The following Pontzius information has been compiled and organized by Keith Street over a period of several years. It is by no means complete,but it may help someone in their own research. In the Louisa County areathe name is spelled Pontzius, while it may be found as Pontzious in other areas of the country.

The first Pontzius in Louisa County was John George Pontzius, and he arrived in the early 1850s, settling in Wapello Township. Many of today's LouisaCounty residents trace a descent from him. He used the "z" in his name inLouisa County, although most of his forebears spelled it Pontius, withoutthe "z". He was a native of Pennsylvania, where his family had lived forseveral generations.

His great grandparents were Nicholas Pontius (1718-1794) and Anna Margaret Shuey. His grandparents were Daniel Pontzius (1757-1814) and Catherine Schlessman. His parents were John Pontius (1774-1830) and Elizabeth Emerich,who moved from Berks County, Pennsylvania, to Hocking County, Ohio. His fatherwas in the War of 1812, serving with Dawson's Ohio Militia, Odd Battalion.

John George Pontzius was born January 11, 1803, in Berks County, Pennsylvania; died December 11, 1874 near Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa; burial in the Cairo Cemetery, Louisa County, Iowa. He went by the name of George. He lived in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana and Iowa. He was married three times and had 15 children. He was married (1) 15 June 1830 in Berks County, Pennsylvania,to Elizabeth Engle. They had no children. He was married (2) September 25,1836 in Hocking County, Ohio, to Mary Keasy, daughter of John Keasy. JohnGeorge and Mary had six children (1) Elizabeth Pontzius; (2) William Henry Pontzius; (3) John A. Pontzius; (4) Sarah Pontzius; (5) James Madison Pontzius;(6) Jasper Holland Pontzius. John George Pontzius was married (3) circa 1850in Indiana to Rachel Mary Sharon, daughter of John and Matilda Sharon. Childrenof John George and Rachel Mary were (7) Matilda Pontzius; (8) Catherine Pontzius;(9) Georgianna Pontzius (10) Thomas G. Pontzius; (11) Hiram T. Cleaver Pontzius;(12) Adeline Pontzius; (13) Herman George Pontzius; (14) Daniel M. Pontzius;(15) Henry G. Pontzius. I believe John George Pontzius served in the CivilWar, but I have not looked for his military record.

(1) Elizabeth Pontzius was born July 27, 1837, in Washington Township, HockingCounty, Ohio; died June 13, 1907 in Viroqua Township, Vernon County, Wisconsin.She was married August 25, 1853 in Logan, Hocking County, Ohio, to Ezra LeviHudson. Elizabeth and Levi had 13 children.

(2) William Henry Pontzius was born June 15, 1842, in Washington Township,Hocking County, Ohio; died August 9, 1918 in Blair, Washington County, Nebraska.He was married November 6, 1869 in Athens, Missouri, to Martha Clara Miller.William was a Sergeant in Lt. Moreland's Co. M, 8th Regiment Iowa Cavalryin the Civil War. He was enrolled August 5, 1863 and discharged June 9, 1865,at Edgefield, Tennessee, on account of disability. He was five feet eight inches in height, had a fair complexion, blue eyes and dark hair. He wasliving in Smith County, Kansas, in 1874. He and Martha had 4 children, but I have the name of only one (A) Francis Pontzius.

   (A) Francis Pontzius was born in January, 1870, in Iowa.

(3) John A. Pontzius/Pontzious was born in 1843 in Washington Township, Hocking County, Ohio. John was in the Civil War with Co. I, 41st Infantry Regiment,Illinois Volunteers. He married twice and had five children. He eventuallylived with a nephew in Long Beach, Calofornia and was later admitted to asoldiers home in Los Angeles County, California. He was buried in the NationalCemetery in Los Angeles.

