Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1919-03-06
PIONEER STORIES
"Kunce's Boots"
E. d. Koontz.

f. d. Koontz
The greater part of the stories
connected with the pioneer history
of Barbour County have been lost a.
mong the records Of the past. The
stories of Indians, stories of adven-
ture, stories of home life most all
are gone. Just few sketches pluck
ed from the memories of the older
citizens of the community and many
details lacking is all that can be
found. There was time when by
dress and manner but little difference
\ could be noted in the Indian hunter
| and the pioneer hunter, both alike
! wore the moccasin and the buckskin
4 garb. In time civilization introduced
! more up-to-date raiment-home-m made
boots coming first. The first shoe
maker who appeared in this part of
Barbour County was a lazy, worth
less sort of fellow named Simpson
who drifted into the settlement and
made his home with Solomon Barn
house a bachelor--son of John Barn
house who lived on the West prong
of Sugar Greek. Philip Kunce finally
prevailed upon Simpson to make him
] pair of boots-they were large, and
ill-shapen and worked up and down
on his feet-so that other settlers
who still wore moccasins passed the
word that the bull-frogs which a.
bounded along Sugar Creek, had
changed their croakings from jug,
Jug-el-Rum" to "Kunces boots Simp
son made en-" This passed into
common by-word and lived for
years in local history
Pitmans Log Chain.
/ During the early days, the early
settlers were accustomed to borrow
from each other even though miles
separated their cabin homes they Dor
rowed fire, borrowed tools, etc An
early settler on the upper waters of
the West prong of Sugar Creek was a
\ pioneer named Jos. Pitman who later
crossed to Bills Creek. Pitman was
reputed to have owned the only log
chain in the settlement Win a
neighbor sent his son to borrow Pit
mans chain Pittman deliberately
cut switch and proceeded to chas-
tise his chain much to the astonish-
ment of the boy who promptly asked
him why he did this. Pitman re-
piled that he always whipped his
chain before he loaned it, so it would
not forget to return home 1t was
this early pioneers diplomatic way
of impressing upon his neighbors the
Importance Of returning promptly
what they borrowed and the result
was gratifying.
'Pomp" Koontz and the Negro.
Lawrence KoontZ a son of Philip
Koontz won his nickname from a
peculiar encounter with a slave on
the plantation whose name was
Pompey Young Koontz was an ac-
tive young giant who made the negro
longed to best in an encounter Of
physical strength. Koontz was des-
cribed as being quick as lightning
and in an encounter with the darkey
he was more than his equal. The
slave finally bantered him to butt
their heads together which Koont2
promptly accepted provided they
should get down ON "all fours." The
negro not suspecting any trick a.
greed confdant Of his success over
his antagonist-bu just at the cru
cial moment Koontz wheeled on his
hands and struck the negro in the
forehead with the heel of his heavy
boot. 1t required the medical skill OF
the entire household to rouse the
dusky gint from his unexpected
sleep. Lawrence Koontz from that
day on was known by tn name Of
"Pomp." He left West Virginia a
bout the 184C for the West anc
since that time no word ever came
back of his whereabouts-like the
nomads of his race he has probably
left his trace somewhere among the
western wilds, two other brothers left
about the same time Henry and Phil
ip and are reputed to have settled
near Marietta, Ohio.
The Iron Kettle Bear
S. NJ D. Koontz.
Iobp VooIr - Cocr,o. ao44I.I .