"Mrs. Charlotte Koontz, First White Girl Born in State, is Laid to Rest"
Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2 o'clock at Westminster Presbyterian church, Chehalis, Rev. J. M. Paxton officiating, for Mrs. Charlotte Simmons Koontz, one of Washington's oldest pioneers. The funeral was attended by the Eastern Star, of which deceased was an honored member for many years. Burial was at Claquato, under direction of E. C. Fissel. Mrs. Koontz' death occurred Saturday afternoon, January 26, at Menlo, following an extended illness, at the home of her daughter, Mrs. George Beiries, where she had recently been removed from her Chehalis home, Mrs. Beiries having formerly been for years a trained nurse.
Mrs. Koontz, who was the first white girl born on Puget Sound, was the daughter of one of Washington Territory's oldest pioneers, Colonel Michael Troutman Simmons. She was born at Tumwater February 17, 1850, and was 79 years of age. The Simmons family crossed the plains in 1844, stopping for a short time at Washougal. It was there that a son, Christopher Columbus Simmons was born April 14, 1845. Shortly afterwards the family moved to Tumwater where Mr. Simmons helped found that place.
The history of the Simmons family and that of Mrs. Koontz is an important part of the early history of Washington Territory and state. In 1856, at the outbreak of the Indian war, Colonel simmons moved with his family to aplace near the site of the present town of Shelton, in Mason county, called at that time Sawamish county. Settlers were warned by Governor Charles H. Mason to move to Olympia for safety. Mrs. Koontz, then a child of six years, had a vivid recollection of those stirring days and related at times incidents of interest relating thereto to her family and friends. Following a meeting at her father's home the settlers took off for Olympia in rowboats, battling against heavy tides, but finally reaching their destination that night. Mrs. Simmons and children spent the night at Cook's hotel, the men and boys using the boats. The settlers remained at Olympia until danger was past, when they returned to their homes.
Later Arcadia stockade was built between the Squaxon and Big Skookum bays, fir logs and other barricades being erected for protection on the high banks. In addition to the Simmons family, those of David Shelton, William and Jack Morrow, Alfred Hall, Frank Kennedy, John T. Scott and others used this stockade for headquarters. However, no further trouble was had with the Indians and shortly the settlers returned to their homes in safety.
November 13, 1867, Charlotte Simmons was married to John N. Koontz, member of the pioneer family of Jackson prairie fame, 12 miles southeast of Chehalis. Mr. Koontz' death occurred some years ago following a serious accident. Surviving members of their family are Mrs. John U. Smith of Newberg, Ore.; Mrs. Beiries of Menlo, Miss Jessie Koontz of Oregon, and Miss Anna Koontz, Chehalis city librarian. Mrs. Koontz and Miss Anna Koontz made their home in Chehalis for many years past.
In addition to the members of her immediate family, Mrs. Koontz is also survived by one sister, Mrs. Catherine Bannon of Vader; and four brothers, Christopher Simmons of Olympia. Charles Simmons of Centralia, Michael Simmons of Ellensburg and Geo. W. Simmons of San Francisco. The latter is over 90 years of age.
When Mr. Koontz died he was buried in the Fern Hill cemetery, but the body was removed and cremated. His ashes were interred with the remains of Mrs. Koontz, at Claquato.
Source: The Chehalis Bee-Nugget, 1 Feb 1929, page 1.
Transcribed by Diana Smith. She has no further information on this individual.