(4) Sarah Pontzius was born July 30, 1844 in Washington Township, Hocking County, Ohio; died April 21, 1921, near Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa. She married (1) June 1, 1862, in Louisa County, Iowa, William R. N. Burns, andmarried (2) October 9, 1870, in Vernon County, Wisconsin, Jacob Shaffer.Jacob was a Civil War veteran. There seem to have been no children by thefirst marriage. Children by Sarah and Jacob were (A) Frank H. Shaffer; (B)George E. Shaffer; (C) Della May Shaffer; (D) Etta R. Shaffer; (E) WilliamD. Shaffer; (F) Estella Edna Shaffer; (G) James R. Shaffer; (H) Charles WalterVerne Shaffer.

   (A) Frank H. Shaffer was living in Louisa County in 1912.

   (B) George E. Shaffer was living in Wapello in 1912. In 1954he was living in Davenport.

   (C) Della May Shaffer was born November 17, 1873, in Richland County, Wisconsin; died December 29, 1954, in Muscatine, Muscatine County,Iowa. She married George W. Reddick, son of William H. Reddick and RachelStahl. Children were (a) Cecil F. Reddick; (b) George C. Reddick; (c) JessieS. Reddick; (d) Cleda R. Reddick; (e) Edward Reddick; (f) Vinnie G. Reddick;(g) Harold Dewayne Reddick.

          (a) Cecil F. Reddick died before1912.

         (b) George C. Reddick. No further information.

         (c) Jessie S. Reddick married a Tisor andwas living in Oakville, Louisa County, Iowa, in 1954.

        (d) Cleda R. Reddick married a Chapman andwas living in Muscatine County, Iowa, in 1954.

        (e) Edward Reddick was an adopted son of George and Della May Reddick.

         (f) Vinnie G. Reddick was born 1896 nearNewport, Louisa County, Iowa; married William Simmons, son of Roland Simmons and Emma Lister, on January 22, 1913, at Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa. He was born 1896 in Oquawka, Illinois.

         (g) Harold Dewayne Reddick was born 1908,Muscatine, Muscatine County, Iowa; died October 19, 1973; married June 11,1944, Pearl Pauline Pierce, daughter of William and Lulu Laird Pierce. Shewas born 1922 in Baraboo, Wisconsin. Harold was living near Muscatine in1954.

   (D) Etta R. Shaffer was born 1879; died June 3, 1897; marriedAlbert Babbitt. Etta lived in Muscatine County. She is buried in the WapelloCemetery, Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa.

   (E) William D. Shaffer was born 1881; died 1961. He was living in Louisa County in 1912 and in Wapello in 1954. He is buried in the Wapello Cemetery.

   (F) Estella Edna Shaffer was born 1884; died 1916. She married Stanley S. Honts.

   (G) James R. Shaffer was born November, 1887; died February22, 1888.

   (H) Charles Walter Verne Shaffer was born September 9, 1889,in Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa; died March 19, 1911 in Oakville, Louisa County, Iowa. Charles is buried in the Wapello Cemetery.

(5) James Madison Pontzius, a twin, born January 4/5, 1845-49 in Washington Township, Hocking County, Ohio; died December 28, 1933 in Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa. He was married October 21, 1869 to Margaret Ellen Potter, inLouisa County, Iowa. He changed the spelling of his name to Poncy. He was in the Civil War. Supposedly he had nine children, but I only have names of (A) Phillip H. Pontzius; (B) Cora J. Pontzius; (C) George J. Pontzius;(D) Martin Pontzius.

(6) Jasper Holland Pontzius, a twin, born January 4/5, 1845-49 in WashingtonTownship, Hocking County, Ohio; died November 31, 1932 in Louisa County,Iowa; buried in Long Creek Cemetery, Louisa County, Iowa. He married (1)June 25, 1876 to Anna Amanda Axtell, daughter of Philetus M. and Esther A.Axtell, in Louisa County, Iowa. They had one child (A) Lulu Arminda Pontzius.Jasper Holland Pontzius married (2) November 1885 to Sina Christina Brogan.Children by this second marriage were (B) Clarence L. Pontzius; (C) Lou EmmaPontzius; (D) Walter L. Pontzius; (E) Ernest Edward Pontzius; (F) Henry BrownPontzius; (G) Nellie Anna Pontzius; (H) Earl Vollmer Pontzius; (I) Ida PearlPontzius; (J) Jeanette Pontzius.

