Sarah Koontz was born October 1, 1839 in Ohio* and died on November 15, 1920 in Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio. She was the daughter of Abraham Koontz (1807 to 1860-66) and Harriet Henry (1813-1894). Sarah had three siblings (all born in Ohio):
Augustus (c1836- ), Susannah 'Susan' (1845-1913) and Margaret A. (1846-1894)
*There is some question as to Sarah's birth date. Her original findagrave memorial indicated that Sarah was born in May in 1835 - I think because her headstone (??) indicated she was 85 years old at the time of her death. However, her parents didn't marry until July 24, 1835. In addition, Sarah wasn't the first-born - she was the second born. Also, on her marriage record to her second husband, it indicates her birth as October 1st. Almost every census record indicates her birth year as about 1838, 1839 or 1840. One census indicates January 1845 but that is definitely not correct. If we could find the 1840 census we might be able to narrow the date down even more, but we can't. So for now we're going with October 1, 1839 until further information is available.
We haven't been able to find the 1840 census but we know the Koontz family was living in Ohio. The 1850 census indicated they were living in Paris, Stark County, Ohio but by 1860, the family had moved to Washington, Whitley County, Indiana.
In about 1865, Sarah married William H. Empy (1839-1898). We haven't been able to find their marriage record so we're not sure of their marriage date or the location. They could have married in Ohio, but they also could have married in Whitley County, Indiana or possibly Champaign County, Ohio. Sarah's sister Margaret married William Nelson Sides on August 13, 1863 in Whitley County, Indiana so it's quite possible that Sarah and William also married there.
Sarah and William had seven children but only six lived to adulthood. We don't know the 7th child so it was probably a baby that died in infancy. We know they had seven children as Sarah indicated on the 1900 census that she was the mother of seven children, but only six living at the time of the 1900 census. The only children listed on any of the census records for the family are the children listed below which tells us that a child was born and died in-between censuses:
Caroline (c1866- ), George Washington (1867-1934), Susan Jane (1870-1949), Andrew Jack (1873-1940), Daniel Joseph (1877- ) and Orlando (1883-1924)
Sarah and William had moved to Johnson Township in Champaign County, Ohio by the time of the 1870 census and then they are found on the 1880 census for Millerstown, Champaign County, Ohio. William had died by the time of the 1900 census, but Sarah and four of their children were still living in Millerstown as found on that years' census.
On October 13, 1909, Sarah married Daniel Wilt (1858-1940) in Champaign County, Ohio [FamilySearch.org: Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013 Champaign Marriage records 1908-1914 vol O & Ohio, County Marriage Records, 1774-1993 (Ancestry)].
I have to include that Sarah told a little fib on her marriage record to Daniel. She indicated she was 60 years old as the "1st day of October 1909" - this is how we know her birth day and month but no way was Sarah 60 years old! She was at least 70 years old when she married Daniel who was almost 20 years younger than Sarah. Maybe she fibbed about her age because of the age difference? No big deal but I had to mention it.
Interestingly enough, on the 1910 census for Johnson Township, Champaign County, Ohio, Sarah is listed as Sarah Empy (widowed) which is odd because she married Daniel Wilt in October 1909. Three of Sarah's sons were living with her (Andrew, Daniel and Orlando).
Why was Sarah listed as Sarah Empy versus Sarah Wilt? Why was she listed as widowed when she was 'newly' married? Why wasn't Daniel Wilt living with her? Daniel was living in Johnson Township (same place Sarah was living) but he was living with a Benjamin and Belle Deal. Why?
When the 1920 census was taken for Johnson Township, Sarah was living with Daniel; her son Andrew was also living with them. The family was living on 1st North Street in Johnson Township.
