In the books' own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. The later printing (1909) is folded below the first. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1866, Mad River township
From History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio (1909), Centennial portrait and biographical record of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with the biographi (1897)
ILLIAM KUNTZ, engaged in the grocery business at No. 1405 East Third street, Dayton, was born about one-half mile north of the city, in Mad River township, Montgomery county, Ohio, March 28, 1866.
Joseph Kuntz, father of William, was born in Alsace, France, February 17, 1832, came to the United States before he was twenty years of age, and settled in Montgomery county, Ohio, where he had friends, and went to work at farming. October 7, 1855, he married Magdalene Wolf, a native of Germany, born July 16, 1834, who came to America about the same year her husband reached thys country, and for two years lived in Cincinnati, whence she came to Dayton, where the two were shortly afterward married, the result 22, being the birth of ten children, viz: John,
Joseph, Maggie, Katie, George, William, Frank, Magdalene, Mary and Clara, all living in Montgomery county, and all married excepting the youngest. After marrying, Mr. Kuntz purchased twenty-seven acres of land and began gardening, afterward adding a twelve-acre tract, situated on the city corporation line, and on which were two dwellings and a store. Mr. Kuntz now also owns several houses within the city limits, and is a substantial citizen. In politics he is a stalwart democrat, and has held the office of supervisor of Mad River township. In religion, he and his wife are Roman Catholics, and are members of the Holy Rosary congregation.
William Kuntz was reared on his father's homestead and was educated in the parochial schools. November 13, 1888, Mr. Kuntz married Miss Annie G. Kinzig, who was born in Mad River township in October, 1868, a daughter of Valentine Kinzig, a native of Germany, now residing in Dayton and in business as a butcher. Mr. and Mrs. Kuntz are now the parents of two children — Victor, born December 4, 1889, and Leona, born December 29, 1893. Upon marrying, Mr. Kuntz settled in Dayton and opened a retail grocery store at No. 1421 East Third street, remained there three years, and then purchased the property at the corner of East Third and Beckel streets, converted the dwelling thereon into a combined dwelling and store, and has been doing a successful business ever since.
Mr. Kuntz is a member of the Catholic Knights of Saint John, commandery No. 104, was formerly paymaster of the Seventh battalion and also filled some minor offices, and since January 30, 1896, has been major of the Third Ohio regiment of the order, which was organized at that date. As an indication of the esteem in which Mr. Kuntz is held, it may be related, that, during the national convention of the Catholic Knights of Saint John, held at Dayton, in June, 1896, a Dayton merchant offered a handsome gold-mounted sword and belt, to be voted to the most popular sir knight in Dayton. In this contest, 5,885 ballots were cast for Mr. Kuntz — the next highest vote being 4,464, and Mr. Kuntz carried off the prize. Commanderv No. 104, the first Catholic uniform organization to be founded in the United States, celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary April 24, 1896, and of its banquet Mr. Kuntz had the sole supervision. He has also represented the order as its delegate to its national conventions at Columbus, Ohio; Fort Wayne, Ind.; Toronto, Can.; Pittsburg, Pa.; Buffalo, N. Y.; Evansville, Ind., and Dayton, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Kuntz are members of the Holy Trinity Catholic congregation, and both are greatly respected within and without the pale of their church.
As printed in Centennial portrait and biographical record of the city of Dayton and of Montgomery County, Ohio, containing biographical sketches of prominent and representative citizens, together with the biographi (1897). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
WILLIAM KUNTZ.
William Kuntz, whose commercial record has been characterized by the orderly progression which follows close application and intelligent appreciation for and understanding of opportunities, is now known as one of the foremost grocers of Dayton, in which line of business he has operated for more than two decades. He was born upon a farm in Mad River township, Montgomery county, Ohio, March 28, 1866.