   (A) Lulu Arminda Pontzius was born September 23, 1885, nearCairo, Louisa County, Iowa; died May 4, 1951 in West Burlington, Des MoinesCounty, Iowa; buried in Wapello Cemetery, Wapello Township, Louisa County,Iowa. She was married March 22, 1905, to Lucius Palmer Gillette, son of Davidand Louisa Williams Gillette, in Louisa County, Iowa. She lived in Wapello.Children were (a) Lucius Gillette; (b) Ernest W. Gillette; (c) Donald J.Gillette; (d) Louise Gillette; (e) Ruth Gillette; (f) John L. Gillette; (g)Margery Gillette.

         (a) Lucius Gillette was born 1906 in Iowa.In 1993 he was living in Detroit, Michigan.

         (b) Ernest W. Gillette was born June 11,1907; died August 30, 1907.

        (c) Donald J. Gillette was born 1909 in Iowaand lived his life in Wapello.

        (d) Louise Gillette was born 1914 in Iowa.She married a Rouch and lived and died in Exeter, Nebraska.

       (e) Ruth Gillette was born 1916 in Iowa. She married a Henry and lived in East Moline, Illinois.

        (f) John L. Gillette was born 1919 in Iowa. He lived in Wapello and is buried in the Grandview Cemetery in Louisa County,Iowa.

       (g) Margery Gillette married a Strawhacker andlived in Mediapolis, Iowa.

  (B) Clarence L. Pontzius was born February 1887 in Wapello Township,Louisa County, Iowa. He was in the U. S. Army in World War I. He lived anddied in Cozad, Nebraska, where he is buried.

  (C) Lou Emma Pontzius was born 1888 near Cairo, Louisa County, Iowa.She was married (1) on December 25, 1908 to Guy Edgar Banks, son of J. R.and Mary Jane Hamilton Banks, in Louisa County, Iowa. She was married (2)1915 plus to a Waites. She was living in Portland, Oregon, in 1932; in 1951she was living in Omaha, Nebraska.

   (D) Walter L. Pontzius was born in 1889; died in 1991 of severeburns; buried in Long Creek Cemetery, Louisa County, Iowa.

   (E) Ernest Edward Pontzius was born October 20, 1890 in LouisaCounty, Iowa; died February 19, 1936 in Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa.He married Anna Pearl Van Sickle, daughter of Ira and Jennie Owens Van Sickle,in Louisa County, Iowa. Jennie was born December 3, 1889; died July 16, 1966;both buried in the Wapello Cemetery, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa.Children are (a) Roszina May Pontzius; (b) Nellie Lucile Pontzius; (c) VerleePearl Pontzius; (d) Sarah Irene Pontzius; (e) Arthur Edward Pontzius.

   (F) Henry Brown Pontzius was born 1894 in Iowa; in 1951 he wasliving in Battle Creek, Michigan.

   (G) Nellie Anna Pontzius was born November 4, 1894, in LouisaCounty, Iowa; died May 27, 1964; buried in Long Creek Cemetery, Louisa County,Iowa. She was married April 5, 1916 to Ora E. Wilson, son of Sylvanus andNancy Ellen 'Jennie' Williams Wilson. Children were (a) Lillian Wilson; (b)Effie Wilson; (c) Nellie Wilson; (d) Patricia Wilson.

   (H) Earl Vollmer Pontzius was born 1896 in Iowa; he was livingin Kansas City, Missouri, in 1951.

   (I) Ida Pearl Pontzius was born February 7, 1898, in LouisaCounty, Iowa. She married (1) a Brysse and married (2) circa 1951 a Hobbs,and lived in Detroit, Michigan.

   (J) Jeannette Pontzius was born in Louisa County, Iowa. She married a Paris and in 1951 was living in Gillette, Wyoming.