On November 13, 1920, Sarah was in the town of Sidney in Shelby County, Ohio when she was struck by a Western Ohio Traction car. A traction car was one of the big cars - I attached a picture showing a 1920's era traction car for reference. Sarah suffered a severe skull fracture and internal injuries and lingered for two days before she passed away on November 15th. This information was taken from her death certificate as well as numerous little notices in local newspapers. Her official cause of death was inflammation of the heart, but it was the injuries from the accident that led to her death. Her death certificate indicated that she was residing on Main Street prior to her death so Sarah must have moved from the time the 1920 census was taken in January.
Sarah (Koontz) Empy Wilt was buried on November 17, 1920 in Graceland Cemetery in Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio.
Life for Daniel Wilt was not to be very good for him after Sarah's death. In September 1929, Daniel was institutionalized in the Dayton State Hospital for the Insane in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. He remained there until his death on May 30, 1940. His death certificate indicates he died from chronic myocarditis and senility (senile psychosis) & paranoid. Contributing to his death was a fall Daniel had taken while in the institution which resulted in a fractured right femur. He was buried on June 4, 1940 in the Dayton State Hospital Cemetery which apparently is now a part of the Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum. The section Daniel is buried in is called the Dayton State Hospital Cemetery.
A sad ending for both of these people.
Augustus (c1836- ), Susannah 'Susan' (1845-1913) and Margaret A. (1846-1894)
*There is some question as to Sarah's birth date. Her original findagrave memorial indicated that Sarah was born in May in 1835 - I think because her headstone (??) indicated she was 85 years old at the time of her death. However, her parents didn't marry until July 24, 1835. In addition, Sarah wasn't the first-born - she was the second born. Also, on her marriage record to her second husband, it indicates her birth as October 1st. Almost every census record indicates her birth year as about 1838, 1839 or 1840. One census indicates January 1845 but that is definitely not correct. If we could find the 1840 census we might be able to narrow the date down even more, but we can't. So for now we're going with October 1, 1839 until further information is available.
We haven't been able to find the 1840 census but we know the Koontz family was living in Ohio. The 1850 census indicated they were living in Paris, Stark County, Ohio but by 1860, the family had moved to Washington, Whitley County, Indiana.
In about 1865, Sarah married William H. Empy (1839-1898). We haven't been able to find their marriage record so we're not sure of their marriage date or the location. They could have married in Ohio, but they also could have married in Whitley County, Indiana or possibly Champaign County, Ohio. Sarah's sister Margaret married William Nelson Sides on August 13, 1863 in Whitley County, Indiana so it's quite possible that Sarah and William also married there.
Sarah and William had seven children but only six lived to adulthood. We don't know the 7th child so it was probably a baby that died in infancy. We know they had seven children as Sarah indicated on the 1900 census that she was the mother of seven children, but only six living at the time of the 1900 census. The only children listed on any of the census records for the family are the children listed below which tells us that a child was born and died in-between censuses:
Caroline (c1866- ), George Washington (1867-1934), Susan Jane (1870-1949), Andrew Jack (1873-1940), Daniel Joseph (1877- ) and Orlando (1883-1924)
Sarah and William had moved to Johnson Township in Champaign County, Ohio by the time of the 1870 census and then they are found on the 1880 census for Millerstown, Champaign County, Ohio. William had died by the time of the 1900 census, but Sarah and four of their children were still living in Millerstown as found on that years' census.
On October 13, 1909, Sarah married Daniel Wilt (1858-1940) in Champaign County, Ohio [FamilySearch.org: Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013 Champaign Marriage records 1908-1914 vol O & Ohio, County Marriage Records, 1774-1993 (Ancestry)].
I have to include that Sarah told a little fib on her marriage record to Daniel. She indicated she was 60 years old as the "1st day of October 1909" - this is how we know her birth day and month but no way was Sarah 60 years old! She was at least 70 years old when she married Daniel who was almost 20 years younger than Sarah. Maybe she fibbed about her age because of the age difference? No big deal but I had to mention it.
