 Apr 30 bought land from Peter Keller, Burlington, Lawrence OH
1837 Dec 5 father Christian died at Chesapeake, Lawrence, OH
1839 Mar 7 listed in Articles of Incorporation of Burlington Library Association
1840 Federal Census Fayette, Lawrence OH; age 50-59 (1m 10-14-George W Jr age 13; 1m 15-19-?; 1f 15-19-Catherine age 16; 1f 50-59-Catherine)
1842 Apr bought land from Edmund Ferguson
1842 Sep bought land from John Crawford
1847 Ironton Register article about the severe floods in Burlington, Lawrence OH; mentions Catherine Wolfensberger Kouns
1848 Jun 7 died in Burlington, Lawrence, OH; death date from WV Death Certificate; cod cancer or yellow fever or spinal disease; age 64 (Bk#1 p21)
1848 July 6 Will filed in Lawrence Common Pleas (doc; needs to be transcribed); Probate date 18 Feb 1848, Ohio Wills and Probate Records #31
1848 Obituary – Ironton Register newspaper: GEORGE KOUNS — died June 7, 1848, George Kouns, Senior in the 64th year of his age. Father Kouns was born in Rockingham County, Virginia, and in his youthful days moved to Lawrence County, and was married to Catherine Wolfenberger in 1808. Here he accumulated considerable property, raised a large family and lived to see them all comfortably settled in life. Father Kouns has been long known to the citizens of Lawrence County, and to write a history of his life and character would be only a repetition of knowledge engraved upon every heart. There need only be given a short sketch of the circumstances attending his death. The disease which occasioned his death was one of a very distressing nature — a spinal infection. For several months he suffered most intensely and obtained no freedom until death came to his relief. It is true that willing friends were ever ready to bestow the offices of kindness and attention upon him; but such was the nature of his disease that for days together he could not be turned in his bed. Early in his sickness he felt impressed with the idea he should never recover, and immediately arranged his temporal affairs and the blessing of pardon. Before his death, light suddenly broke upon his mind, and though exceedingly weak and feeble shouted aloud the praises of his God. On Wednesday evening, at 10 o'clock he slept in death . . . As fades the summer clouds away; As sinks the gale when storms are o'er; As gently shuts the eye of day; As does the wave upon the shore; and may we all be ready for blessed reunion in the spirit land.
OBIT: Handwritten page found in the Kouns Family Bible — CATHERINE KOUNS died at the residence of Thomas Campbell, Fayette Twp., Lawrence Co., OH Tuesday eve., Feb 3, 1874 at 5:00 p.m. Mrs. Catherine Kouns, relict of George Kouns deceased, aged 90 years 5 months and 19 days. Grandmother Kouns was born in Greenbrier Co. VA in 1784 removed to the state of Ohio in 1808 and was married to George Kouns the same year by Rev. B. Spurlock and settled on the farm where they both lived and died in Fayette Township. Mrs. Kouns was a woman of remarkable health and physical strength, her faculties remaining clear to the last moment. She joined the M.E. Church at the age of 15 years, and lived a consistent christian for 75 years; a devoted mother, kind and charitable to all. Her death was one of perfect faith, and while she waited anxiously to be relieved of her intense suffering she could not repress her exclamations of "Glory, Glory" until she breathed her last. Such was the life of this aged mother who passed away to her final reward and place of rest. She was indeed one of the early pioneers. Her early home was a vast wilderness, situated as it was on the banks of the Ohio, high water often driving them from their cabin to seek shelter in other buildings. At that time neighbors were few and far between, there being but four families between the mouth of the Guyan River and that of the Big Sandy and but few now remain to tell of the hardships and trials of those days, and very few have lived to see their children and families as well settled as Grandmother Kouns. Their family consisted of 10 daughters and one son, George W. Kouns, Jr., who died in New Orleans in 1860; eight daughters survived her, five reside in Ohio, two in Catlettsburg and one in Ravenswood, WV; 62 grandchildren; 71 great grandchildren, 144 children in all. She lived in Lawrence Co. the greater part of her life. She is buried at Burlington, Ohio.
1848 Oct will filed in Lawrence OH (Vol. 1 pg 31-36)
1850 Aug 5 Federal Census Fayette, Lawrence, OH Non-Population Schedule; line #05 (could this actually be for his son George W Jr?) [Improved Farm 250, unimproved 250; 4500 cash value of farm, 300 value of farm improvements, 6 horse, 8 milk cows, 2 oxen, 10 other cattle, 16 sheep, 40 swine, 500 value of live stock, 300 bushels wheat, 2000 bushels indian corn]
1850 Federal Census Lawrence OH; shows wife Catherine widowed living with son-in-law Samuel Crawford
1860 Federal Census Lawrence OH; shows Catherine Kouns living with son-in-law Samuel Crawford
1874 Feb 3 wife Catherine died in Fayette Twp, Lawrence OH at home of son-in-law Thos. C Campbell.
Headstone: Greenlawn Cemetery, Burlington, Fayette Twp., Lawrence, OH
Inscription: George Kouns, Native of VA, Died June 7, 1848, aged 64 years
The Davidson Genealogy, p. 324: “James Crawford, b Dec 6 1804, came from Calisle [sic] Pa., in 1820, settled near Burlington, O., m Feb 10 1829 Nancy Kouns, dau of Geo. K. [sic] Kounse, b 1784 Rockingham, Co., Va, and wife Catherine Wolfberger [sic], d. June 7, 1848, came in 1808 with her parents to Burlington, O., from Greenbrier, Co. VA. The father of George Kounse, was Christian Kounse, b in Rockingham Co., Va., near White Sulpher Springs, in 1803 came to o. He was a soldier in the Revolution”
RECORDS/DOCUMENTS George Catherine
Birth
Marriage
Death
1790 Census
1800 Census
1810 Census
1820 Census X X
1830 Census
1834 Land Record X
1840 Census
1850 Census X
1860 Census X
1870 Census X
Gravestone X X
Burial 2X 2X