(7) Matilda Pontzius was born in 1852 in Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa. Shemarried (1) Melvin Leroy and married (2) July 4, 1867, Douglas Sandy, inLouisa County, Iowa.

(8) Catherine Pontzius was born January 22, 1853 in Wapello, Louisa County,Iowa; died September 17, 1878, Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa. Shewas married April 20/24, 1872, to George Washington McKay. Children were(A) Bertha Adeline McKay; (B) Catherine Maude McKay.

    (A) Bertha Adeline McKay was born March 14, 1873 in Burlington,Des Moines County, Iowa; died April 17, 1951, in St. Louis, Missouri. Shemarried (1) Benjamin Strauss and married (2) December 25, 1906, AlexanderJ. Campbell, in St. Louis, Missouri. There were no children by the firstmarriage. Children of Catherine and Alexander were (a) Alexander McKay Campbell;(b) Robert Campbell; (c) Catherine Louise Campbell; (d) Margaret IsabellaCampbell.

         (a) Alexander McKay Campbell was born November29, 1906, at Maplewood, Missouri.

         (b) Robert Campbell was born June 15, 1908,in Flat River, Missouri.

         (c) Catherine Louise Campbell was bornJune 1, 1909, in Valley Park, Missouri.

         (d) Margaret Isabella Campbell was bornSeptember 29, 1911.

   (B) Catherine Maude McKay was born January 23, 1878, in Burlington,Des Moines County, Iowa; died August 31, 1966 in New Haven, Connecticut.She was married June 9, 1899 to William Boyle, son of Louis Patrick and MaryMulstay Boyle. Catherine and William were divorced circa 1916. Their childrenwere (a) Kenneth Francis Boyle; (b) Bertrand Philip Boyle; (c) Janet MaryBoyle; (d) Paul George Boyle.

         (a) Kenneth Francis Boyle was born July1, 1902 in Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa; died 1975 in New Haven,Connecticut.

         (b) Bertrand Philip Boyle was born October24, 1904 in Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa; died August 29, 1958, NewHaven, Connecticut. He was married 1924 Dorothy Bohnenkamp, daughter of Josephand Mary Sommers Bohnenkamp. They were divorced in 1954. Children were (i)Roberta Boyle; (ii) Ruth Louise Boyle; (iii) Bertrand James Boyle; (iv) BarbaraCatherine Boyle; (v) David John Boyle; (vi) William Roger Boyle.

         (c) Janet Mary Boyle was born April 15,1907, in Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa. She married George Barbutoand lives in New Haven, Connecticut, in 1993. They had (i) Mary Jane HooverBarbuto.

         (d) Paul George Boyle was born 1915 inRussellville, Alaska. He married Ella and in 1993 lives in New Haven,Connecticut. Children are (i) Paul Boyle; (ii) Nancy Boyle.

(9) Georgianna Pontzius was born in 1855 in Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa.She was married September 24, 1874, in Louisa County, Iowa, to Levi Muncy.She went by Anna or Annie. She had four children, but I have the name ofonly one (A) Della Daisy Muncy.

    (A) Della Daisy Muncy was born March 9, 1883 in Wapello,Louisa County, Iowa.

(10) Thomas G. Pontzius was born circa 1856 in Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa.

(11) Hiram T. Cleaver Pontzius was born on September 25, 1856, in WapelloTownship, Louisa County, Iowa; died November 30, 1959 near Winfield, HenryCounty, Iowa. He was married on February 7, 1882, in Wapello, Louisa County,Iowa, to Fannie Nichols, daughter of Daniel and Mary Sanford Nichols. Cleaverlived for 46 years on a farm 4 ½ miles west of Wapello. He is buriedin the Cairo Fulton Cemetery. Children are (A) George Rutherford Pontzius;(B) Ethel Clara Pontzius; (C) Howard Nelson Pontzius; (D) Thomas Edwin Pontzius;(E) Forrest Glen Pontzius; (F) Joseph Nichols Pontzius; (G)Albert Sherron Pontzius; (H) Frank Raymond Pontzius; (I) Audrey Pontzius.