Interestingly enough, on the 1910 census for Johnson Township, Champaign County, Ohio, Sarah is listed as Sarah Empy (widowed) which is odd because she married Daniel Wilt in October 1909. Three of Sarah's sons were living with her (Andrew, Daniel and Orlando).
Why was Sarah listed as Sarah Empy versus Sarah Wilt? Why was she listed as widowed when she was 'newly' married? Why wasn't Daniel Wilt living with her? Daniel was living in Johnson Township (same place Sarah was living) but he was living with a Benjamin and Belle Deal. Why?
When the 1920 census was taken for Johnson Township, Sarah was living with Daniel; her son Andrew was also living with them. The family was living on 1st North Street in Johnson Township.
On November 13, 1920, Sarah was in the town of Sidney in Shelby County, Ohio when she was struck by a Western Ohio Traction car. A traction car was one of the big cars - I attached a picture showing a 1920's era traction car for reference. Sarah suffered a severe skull fracture and internal injuries and lingered for two days before she passed away on November 15th. This information was taken from her death certificate as well as numerous little notices in local newspapers. Her official cause of death was inflammation of the heart, but it was the injuries from the accident that led to her death. Her death certificate indicated that she was residing on Main Street prior to her death so Sarah must have moved from the time the 1920 census was taken in January.
Sarah (Koontz) Empy Wilt was buried on November 17, 1920 in Graceland Cemetery in Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio.
Life for Daniel Wilt was not to be very good for him after Sarah's death. In September 1929, Daniel was institutionalized in the Dayton State Hospital for the Insane in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. He remained there until his death on May 30, 1940. His death certificate indicates he died from chronic myocarditis and senility (senile psychosis) & paranoid. Contributing to his death was a fall Daniel had taken while in the institution which resulted in a fractured right femur. He was buried on June 4, 1940 in the Dayton State Hospital Cemetery which apparently is now a part of the Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum. The section Daniel is buried in is called the Dayton State Hospital Cemetery.
A sad ending for both of these people.
Sarah Koontz was born October 1, 1839 in Ohio* and died on November 15, 1920 in Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio. She was the daughter of Abraham Koontz (1807 to 1860-66) and Harriet Henry (1813-1894). Sarah had three siblings (all born in Ohio):
Augustus (c1836- ), Susannah 'Susan' (1845-1913) and Margaret A. (1846-1894)
*There is some question as to Sarah's birth date. Her original findagrave memorial indicated that Sarah was born in May in 1835 - I think because her headstone (??) indicated she was 85 years old at the time of her death. However, her parents didn't marry until July 24, 1835. In addition, Sarah wasn't the first-born - she was the second born. Also, on her marriage record to her second husband, it indicates her birth as October 1st. Almost every census record indicates her birth year as about 1838, 1839 or 1840. One census indicates January 1845 but that is definitely not correct. If we could find the 1840 census we might be able to narrow the date down even more, but we can't. So for now we're going with October 1, 1839 until further information is available.
We haven't been able to find the 1840 census but we know the Koontz family was living in Ohio. The 1850 census indicated they were living in Paris, Stark County, Ohio but by 1860, the family had moved to Washington, Whitley County, Indiana.
In about 1865, Sarah married William H. Empy (1839-1898). We haven't been able to find their marriage record so we're not sure of their marriage date or the location. They could have married in Ohio, but they also could have married in Whitley County, Indiana or possibly Champaign County, Ohio. Sarah's sister Margaret married William Nelson Sides on August 13, 1863 in Whitley County, Indiana so it's quite possible that Sarah and William also married there.
Sarah and William had seven children but only six lived to adulthood. We don't know the 7th child so it was probably a baby that died in infancy. We know they had seven children as Sarah indicated on the 1900 census that she was the mother of seven children, but only six living at the time of the 1900 census. The only children listed on any of the census records for the family are the children listed below which tells us that a child was born and died in-between censuses:
Caroline (c1866- ), George Washington (1867-1934), Susan Jane (1870-1949), Andrew Jack (1873-1940), Daniel Joseph (1877- ) and Orlando (1883-1924)
Sarah and William had moved to Johnson Township in Champaign County, Ohio by the time of the 1870 census and then they are found on the 1880 census for Millerstown, Champaign County, Ohio. William had died by the time of the 1900 census, but Sarah and four of their children were still living in Millerstown as found on that years' census.
