Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1892-10-21

TIE KOlNER MEMORIAL
UNWILLING THE BEAUTIFUL MON
UMENT.
A GREAT CROWD WITNESS THE CERE
MONIES.
&C., &C., &C.
Never before in the history Of this great
county has more interesting OF imposing
ceremony been witnessed than the CRANE
reunion of the Koiner family, which was
held Wednesday last in the beautiful gaove
at Trinity Lutheran church, near Koiner (
Store. The Koiner family-which sprung
from Michael and Margaret Koiner (nee
Diller), who moved from Pennsylvania tC
this section in the year 1870, is by far the
largest and most influential in this State.
Some months ago those of the Augusta fam
lily-for they are scattered over ten OF
twelve States of the Union-mes together
and determined to perpetuate the names of
their honored progenitors, by forming the
Michael Koiner Memorial Association and
erecting Il suitable monument to their
memory in the old church yard near Koi-
ner's Store, where their ashes have been
resting for almost century. Wednesday,
the 18th instant, was the day set apart for
their work of love-the dedication of their
monument-and it must have been most
gratifying to this sturdy and honored fam
lily to see how the people of this entire
county were interested in their noble act,
which interest was attested by tine throng
that was present to witness the ceremony.
little superabundance of dust. The roads
leading to the little church grove from all
directions, were crowded with pedestrians.
men and ladies' on horseback, buggies, car
riages and vehicles of every description,
and when the memorial exercises begun at
1880 O'Clock in the morning there were
nearly 1000 interested listeners and specta-
tors. There was a stage erected in the
grove of oaks, on one side of which floated
the American flag and on the other the
German colors, us the first of the Koiner
ancestors had come from Germany.
In front of the stage were seats
for the family connections, about
how many we would not like to state as
they ran up into the hundreds. On one
side there was church organ for the choir
which rendered beautiful music during the
day, it's director being MI. Leonard, our
worthy countyman. Hon. Absalom Koin-
er, for three terms the distinguished Sena-
tor from this county in the Senate of Viz
ginia, presided, and after chorus by the
choir and prayer by Rev. j. S. Koiner,
introduced Hon. G. Wellington Koiner,
who delivered the address of welcome, as
1.-THE son of Cyrus. the son of George, the
son Of George Michael, the son of Michael,
the grand progenitor of our family in
America" Mr.. Koiner acquitted himself
most admirably, and his address was chaste
and beautiful. The choir then rendered
ECHOES" b. V. G. Taylor, which was fol-
lowed with the reading of a poem compos-
ed by Hon. Luther Coyner. of San Diego,
Texas, by Mrs. Virginia c. Hamilton, the
author not being able to be present.
We regret very much that we could not
hear all of DR.. A. Z. Koiner's admirable
address, as we understand that it was par
ticularly interesting, giving a minute his
tory of Michael Koiner's descendants who
i,,C nr Koi,ov II
Roanoke. Va. and is an able and successful
physician. He studied his profession in
Germany and while there acquainted him
self thoroughly with this branch of his
family history. Hon. Absalom Koiner, be-
tween twelve and one o'clock, closed the
morning exercises, and the immense con-
course of over 1000 people partook of one of
the most elegant luncheons it has ever been
our good fortune to enjoy. When this
immense number of people had thus re-
freshed themselves for the space of an hour,
if we are not mistaken, there was enough
left for 1000 more. Lunch over, the crowd
moved towards the cemetery but hundred
feet distant where the monument had been
erected and was to be unveiled. Sweet lit
tie George Maslin Conner, daughter of
Thomas B. Conner and granddaughter of
Lieutenant Joseph S. Conner, who fell at
the battle OF Spottsylvania Courthouse on
the 18th of May, 1854, while leading a
charge in the absence of the Captain of his
company, pulled the cord which dropped
the veil from the massive marble structure
which will mark for all time the resting
place of her great ancestor. The child,
though only three years old was not IN the
least frightened OF abashed, but seemed to
know that she was engaged in the noble act
of aiding in the perpetuation of her honor
ed name. After the people had admired
the monument, and the crowd had some
what dispersed, little George was placed on
top OF it and photograph of the child was
taken in this position. This picture, we
have no doubt, will be handed down from
generation to generation.
The ceremonies at the grand stand
were again resumed, and the Hon. G.. W.
Koiner read in an impressive manner an
address written by Hon. Luther Coyner of
Texas, whose absence we have before re-
ferred to. After which the choir in the
most beautiful and touching manner sang
the following:
KOINER MEMORIAL HYMN
To the good old tune "From Greenland's Icy
Mountains
| The Koiner clan has gathered
| To praise the Lord on high,
For blessings on this people
A hundred years gone by;
The sound from Ger the mountains.