   (A) George Rutherford Pontzius was born 1884 in Illinois. Hemarried Viola Swinehart. He may have lived in Michigan and is believed to have died while fairly young. Children are (a) Clara Arnetta Pontzius; (b)Herman R. Pontzius.

        (a) Clara Arnetta Pontzius was born December 18, 1910 in Louisa County, Iowa. She married a Gauweiler, and in 1963 wasliving in Newaygo, Michigan.

        (b) Herman R. Pontzius was born January,1912; died June 2, 1912, in Louisa County, Iowa.

    (B) Ethel Clara Pontzius was born April 5, 1887; died19 July 1965 in Burlington, Des Moines County, Iowa; buried in Cairo Fulton Cemetery, Louisa County, Iowa. She was married December 25, 1907 to JamesAlva B. McCaw, in Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa. In July, 1963, shewas living in Winfield, Henry County, Iowa. Children were (a) Wendell McCaw;(b) Katie McCaw; (c) Twyla McCaw; (d) Evelyn Marie McCaw; (e) Miles R. McCaw;(f) Ethel Verlee McCaw.

         (a) Wendell McCaw died in 1929.

         (b) Katie McCaw was born in 1909 and diedin 1910.

         (c) Twyla McCaw was born December 5, 1910in Louisa County, Iowa, and died in 1920.

         (d) Evelyn Marie McCaw was born May 8,1912, in Louisa County, Iowa. She married a Feldman and lived in Wilmington,California.

         (e) Miles R. McCaw was born in 1914 anddied in 1983.

       (f) Ethel Verlee McCaw was born September 10,1917, in Louisa County, Iowa. Ethel married a Wiley and in 1965 was livingin Winfield, Henry County, Iowa.

    (C) Howard Nelson Pontzius was born May 11, 1889, in WapelloTownship, Louisa County, Iowa; died May 26, 1971 in Louisa County, Iowa;buried in Columbus City Cemetery, Louisa County, Iowa. He was married January15/16, 1914, in Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa, to Lavinia Waterhouse, daughterof H. D. and Ida Pool Waterhouse. In July 1963 he was living in Grandview,Louisa County, Iowa; in March, 1969, he was living in Wapello, Louisa County,Iowa. At one time he lived in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Children are (a) MildredPontzius and (b) Lloyd Robert Pontzius.

      (a) Mildred Pontzius was adopted. She married a Bennett.

      (b) Lloyd Robert Pontzius was born October 9, 1919,in Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa. He was in the First Infantry just priorto Pearl Harbor, having enlisted September 3, 1938 and discharged on September3, 1938. He was 5 feet 5 ½ inches in height, had a ruddy complexion,brown eyes and brown hair.

   (D) Thomas Edwin Pontzius was born 1891. He was married September21, 1910, in Louisa County, Iowa, to Rose Jane Kerr, daughter of J. F. andSarah Kerr. In July, 1963 and March,1969, he was living in Mediapolis, DesMoines County, Iowa.

    (E) Forrest Glen Pontzius was born August 8, 1894, in WapelloTownship, Louisa County, Iowa; died March 4, 1969 in Burlington, Des MoinesCounty, Iowa. He was married February 27, 1932 to Exie Alma Bazel, daughterof Elmer E. and Christiana Walker Bazel, in Louisa County, Iowa. He was inthe U. S. Army in WW I, and later lived in Morning Sun, Louisa County, Iowa.He is buried in Elmwood Cemetery, Morning Sun Township, Louisa County, Iowa.A daughter is (a) Shirley Ann Pontzius.

      (a) Shirley Ann Pontzius was born in Louisa County and married Roger J. Heitmeier. She had three children as of March, 1969.

   (F) Joseph Nichols Pontzius was born December, 1896 Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa; died July 28, 1963 in Iowa City, Johnson County,Iowa; buried Cairo Fulton Cemetery, Louisa County, Iowa. He was in the U.S. Army in World War I. He never married.