On October 13, 1909, Sarah married Daniel Wilt (1858-1940) in Champaign County, Ohio [FamilySearch.org: Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013 Champaign Marriage records 1908-1914 vol O & Ohio, County Marriage Records, 1774-1993 (Ancestry)].
I have to include that Sarah told a little fib on her marriage record to Daniel. She indicated she was 60 years old as the "1st day of October 1909" - this is how we know her birth day and month but no way was Sarah 60 years old! She was at least 70 years old when she married Daniel who was almost 20 years younger than Sarah. Maybe she fibbed about her age because of the age difference? No big deal but I had to mention it.
Interestingly enough, on the 1910 census for Johnson Township, Champaign County, Ohio, Sarah is listed as Sarah Empy (widowed) which is odd because she married Daniel Wilt in October 1909. Three of Sarah's sons were living with her (Andrew, Daniel and Orlando).
Why was Sarah listed as Sarah Empy versus Sarah Wilt? Why was she listed as widowed when she was 'newly' married? Why wasn't Daniel Wilt living with her? Daniel was living in Johnson Township (same place Sarah was living) but he was living with a Benjamin and Belle Deal. Why?
When the 1920 census was taken for Johnson Township, Sarah was living with Daniel; her son Andrew was also living with them. The family was living on 1st North Street in Johnson Township.
On November 13, 1920, Sarah was in the town of Sidney in Shelby County, Ohio when she was struck by a Western Ohio Traction car. A traction car was one of the big cars - I attached a picture showing a 1920's era traction car for reference. Sarah suffered a severe skull fracture and internal injuries and lingered for two days before she passed away on November 15th. This information was taken from her death certificate as well as numerous little notices in local newspapers. Her official cause of death was inflammation of the heart, but it was the injuries from the accident that led to her death. Her death certificate indicated that she was residing on Main Street prior to her death so Sarah must have moved from the time the 1920 census was taken in January.
Sarah (Koontz) Empy Wilt was buried on November 17, 1920 in Graceland Cemetery in Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio.
Life for Daniel Wilt was not to be very good for him after Sarah's death. In September 1929, Daniel was institutionalized in the Dayton State Hospital for the Insane in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. He remained there until his death on May 30, 1940. His death certificate indicates he died from chronic myocarditis and senility (senile psychosis) & paranoid. Contributing to his death was a fall Daniel had taken while in the institution which resulted in a fractured right femur. He was buried on June 4, 1940 in the Dayton State Hospital Cemetery which apparently is now a part of the Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum. The section Daniel is buried in is called the Dayton State Hospital Cemetery.
A sad ending for both of these people.
Augustus (c1836- ), Susannah 'Susan' (1845-1913) and Margaret A. (1846-1894)
*There is some question as to Sarah's birth date. Her original findagrave memorial indicated that Sarah was born in May in 1835 - I think because her headstone (??) indicated she was 85 years old at the time of her death. However, her parents didn't marry until July 24, 1835. In addition, Sarah wasn't the first-born - she was the second born. Also, on her marriage record to her second husband, it indicates her birth as October 1st. Almost every census record indicates her birth year as about 1838, 1839 or 1840. One census indicates January 1845 but that is definitely not correct. If we could find the 1840 census we might be able to narrow the date down even more, but we can't. So for now we're going with October 1, 1839 until further information is available.
We haven't been able to find the 1840 census but we know the Koontz family was living in Ohio. The 1850 census indicated they were living in Paris, Stark County, Ohio but by 1860, the family had moved to Washington, Whitley County, Indiana.
