Lang, H. O., ed.  "The History of the Willamette Valley, Being A Description 
of the Valley and its Resources, with an account of its Discovery and 
Settlement by White Men, and its Subsequent History; Together with Personal 
Reminiscences of its Early Pioneers."  Portland, OR, Geo. H. Himes, Book and 
Job Printer, 1885.  p. 772.
 
MARTIN V. KOONTZ

     Born in 1837, in Ohio, of German extraction; lived successively in Illinois
and Iowa, and came across the plains to Oregon in 1853 by the familiar ox-train
method, but chiefly on foot, because the Indians stole the horses belonging to
the train on arrival at the Platte River. The Koontz, family took up a donation
claim in Linn County soon after their arrival, but in 1868 the son went to
Eastern Oregon and occupied himself in various ways until 1860, when he returned
to the Willamette Valley, and went into the employ of Jacob Thompson, in Halsey,
as clerk. In 1876 he went into business on his own account, and three years
later organized the firm of Koontz & Lame, dealers in general merchandise and
grain, at Halsey. Mr. Koontz married Miss Conkwright, and they have two living
children, Clyde and Edith.


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Submitted to the Oregon Bios. Project in September 2007 by Diana Smith.
Submitter has no additional information about the person(s) or family mentioned
above.