Mr. Koontz was born December 27, 1827, in Fayette County, Ind. His parents, Jacob and Deborah (Combs) Koontz, were natives of Virginia. In 1817, they settled in Ohio, and, two years later, removed to Fayette County, Ind. In 1820, they removed to Henry County, Ind., where the father purchased a tract of land, and, at a later date, laid out the town of Middletown. He continued to reside there until 1880, when he died. Subsequently, his widow married again, and the family came to Delaware County. Jacob H. was permitted to attend the common schools during the winter, and assisted his stepfather about the farm during the remainder of the year. He was the victim of a great deal of unkindness at the hands of the latter, and, at the age of sixteen years, he determined to submit to it no longer. He accordingly left home, and accepted employment as a farm-laborer, receiving for his services $10 per month. He continued this line of employment until 1849, attending school in the winter, and having, in the meantime, saved some money from his meager earnings, he entered the Seminary at Muncie, where he acquired commendable proficiency in the English branches. In 1850, he determined to seek his fortune in the newly-discovered gold regions of California, and accordingly started on his journey, embarking on a sailing vessel at New Orleans, and arriving at San Francisco, after a voyage of 110 days. He engaged at once in mining, and met with fair success. In December, 1851, he started homeward by the same route, reaching his destination in February, 1852. He invested his capital in a stock of goods, and engaged in mercantile pursuits at Yorktown, conducting a successful business for about four years. He then purchased the Yorktown Mills, of which he continued as proprietor until 1865. During the next five years, he was engaged in mercantile life, and, at the end of that time, retired to one of his farms, situated two and a half miles southeast of Yorktown, where he devoted his time to agricultural pursuits. He afterward resumed mercantile life, in which he is now engaged. His store, which is, perhaps, the largest in the village of Yorktown, is well arranged, and bears evidence of business ability on the part of the proprietor. In 1865, he began the study of law, but,owing to failing eyesight, he was unable to pursue it to the extent he desired to. He was admitted to the bar, however, and has attained fair success as a lawyer.
In 1863, during the raid of the rebel Gen. John Morgan through Indiana, Mr. Koontz was commissioned by Gov. Morton as Captain of a company of Minute Men, and when, at a later date, they were organized into Companies for the Indiana Legion, he was commissioned Colonel of the regiment from Delaware County.
He has always taken a lively interest in public affairs, and particularly in educational matters. He has been identified with the schools of his township, in the capacity of Trustee, for seventeen years, having been first elected to that office in 1854. In political matters, he has acted with the Republican party ever since its organization, and wields a large influence in its behalf. In 1876, he was elected Joint Representative from the counties of Jay and Delaware, and served as Chairman of the Committee on Roads. In public and private life, Mr. Koontz has always sustained a reputation for integrity and pure purpose, and all who know him unite in paying this tribute to his character. As a public speaker, he has attained success, not on account of oratorical display, for from this his addresses are singularly free, but he brings to bear upon the oubject so much earnestness and sound logic that he carries his hearers with him, making up in results what he lacks in effect. He is an earnest temperance man, and has accomplished much for the good of the temperance cause. In his business transactions, he has been successful, and, while this is true, it may be as truthfully said that his fortune has been acquired by the most honorable dealings with his fellow-man. He is esteemed as much for the unselfish honesty of his nature as for his services in public life, and his encouragement to public improvements.
He has been twice married; first, in June, 1853, to Miss Anna Brown, who died in 1855, leaving one daughter. On the 24th of July, 1857, he was wedded to Miss Viletta A. Shimer. Of this union were born five children, four of
whom now survive. (between pages 266-267)
Judge Kilgore may be properly classed among the eminent self-made men of Indiana, and his life demonstrates that success in any chosen field can be attained by perserverance, allied with natural ability. He rose, step by step, from comparative obscurity to a position which gave him honorabe renown and national recognition. He was the son of Obed and Rebecca (Cuzick) Kilgore, and was born in Harrison County, Kentucky, April 3, 1804. His father was a native of Pennsylvania, but removed to Kentucky at an early day, and was there engaged in agricultural pursuits until 1819. He settled in the wilds of Franklin County, Indiana, in that year, and was identified with its subsequent history until his death, at the age of eight-two years.
