Samuel C. Koonce and Amanda E. Black

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Husband Samuel C. Koonce ¹

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           Born: Abt 1843
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         Father: Hon. Charles Koonce (1806-1880) 2 3
         Mother: Hannah Haywood (      -1845) 1

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       Marriage: 12 Sep 1865 4

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Wife Amanda E. Black ⁴

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           Born: 
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         Father: A. M. Black, D.D. (Abt 1813-Abt 1904) 4
         Mother: 

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Children

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General Notes: Husband - Samuel C. Koonce

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He remained at home during his early years, obtaining an education at the public schools and at the academy at Clarksville. He graduated at Duff’s Commercial College in Pittsburgh in 1860, after which he attended Westminster College at New Wilmington for two years. He spent one year in the service of his country in the late war as private, lieutenant and assistant paymaster. In 1864 he entered into mercantile business in Clarksville, where he remained for twelve years.

He remained at home during the early years of his life, first obtaining his education at the public schools and at the Clarksville Academy. For several years he was then a student at Duff’s Commercial College at Pittsburg and the Westminster College at New Wilmington. In the fall of 1861 he enlisted at Clarksville for service in the Union army. After remaining in the ranks for a time he was elected lieutenant of Company I, Sixty-first Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, and during the winter of the following year was in command of his men, who were stationed near Alexandria, Virginia. In the spring of 1862 he was promoted to be assistant paymaster, but resigned after six months of service in this position. In 1863 he returned to his home in Clarksville, but re-entered the service as a private in Company I, Fifty-fifth Pennsylvania Infantry, and served under Captain Vincent at Parkersburg, West Virginia. This concluded his service for the Union. After his return from the front he became a merchant of Clarksville, where he remained for twelve years. In May, 1867, he had been appointed postmaster and filled the position until June, 1875, when failing health compelled him to resign the postmastership and spend one year in Colorado. Returning from the west with improved health, he was called upon to settle his father’s estate and later built the old grist mill at Clarksville, which he retained until 1907. He also became a stockholder and director of the Sharon Savings Bank and retained his identification with that institution for thirty years. He eventually retired from all active business, his circumstances being such that he could both enjoy life and also give his time to the welfare of his associates and to the development of worthy public enterprises. His politics were always Republican and he filled numerous positions of trust both of the county and of national importance. He served as chairman of the Republican county committee, was a delegate to both state and national conventions and for two terms was a member of the state central committee. He was a member of the general assembly. Among the family treasures which he most valued was a portrait of his father painted by the famous Chicago artist, Brooks. As it was life-size and his father was a man who stood six feet and two inches, the painting itself occupied the entire wall from floor to ceiling. Of his other interesting mementoes was also a paper which had real historic value. During the first year of the war Mr. Koonce enjoyed a personal interview with President Lincoln, and trusting to the friendship then formed, called again at the White House in 1864. His object in making the visit was to obtain a pass enabling him to go to the front immediately after the bloody battles of the Wilderness. But his request was refused by Stanton, the bluff secretary of war. Not discouraged, he finally obtained another interview with Lincoln with the result that the great and good president favored him with the desired pass, the wording of which is as follows: “Pass S. C. Koonce, the bearer, through Potomac army, he being a loyal citizen of the U. S.—A. Lincoln.”

He and his wife were consistent members of the Presbyterian Church at Clarksville, PA, and he was an elder for years. He was a charter member of the Clarksville Grand Army Post, No. 557, was twice commander and later quartermaster. He was also a member of the Masonic fraternity at Clarksville.

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General Notes: Wife - Amanda E. Black

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She was a graduate of Westminster College, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, and was also instructed in music. She was a consistent member of the Presbyterian Church at Clarksville, PA.

1 J. G. White, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Pg 752.

2 —, History of Mercer County, Pennsylvania (Philadelphia, PA: L. H. Everts & Co., 1877), Pg 139.

3 J. G. White, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Pg 758.

4 J. G. White, A Twentieth Century History of Mercer County Pennsylvania (Chicago, IL: The Lewis Publishing Company, 1909), Pg 753.