As the name indicates the family is of German lineage and had its organ in America only in the preceding generation, for his father, Joseph Kuntz, was a native of Alsace, Germany, living in that border district between France and Germany which for centuries has been disputed territory. His natal day was February 17, 1832, and before he was twenty years of age he came to the United States, being influenced in his choice of Montgomery county as his destination by the fact that he had friends living within its borders. Soon after his arrival he sought and obtained employment at farm labor and subsequent to his marriage he purchased twenty-seven acres of land and began gardening. To this he added twelve acres by additional purchase situated on the city corporation land and included two dwellings and a store. As the year passed he prospered in his undertakings and made investment in real estate within the city limits, becoming in the course of years the possessor of a very desirable competence. His political allegiance was given to the democracy and while he was not a politician in the sense of office seeking he served as supervisor of Mad River township. Both he and his wife were members of the Holy Rosary Catholic church. It was on the 7th of October, 1855, that Mr. Kuntz was married to Miss Magdalene Wolf, who was born in Germany, July 16, 1834. She crossed the Atlantic in the same year her future husband made the voyage and after living for two years in Cincinnati, she removed to Dayton. Their marriage followed shortly afterward and they continued residents of Montgomery county until called to the home beyond. Joseph Kuntz carried on farming until 1893 when he retired to spend his remaining days in the enjoyment of well earned rest. He died June 4. 1908, having for about three years survived his wife, who passed away in 1905. They became the parents of ten children: John, Joseph, Maggie, Katie, George, William, Frank, Magdalene, Mary and Clara.
The youthful days of William Kuntz were spent in the usual manner of farm lads of the locality and period. He completed his education in the parochial schools, after attending the public schools for a few years, but at the age of thirteen put aside his text-books to assist his father, who was engaged in market gardening. Lie was thus busily occupied until 1889, when, desiring to start upon an independent business career, he came to Dayton and opened a grocery store, which he has since conducted. As the years have gone by lie has developed an ex-
WILLIAM KLNTZ tensive and growing trade and is now one of the leading grocery merchants in his part of the city. He carries a large and well selected line of goods and his reasonable prices and honorable dealing have been salient features in the attainment of his success.
On the 13th of November, 1888, Mr. Kuntz was united in marriage to Miss Anna G. Kinzig, who was born in Mad River township in October, 1868. Her father, Valentine Kinzig, came to America in 1853 from Kissering, Baden-Baden, Germany, and located in Dayton, where he still resides. For nearly forty years he was engaged in the butchering business in this city, but in 1908 he retired and is now enjoying a well earned rest. He married Miss Lena Hasenstab, who was also a native of Germany, born in Rodenbuch, Rhenish Bavaria, Germany, and came to the United States in 1847. She, too, is still living. Mr. and Mrs. Kuntz have two children: Victor G., born December 4, 1889: and Leona, born Decemb'er 29, 1893.
Mr. Kuntz is well known through his fraternal relations. He belongs to the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, the Knights of Columbus and the Knights of St. John. In the latter he was formerly paymaster of the Seventh Battalion and on the 30th of January, 1896, he became major of the Third Ohio Regiment of the order. When the order met in national convention in June, 1896, a merchant of this city offered a handsome gold-mounted sword and belt to be voted to the most popular sir knight in Dayton. In this contest five thousand, eight hundred and eighty-five ballots were cast for Mr. Kuntz, who was, therefore, the winner by more than fourteen hundred votes. He has been very active in the order, having sole supervision of the banquet at the celebration of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of Commandery No. 104, the first Catholic uniformed organization of the United States. He has also represented the order in various national conventions. Both he and his wife are members of the Holy- Trinity church and Mr. Kuntz is recognized as a democratic leader of the third ward which he has twice represented in the city council and at present is a candidate for council at large, his election being generally conceded. He is a man well qualified by nature for leadership for he not only has a commanding way but also a most genial spirit which, combined with his unfailing courtesy, renders him popular wherever he is known.
As printed in History of the city of Dayton and Montgomery County, Ohio (1909). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.
Their biographies name William Kuntz: George Kuntz (b. 1863)
The printed record stops around 1909. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.