After completing a course of study in the common schools, the subject of this memoir began the study of law, in which he was occasionally assisted by Hon. James Brown Ray, afterward Governor of Indiana, and John T. McKinney, afterward Judge of the Supreme Court of this State. He finished his preparatory studies, and, in April, 1830, started to Delaware County, with whose interests he was afterward so prominently associated. There were no such modes of transit as now exist, and the cost of riding in one of the cumbrous, inconvenient vehicles of those days was considerable. Unable to afford this luxury, he came on foot to the site of his future home, with $4.75 and four law books. He pre-empted a tract of land, upon which he at once located. He gave only a portion of his time to the labor of clearing this land, entering immediately upon the practice of his chosen profession. He soon distinguished himself, and success crowned his efforts almost from the first. Political influence followed his success at the bar, and, in 1832, he was chosen as the Whig candidate for Representative in the State Legislature--a position to which he was re-elected several different times; and, in 1856, he was chosen Speaker of the House. In 1839, he was elected Judge of the circuit comprising the counties of Randolph, Delaware, Grant, Jay, Blackford, Madison, Wells and Adams, and served in the capacity for seven years. In 1850, he was chosen as a delegate to the State Constitutional Convention, and was elected as a member of the Thirty-fifth Congress of the United States, and re-elected at the expiration of his first term--both times by large majorities. He took part in the exciting scenes in our national Legislature that preceded the great rebellion, during the administration of James Buchannan, and his voice was always heard on the side of Union and right. When the cloud that threatened us finally broke, and our land was stirred by internal strife, he at once began to do what he could toward ameliorating the condition of our soldiers. Chiefly through his influence the Indiana Hospital at Washington was established, and that he was an active friend of the soldiers was evinced by the following extract from a Washington paper of 1861: "The members of the First New Jersey Regiment,and of the Ellsworth Zouaves, desire to return their sincere thanks to Hon. David Kilgore, M. C., from Indiana, for a bountiful supply of letter paper and envelopes, supplied to them on Sunday last, for their correspondence with the dear ones at home. We hope to hear of similar donations to other regiments quartered in our city."
In every public capacity in which he served, Judge Kilgore proved himself a man of ability. In the State and National Legislatures, he exerted an influence that was felt far and near,and as the Judge of this judicial circuit, he wore the ermine with dignity and honor, and never faltered in the line of duty. His career speaks eloquently of the great results that may be developed from small beginnings; and, in his moments of leisure, this thought may, perhaps, have occurred to him. What more natural than a recurrence of memory to the four books of other days, when his eye gazed upon the fine library that accumulated in later years? And, when he surveyed his large landed estate, was it strange for him to reflect that all this was the result of the few paltry dollars which constituted his sole capital when he came her, a poor student, with his fortune yet to acquire? He possessed an indomitable will, and, having set his mark high, he conquered one opposing obstacle after another, until the goal of his amibition was attained. Whatever his did was insipired by a pure purpose, and characterized by honesty. No breath of corruption ever tarnished his public life, and all his dealing with his fellow-man were upright and honorable. He fulfilled well his mission in this world, and, in the transition from time to eternity, he was spared the pain of a lingering illness. He died suddenly on the 23d day of January, 1879, leaving a record of which his family may feel justly proud.
On the 14th day of July, 1831, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary G., daughter of Absalom Van Matre. Her father, who was a soldier in the war of 1812, was a native of Virginia, and moved thence to Kentucky, subsequently to Clinton County, Ohio, and finally to Fayette County, Indiana, where he died. His wife married Joseph Van Matre, a distant relative of her first husband, with whom she came to Delaware County. Her husband was the proprietor of the "Blue Ball" Tavern, to which reference is made in the history of Mount Pleasant Township.
Mary G. was born October 24, 1814, in Clinton County, Ohio, and came with her mother and step-father to Delaware County Indiana, in 1823. She attended the first school in the township, little dreaming that between herself and the schoolmaster should grow ties of love which, within a few years, should make them one for life; but so it was, for, at the age of sixteen years, she was married to her preceptor, to whom she proved a loving and devoted wife until death severed the tie that bound them, and cherishing his memory until the time when her own soul shall be released from it mortal tenement, and she shall rest by the side of him she loves so well.
Henry C., their first-born child, died in infancy, and five sons afterward came to bless their home.