In about 1865, Sarah married William H. Empy (1839-1898). We haven't been able to find their marriage record so we're not sure of their marriage date or the location. They could have married in Ohio, but they also could have married in Whitley County, Indiana or possibly Champaign County, Ohio. Sarah's sister Margaret married William Nelson Sides on August 13, 1863 in Whitley County, Indiana so it's quite possible that Sarah and William also married there.
Sarah and William had seven children but only six lived to adulthood. We don't know the 7th child so it was probably a baby that died in infancy. We know they had seven children as Sarah indicated on the 1900 census that she was the mother of seven children, but only six living at the time of the 1900 census. The only children listed on any of the census records for the family are the children listed below which tells us that a child was born and died in-between censuses:
Caroline (c1866- ), George Washington (1867-1934), Susan Jane (1870-1949), Andrew Jack (1873-1940), Daniel Joseph (1877- ) and Orlando (1883-1924)
Sarah and William had moved to Johnson Township in Champaign County, Ohio by the time of the 1870 census and then they are found on the 1880 census for Millerstown, Champaign County, Ohio. William had died by the time of the 1900 census, but Sarah and four of their children were still living in Millerstown as found on that years' census.
On October 13, 1909, Sarah married Daniel Wilt (1858-1940) in Champaign County, Ohio [FamilySearch.org: Ohio, County Marriages, 1789-2013 Champaign Marriage records 1908-1914 vol O & Ohio, County Marriage Records, 1774-1993 (Ancestry)].
I have to include that Sarah told a little fib on her marriage record to Daniel. She indicated she was 60 years old as the "1st day of October 1909" - this is how we know her birth day and month but no way was Sarah 60 years old! She was at least 70 years old when she married Daniel who was almost 20 years younger than Sarah. Maybe she fibbed about her age because of the age difference? No big deal but I had to mention it.
Interestingly enough, on the 1910 census for Johnson Township, Champaign County, Ohio, Sarah is listed as Sarah Empy (widowed) which is odd because she married Daniel Wilt in October 1909. Three of Sarah's sons were living with her (Andrew, Daniel and Orlando).
Why was Sarah listed as Sarah Empy versus Sarah Wilt? Why was she listed as widowed when she was 'newly' married? Why wasn't Daniel Wilt living with her? Daniel was living in Johnson Township (same place Sarah was living) but he was living with a Benjamin and Belle Deal. Why?
When the 1920 census was taken for Johnson Township, Sarah was living with Daniel; her son Andrew was also living with them. The family was living on 1st North Street in Johnson Township.
On November 13, 1920, Sarah was in the town of Sidney in Shelby County, Ohio when she was struck by a Western Ohio Traction car. A traction car was one of the big cars - I attached a picture showing a 1920's era traction car for reference. Sarah suffered a severe skull fracture and internal injuries and lingered for two days before she passed away on November 15th. This information was taken from her death certificate as well as numerous little notices in local newspapers. Her official cause of death was inflammation of the heart, but it was the injuries from the accident that led to her death. Her death certificate indicated that she was residing on Main Street prior to her death so Sarah must have moved from the time the 1920 census was taken in January.
Sarah (Koontz) Empy Wilt was buried on November 17, 1920 in Graceland Cemetery in Sidney, Shelby County, Ohio.
Life for Daniel Wilt was not to be very good for him after Sarah's death. In September 1929, Daniel was institutionalized in the Dayton State Hospital for the Insane in Dayton, Montgomery County, Ohio. He remained there until his death on May 30, 1940. His death certificate indicates he died from chronic myocarditis and senility (senile psychosis) & paranoid. Contributing to his death was a fall Daniel had taken while in the institution which resulted in a fractured right femur. He was buried on June 4, 1940 in the Dayton State Hospital Cemetery which apparently is now a part of the Woodland Cemetery and Arboretum. The section Daniel is buried in is called the Dayton State Hospital Cemetery.
A sad ending for both of these people.
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