Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 3.djvu/185

 PROMINENT PERSONS

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through a political change, he accepted a re- coniioisance of five hundred miles for a railroad across three states. He was em- ployed for many years as geologist for corporations and individuals. At Farmville. in 1884, he organized a state female normal college, of which he was made president. After the school was thoroughly organized, he resigned in 1887 to give his entire time to geological examinations and reports on mineral properties. He made many contri- Laitions to scientific publications, and was the author of several volumes.

Koiner, Absalom, born at Augusta county, Virginia, August 5, 1824, son of Jacob t.oiner and Elizabeth Koiner; was a de- scendant of a worthy German family, mem- bers of which emigrated to this country several centuries ago, the pioneer ancestor being Michael Koiner, who located in Lan- caster, Pennsylvania, about 1740, and shortly afterward made his home in the valley of Virginia, where his descendants are to be f&und at the present time (1915). His wife, Margaret (Diller) Koiner, was of French Huguenot stock. Jacob Koiner (father), served as ensign in the American army dur- ing the war of 1812. Absalom Koiner's boyhood days were spent on his father's farm, and he supplemented his meagre edu- cational advantages by good reading, his favorite books being the Bible and biograph- ies of self-made men. Later he attended local schools, and in 1846 enrolled as a student in the law school of the University of Virginia, and in his junior year received the class certificate of distinction. During his course he was a member of the Wash- ington Literary Society, thus acquiring a knowledge of public speaking. He began

the active practice of his profession in Staun- ton, Virginia, in August, 1847, in partner- ship with Mr. Baylor, under the style of Baylor & Koiner. During his leisure time he pursued a course of reading, especially in political science, jurisprudence and gov- ernment. In 1853 he was sent to the house of delegates from his native county, and in 1873 was again elected to the same office, where the principal question then was how te settle the state debt; Mr. Koiner was in favor of and introduced the plan of a sliding scale of interest, beginning very low ; this was satisfactory to many of the bondhold- ers, and on this basis there was enacted a law known as the "McCulloch Bill." His next political office was state senator, and he served as a member of the finance com- mittee of that body for twelve years, chair- man of the Democratic caucus of the two houses, and also chairman of the Demo- cratic state central committee. He was also the first chairman of the Virginia state board of agriculture after the organization of that body in 1888. Mr. Koiner retired from the practice of law in 1854, and from that time until his retirement devoted him- self to farming, and journalism, occasionally, during the campaign of James Buchanan for the presidency, acting as editor and pro- I)rietor of the "Vindicator." Mr. Koiner was loyal to his native state, and prior to the war between the states was made captain ot one of the first companies organized in Augusta county, and when war was immi- nent, he was elected lieutenant-colonel of a regiment of Virginia volunteers. On April 19, 1861, his regiment was ordered to Har- per's Ferry, where it became a part of Gen. Jackson's division. Col. Koiner participated in the Hancock and Romney campaign.