Alfred, the second son, was born April 7, 1833, at the Kilgore Homestead in Mount Pleasant Township. With an ordinary common-school education, he rose by his own merits, to a high position at the bar, and was recognized throughout this State as a man of rare talent. After the close of his school life, he became a school-teacher, and was thus engaged for about two years, when he entered upon the study of law, and was addmitted to the bar of Delaware County in 1857. He gained a high reputation as a criminal lawyer, and was called upon to fill numerous official positions in Muncie and Delaware County. At the first alarm of war, however, he abandoned his practice and all the splendid possibilities then before him, and, in 1861, raised a company of volunteers for the Union army. This company afterward became Company B, of the Thirty-sixth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was assigned to the Army of the Cumberland. He was made Captain of the company and, although a man of frail physique, he participated bravely in all the engagements until the battle of Shiloh. Unable longer to endure the hardships of army life, he was taken to the hospital, where he lingered for many weary months, and was finally brought to his home; but he was never well again, although the feeble flame of life continued to glow until the 22d day of August, 1871, when he died in the prime of life, and with a useful carreer all unfinished.
His distinguished ability in civil and military life gained him political recognition, and he was twice elected to the Legislature of the State, where he served hornor and credit, and was subsequently appointed United States Attorney for the District of Indiana.
On the 2d day of August, 1854, he wedded Miss Susan Shoemaker who survives him, and is now the wife of Hon. James N. Templer. Two children blessed this happy Union--Charles W., an attorney, and ex-Mayor of Muncie; and Mollie G., the wife of Vernon Davis, of Mount Pleasant Townshp.
Obed, the third son, was born February 18, 1835, at the old homestead, and grew to manhood in the township in which he still resides, and is now an independent farmer. His estate is situated just west of Yorktown, on the Indianapolis road, and opposite the former site of the "Blue Ball" Tavern of early days. On the 23d of January, 1861, he was united in marriage with Miss Lorinda E. Helvie, daughter of Peter A. Helvie, Esq., an early settler of Salem Towship. Of this union was born, on the 27th day of September, 1861, one daughter--Mary E., who died September 1, 1863. Mr. Kilgore has a large farm, and enjoys a good portion of this world's effects. He is a good citizen, and is honored and esteemed by all who know him.
Absalom V., the fourth son, was born March 25, 1837. He received an injury in childhood which impaired his mental faculties, and, finally, his clothing taking fire, resulted in injuries from the effects of which he died on the 27th of October, 1866.
Tecumseh, the fifth son, was born May 25, 1839. he acquired a good common-school education, and, some time prior to the late war began the study of medicine with Dr. S. V. Jump. He made rapid progress in his studies, but, before he was prepared to enter upon the practice, the alarm of war was sounded, and he enlisted in the Eighty-fourth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and was appointed Hospital Steward. Subsequently, he was promoted to the rank of Major, and Surgeon of the Thirteenth Indiana Volunteer Cavalry. Returning from the army, he began the practice of medicine at Yorktown, and subsequently removed to Chester, Madison Co., Ind., where he continued to reside until his death, which occurred on the 14th of November, 1876. He was twice married: First, to Miss Maria Goodpasture, who died leaving two children--Albert and Clarence. On the 4th of March, 1875, he wedded Miss Mary E. Dilts, daughter of Taylor and Sarah Dilts, of Madison County, Indiana. One son, Franklin Taylor, was born of this second union. Dr. Kilgore enjoyed and extensive and lucrative practice, and was universally esteemed.
David, the sixth and youngest son, was born June 27, 1841. He enlisted in Company G. Eighth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, in April, 1861, and served three months--that being the term for which his regiment was enrolled. After his return from the army, on the 16th of September, 1862, he married Miss Sarah O. Saunders, daughter of Jacob Saunders, Esq., of Salem Township. But the times called for more soldiers,and, bidding adieu to his young wife, he organized Company C, of the One Hundred and Fortieth Indiana Volunteer Infantry, of which company he was made Captain. During the siege of Nashville, he assisted in the defense of Fort Rosecrans, and participated in all the fighting of that campaign. Failing health finally caused him to tender his resignation in December, 1864, which was accepted. He returned to his home, and, shortly afterward, located at Anderson, Ind., where he was admitted to the bar, and began the practice of law. Upon the death of his father, he abandoned that profession, and came home to care for his mother and manage the farm. He is one of the prominent citizens of Mount Pleasant Township, and is universally honored and esteemed throughout the community in which he resides. His wedded life has been blessed by two sons and two daughters, viz.: Mary O., Katie, Alfred and Obed--one of whom, Katie, is now deceased. (pages 270-272)
