I am looking for any information about John Koons/Koontz, etc who arrived in the Pickaway County area in about 1798 - possibly from Fayette County, PA (this was part of VA prior to 1786). John's wife may have been named Hannah, although this may have been a daughter. John is believed to have been a bricklayer or stonemason. "John" may have been "Johannes". The Koons may have traveled to the area with families names: DILSAVER, NEWHOUSE, and MOORE (Henry - said to be brother in law of John Koons). In 1813 two sons of John (George and Samuel) bought property and moved their families and mother to Hocking Twp., Fairfield County. The 1820 census in Fairfield County lists everyone but John so I am assuming that John died prior to 1813 and the move. There was another son: Jacob, and may have been daughters Margaret, Nancy, Barbara, and Hannah. I also have the following: John Cuntz signed a "Petition to Congress dated August 22, 1799 from the subscribers resineing on the publick lands on the East side of the Scioto River, in the Territor Northwest of the Rever Ohio 1787-1803 " OHIO RECORDS & PIONEERS vol XXXIII p25-26 John & Isaac Koontz signed a "Petition to Congress dated February 20, 1801 from the setlers on the publick land between the Waters of Muskingum, and Sciota River, in the Norhtwestern Territory." Territorial Papers of the US, vol III, The Territory Northwest of the River Ohio 1787-1803. p23 -25 OHIO RECORDS & PIONEERS vol XXXIII An Isaac Koontz also lived in Fairfield County during the same years that the decendants did. I am not sure that Isaac was a son but think that he may have been related. If anyone has access to the Petition to Congress dated February 20, 1801 could you tell me if John and Isaac were near each other on the petition? This may give me a clue whether they were near each other geographically during the time the petition was signed. Does anyone have access to an index of wills in that area at that time, if such existed? Were there any records of land transfers back then that might give a clue to ownership, etc.? Thanks very much, Raymond Coon Oregon