Riley's father, Martin Koontz, led his family and others on a transcontinental journey. He first moved from his birthplace in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia to Gallia County, Ohio. He next moved from Ohio to Wapello County, Iowa. In 1852 at age 66 with his wife Lydia Rickabaugh Koontz, age 62, and all of his surviving children and their families, he journeyed over the Oregon Trail from Council Bluffs, Iowa, to Portland, Oregon. His story is told in the book "Our Faces Are Westward," published in 2012 by the Oregon California Trails Association.

By 1807 the Koontz and Rickabaugh families had moved from the Shenandoah Valley across the future state of West Virginia and settled in Racoon Township, Gallia County, Ohio, directly west of Charleston, on what was then the edge of the frontier. Just a decade earlier Daniel Boone had hunted bears and trapped in the area. The first cabin in the county was built in 1803 on the banks of Big Racoon Creek. Martin Koontz and Lydia Rickabaugh married here on January 4, 1807. Also making the move from the Shenandoah to Ohio were the families of Henry and Nehemiah Wood. Four of the Wood children would marry Koontz children creating a confusing and interesting mix. Riley was the fourth of eight Koontz children.

Martin and Lydia Koontz' seven surviving children married as follows:
John Koontz; Elizabeth Wood; m. 1832
Mary Koontz; Nathaniel Gates; m. 1834
Riley Koontz; Matilda Wood; m. 1835
Elizabeth Koontz; James Wood; m. 1839
Martin Koontz, Mary Ann Kitterman m. 1847
David R. Koontz; E. Wood; m. ca. 1852
Helen Koontz; Peter Ruffner; m. 1852

The move to Iowa in 1843 was quite dramatic. Much of the state was closed to settlement until treaties with the Sax and Fox tribes opened the future state to settlement. When they were finalized a great land rush similar to that of Oklahoma's took place. A dispute over claims involving the Koontz family led to what in Iowa History is called the Dahlonega War. While Riley's father was the central figure in the conflict, it is quite likely that 28-year old Riley was involved.

In 1852 the Koontz, Wood families and others ventured west over the Oregon Trail. The diaries of two young unmarried men (Edward Jay Allen and Jacob Reeser) chronicled the journey. Riley (37), his wife Matilda (36) and their five children Francis M. (12), Mary J. (9), Elizabeth (8), Martha (6), and Catherine (3) joined the multitude of aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents who made up the bulk of the wagon train. Riley made but two appearances in the Allen diary and one in Reeser's. Riley had the third of the four night watches and he had a tent in addition to his wagon. The local newspaper announced their arrival in Portland, Oregon, from the head of the Columbia River navigation on the steamer Multnomah. "Per Multnomah Monday October 4 R. Koontz, lady and five children."

Riley and Matilda took out a Donation Land Claim near today's Harrisburg, Linn County, Oregon. They had two more daughters after they settled in Linn County, Nancy and Isabella. Riley's brother Martin with whom he crossed the plains took out a claim nearby. According to various census records Riley made his living as a carpenter and cabinetmaker. Life in Harrisburg was hard. His oldest child Francis died of consumption just two years after his marriage. The youngest child, Catherine, died of the same disease at age seventeen. And daughter Martha died at age eighteen. In 1874 the family moved to the newly platted village of Milton in Umatilla County, just north of today's Pendleton, Oregon. Riley opened a store and blacksmith shop. Riley died on December 30, 1889 and Matilda died on August 5, 1892. They are buried in Dixie Cemetery in Walla Walla County, Washington.

Contributor: Dennis Larsen (47401741)

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As seen in the 1880 US Census Record

Name: Riley Koontz
Age: 64
Birthplace: Ohio
Occupation: Cabinet Maker
Relationship to head-of-household: Self
Home in 1880: Milton, Umatilla Co., Oregon
Marital status: Married
Race: White
Gender: Male
Spouse's name: Matilda Koontz
Father's birthplace: VA
Mother's birthplace: VA
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Washington State Territorial Censuses, 1857-1892

Name: Riley Koontz
Census Date: 1885
Residence County: Walla Walla
Residence state: Washington
Birth Location: Ohio
Marital Status: Married (died 1892)
Gender: Male
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1815
Race: White
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Washington Deaths, 1891-1907

Name: Riley Koontz
Gender: Male
Race: American
Birth Date: abt 1815
Death Date: 30 Dec 1889
Age at Death: 74
County of Death Registration: Walla Walla
Residence: Walla Walla
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Ohio Marriages, 1803-1900

Name: Koontz, Riley
Spouse: Wood, Matilda
Marriage Date: 26 Oct 1835
County: Gallia
State: OH