David R. Koontz was a born in Gallia County, Ohio on September 20, 1829, and was buried here about September 10, 1852. He was the seventh child and youngest son of Martin V. Koontz, bridge builder and carpenter, and Lydia Rickabaugh. The Koontz family was originally from Virginia. From there they moved to Ohio and in 1843 to Wapello County, Iowa. The urge to move further west came in 1852, and the Koontz clan took the trail to Oregon. Francis Marion Koonrz, who turned 14 as the train went through the Blue Mountains, later wrote, "When we came to Oregon it was like a tribal migration. There were 24 wagons in our train, all members of the train being related." Edward Jay Allen, who was also in the train, said there 32 wagons and although the majority were from Wapello County, some were from Ohio, Missouri and Pennsylvania. At least 36 individuals in the train were related by blood or marriage.
Family reminiscences indicate the train was raided by Pawnee Indians while along the Platte River, resulting in the loss of seven horses. This meant a long walk to Oregon for some who had originally planned to ride.
While passing Names Hill on the Sublette Cutoff near present-day La Barge, Wyoming, D.R. Koontz carved his name and the date July 7, 1852 on the north face of the bluff along with nine other members of the party.
According
to oral family history David died from injuries that occurred when he was thrown from his horse. The only other deaths recorded in the wagon train were that of David's brother-in-law, Moses Hale, who died from cholera near Fort Boise and an unnamed child who died at the Columbia River Cascades. Hale also left his name inscribed at Names Hill.
Oregon-bound emigrant James S. McClung passed this grave on September 17, 1862. Like Koontz, McClung was from Wapello County:
traveled several miles & passed the grave of Mr. David Koontz from Dahlonega Wapello county Iowa he was buried about 4 rods on the right hand side on the side of a small hill the grave was covered with poles which were quite rotten the head board was rotted off at the ground but still lying by the grave the letters were cut with a knife & were plane and distinct near here the road crossed the river where we camped after traveling 15 miles.
Boy Scouts found the grave in 1915, built a fence around it, and erected a headstone. The city of Echo has been instrumental in the restoration of the site and in placing this marker.
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