   (G) Albert Sherron Pontzius was born October 15, 1899 in Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa; died December 14, 1973 in Burlington, DesMoines County, Iowa. He was married (1) July 23, 1919 to Edna Josephine Courtney, daughter of James Patrick and Nancy Anna Brown Courtney, in Louisa County,Iowa. He was married (2) April 15, 1954 to Vada Mildred Harwood. He had no children by this second marriage. He lived in or near Wapello and is buried in the Cairo Fulton Cemetery in Louisa County, Iowa. Children by the marriage to Edna Josephine Courtney are (a) James Sherron Pontzius; (b) Forrest LylePontzius; (c) Leland Verdell Pontzius; (d) Albert Michael Pontzius; (e) EdnaJoan Pontzius; (f) Monte Lee Pontzius; (g) Bonnie Jo Pontzius; (h) PatrickG. Pontzius.

      (a) James Sherron Pontzius was born December 9, 1919in Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa; died October 16, 1940, Louisa County,Iowa; buried in Cairo Fulton Cemetery in Louisa County

      (b) Forrest Lyle Pontzius was born September 17, 1921,in Louisa County, Iowa. In 1973 he was living in Columbus Junction, LouisaCounty, Iowa.

      (c) Leland Verdell Pontzius was born December 23, 1922in Louisa County, Iowa. He was living in Hillsdale, Illinois, in December,1973.

      (d) Albert Michael Pontzius was born December 17, 1925in Louisa County, Iowa; died in 1950. He is a veteran of WW II and is buriedin Cairo Fulton Cemetery in Louisa County.

       (e) Edna Joan Pontzius was born in Louisa County.She was married November 24, 1949 to Glen Frederick Miller, in Louisa County,Iowa. She was living in North English, Iowa, in 1973.

      (f) Monte Lee Pontzius was born in Wapello Township, Louisa County, Iowa. He was living in Columbus Junction, Louisa County, Iowa,in 1992.

      (g) Bonnie Jo Pontzius was born in Louisa County, Iowa.She was married November 24, 1957, to Ivan Oliver Jern, in Louisa County,Iowa. She was living in Metamora, Illinois, in December,1993.

      (h) Patrick G. Pontzius was living in Hilliard, Ohio,in December,1973.

   (H) Frank Raymond Pontzius was born August 30, 1903, in WapelloTownship, Louisa County, Iowa. He was married on February 27, 1932, to MaryMarshall, in Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa. In the 1960's he was living inDenver, Colorado.

   (I) Audrey Pontzius was born 1905 in Iowa. She married ArthurFoster, son of Charles Foster. They were living in Camp Verde, Arizona, inthe 1960's.

(12) Adeline Pontzius was born 1858 in Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa. Shemarried (1) Thomas Wilkie and married (2) 1885 plus a McNitt. I do not knowif there were children by the first marriage. Children by the second marriagewere (A) Ethyl McNitt; (B) Harold McNitt; (C) Virgil McNitt.

(13) Herman George Pontzius was born in August, 1860, in Wapello, LouisaCounty, Iowa; died 1934 in Louisa County, Iowa. He was married to Mary EllenVan Sickle and lived in Marion, Indiana, in 1932.

(14) Daniel M. Pontzius was born 1866-70 in Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa;died in South Bend, Indiana. He was married (1) March 27, 1870 to Olive Haydenin Marion, Grant County, Indiana; was married (2) January 11, 1910 to LydiaKinney, in St. Joseph County, Indiana. He married (3) Vinny unknown. He hadtwo children, names and mother unknown.

(15) Henry G. Pontzius was born in February, 1870, in Wapello Township, LouisaCounty, Iowa; died 1922 in Wapello, Louisa County, Iowa. He married a Bricker.Information on him is entertwined with a John Henry Pontzius and a HenryUlysses Pontzius. One source shows three wives and nine children. This mysteryneeds to be unraveled.