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The Wagon Train to Illinois The following quotation was E-mailed to me by another descendant of Philip Foltz (Fultz) and Mary Ann Perkepine, who were our g.g.g. grandparents. Julia Kibler was probably on this wagon train, but the History of the Descendants of John Koontz states that Andrew Jackson Koontz arrived in Jasper County about 2 years later. ***************************** From "The Counties of Cumberland, Jasper and Richland" [Illinois], pg. 25: "In 1850, there was a wagon train of seventeen wagons carrying seven families and their belongings from Page County, VA to Jasper County, IL, settling in the vicinity of the Gila Lutheran Church. It was always necessary to have a blacksmith in such a long trek across the country to repair broken wheels, axles and other parts of the covered wagons which had to pass over rough and unbroken prairies and streams. A. H. Strole was the blacksmith, as well as a farmer, in this group. Equally important was the hunter who had to provide fresh meat for the families by his hunting skill. Such a role was filled by Franklin A. Kibler. Mr. Kibler, who was born in Germany, was a German Lutheran and later donated the land for the Gila Lutheran Church. His gun, which was such a necessary and valuable asset on this long wearisome journey, is a prized possession of one of his descendants, Marney Isley, who resides here in Newton. There were also the Tussings, Riley, Koontz, Foltz and Cottrella families. Many in this area can trace their lineage back to this group." George Foltz had purchased lands through the Federal Land office in Palestine, Il. He was the first Foltz to move to Illinois, bringing others with him. George was the son of Phillip Foltz and Mary Ann Perkepine............. ************************* Thanks to Jim Maxwell for this bit of information! The music is "Mist Covered Mountains",
Sequenced by
Barry Taylor.
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