William H. Koontz Explained

William H. Koontz
Image Name:William Henry Koontz - Brady-Handy (1).jpg
State1:Pennsylvania
District1:16th
Term Start1:July 18, 1866
Term End1:March 3, 1869
Preceded1:Alexander H. Coffroth
Succeeded1:John Cessna
Office2:Member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives
Term2:1899-1902
Birth Date:15 July 1830
Birth Place:Somerset, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Death Place:Somerset, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Party:Republican

William Henry Koontz (July 15, 1830 – July 4, 1911) was a Republican member of the U.S. House of Representatives from Pennsylvania.

Life and career

Koontz was born in Somerset, Pennsylvania. He completed preparatory studies, studied law, was admitted to the bar in 1851 and commenced practice in Somerset. He was district attorney for Somerset County, Pennsylvania, from 1853 to 1856. He was a delegate to the 1860 Republican National Convention. He served as prothonotary and clerk of the county court from 1861 to 1868.

He successfully contested as a Republican the election of Alexander H. Coffroth to the Thirty-ninth Congress. He was reelected to the Fortieth Congress. He was not a candidate for renomination in 1868. He resumed the practice of law at Somerset and served as counsel for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. He was a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1899 to 1902. He died in Somerset in 1911. Interment in Union Cemetery.

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