Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1920-03-25
live thankfully and Il

u
There was large family Of boys, with
whom y aged continually. George
vas a so --, well-developed boy whose
features were not unlike the picture.
We now haze OF George Washington
when he was mere youth. Geor
had ambition to become sometime
more than What men ordinarily make
OF themselves. Bob was about m
own age-slender, sensitive, with
slightly protruding upper jaw, an
feet of foot. We would often measure
our powers in this particular on tn
level road in front OF the old hom
where he lived. Bob would fight
the drop Of the hat, but until he pc
crying mad" Then something wa
doing. The other boys were small
the time of which write. The daush.
ter recall was Susue, a mild-eyed. in
nocent-looking girl who promised
become quite pretty woman Tt
mother, Martha Banks, was q woman
OF highest qualities and big heart
Their father, commonly known as
wash" Banks, was an enterprisinr
farmer, quick in speech and move
ment, and in the later years OF his life
he became very devoted mem
the church. The Banks family 50.
we'll born. II they do not do we'll. 4,
fault will not be in the parento~
n
On the opposite direction from the
Banks home were the Knots. of the
W. ]. Knott family, also a large one.
all Of whom are alive unto this dov
This family followed the normal law
OF inheritance, viz, the bows look
like the mother and the girls like the
father. 1t is said that this is as i.
should be. Sam was a sort OF excep-
ton, as he resembled and now r
semoles his Grandmother Knott. H
was a large-headed, blonde bow. o.
great blue-gray eyes, and popular with
all. George was always straight, Sc
date, and dependable and a carcfn'
student. Will J., as | recall him. was
never silent and never still. T.
boys were reared with no "silver
spoon in their mouth" and this ac-
counts, probably, for the rather un-
usual course they took in retaining
what they inherited and even adding
to it. Wastefulness and idleness had
no place in the home of their father
Their mother was just as careful in
this regard. The girls, Jennie, Kate
and Ella Ashby ((then called "Ash"O
resembled the Knott side of the house
without exception. Jennie was a YER,
replica of her father.
The Koontz family was also large.
They lived in one Of the few ston.
houses in the community. The father
Fox Koontz, was an enthusiastic farm.
er, who probably worked too hard for
his own good. Mr.. Koontz was large
man with conventional farmer bearing
and talk, and was highly regarded b.
everybody. The family was divided
pretty evenly with boys and girls, who
today stand we'll and have children
who occupy important places. Prob
ably the most thoroughly equipped
young man, educationalfy speaking
that has gone from our community in
the last forty years bears this family
name, and promises to do great credit
to it. Will and Susie Koontz were
recipients of liberal education. Both
are dead but their children in Wash
ington City are worthy of the choice
souls that knew as a boy.
The Hoffman family was large, and
had many branches. The family is
now much scattered. In my very
early childhood Mr.. John Hoffman was
the Sunday School superintendent
the Reinhart Schoolhouse, and in afte,
years went afoot all over the country
distributing tracts or religious SUIT
jects. His brother, "Uncle Davy," as
he was Familiarity called, was a quiet
man Of santliness and much revered
these two men gave their force tc,
religion. The inheritance they left is
the inheritance Of pious, devoted liv
ing, giving to the church the best that
was in them. Alice ann Abbie Hoff-
man, daughters of John Hoffman, were
as girls beautiful and popular. Their
home, shut in by cypress and box, was
the quietest nook on Rattesnake Run
To this home in the very early days
came the choice people Of the COM
munity. One Knott afterwards Major
in the Confederate army did some
very strenuous counting here, have
been told The home of Davy Hoff-
man sent out Jake, nervous and rest