"Pioneer of Toledo Dies In Portland Friday"
Mrs. Mary Koontz, former well known resident of Toledo, died at her home in Portland Friday, April 29, aged 80 years. Mrs. Koontz had been a victim of poor health for a number of years and her death was not unexpected. She was the widow of Peter Koontz, with whom she crossed the plains from Iowa in 1879. They stopped at old Freeport, opposite Kelso, on arriving in the territory and spent the winter at that place. In the following spring Mr. and Mrs. Koontz moved to near Toledo, where he bought a tract of land east of town across the Cowlitz river. Three years later they moved into the village of Toledo and in 1885 engaged in the hotel business.
The Koontz hotel at Toledo was the well known stopping place for all transients in the lower Cowlitz district for many years and the hosptiality of Mr. Koontz and his family was known far and near. Mr. Koontz died in 1898, but Mrs. Koontz kept the hotel until 1907 when she moved to Portland where she made her home up to the time of her death. A few weeks ago she visited her son, Frank Koontz, at Vader, and enjoyed on that occasion meeting some of her friends of pioneer days.
Mrs. Koontz is survived by one son, Frank Koontz of Vader, and three daughters, Mrs. Elizabeth Young of Oregon City, and Misses Margaret and Saydee Koontz of Portland. There are also three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
The deceased was a member of the Rebekah lodge, the Ladies of the Grand Army of the Republic, and George Wright Women's Relief Corps.
Source: The Chehalis Bee-Nugget, 6 May 1927, page 15.
Transcribed by Diana Smith. She has no further information on this individual.