COUTS
CALIFORNIA’S COUTS COUSINS
VOLUME 1 AUGUST - SEPTEMBER NUMBER 1
A quarterly Newsletter for the descendants of the Couts Family
WELCOME
It is the goal of this newsletter to create interest in and share
the research for the Couts (pronounced K-outz) and Allied
Family genealogy. It can only be written
with the cooperation of each family member. We encourage
each of you to send in your family group sheets and enter
data as far back as you can find. The information that
you find within its covers will be as “true” as we can prove.
We gladly accept articles, photos, genealogy lines, and
family stories.
DEDICATION
This publication is dedicated to my brother,
Clarence “Bo” Couts, who has
researched the Couts Family for over twenty-five
years and who generously taught me his
techniques and secrets for this wonderful addiction.
FROM WHERE DID THE FAMILY COME?
There seems to be a conflict in the family, when it comes
to determining from what nationality the family descended.
It is believed at this point in time, by the Northern
California Couts line, that the Couts family came from
Germany. The first bit of evidence is the pronunciation
of the name - Koutz, not Coots like the
English/Scottish name. Secondly, I submit the
following information for your perusal:
Obituaries Compiled From Clarksville Newspapers
Montgomery County, Tennessee Couts, John Franklin.
Born on 28 Oct. 1818. Died 21 Jan. 1897, of
the grippe. Methodist. Native of Robertson Co., TN.
German descent. Son of William and Nancy
(Johnson) Couts...Daily Leaf Chronicle (22 Jan. 1897
p. 1 and 22 Jan. 1897 p. 1).
Goodspeed of Tenn. page 1139 - full biographical
page Archer B. Couts, a prominent farmer of the
Third District born November 3, 1833,
in Robertson Co. Tenn. His parents were John
and Henrietta Owens Couts. The father of German
descent, born in Robertson Co. Sept. 1798. He died
May 2, 1868. He married Sarah C. Green b. 1837,
children: Lizzie, Archie, John, Sally,
Milton, Joseph, Nellie, Lillie, Emma, Effie, and Susie.
Goodspeed’s History of Tenn, Sumner Co. Tenn,
pages 798-802- Robertson County page 828-848--
John Couts came from Rowan County, No. Carolina in
1784 with the Kilgore Colony...Later a party of Germans
moved into the area, but John Couts was the first.
A New History of Parker County Texas (Weatherford Texas)
J.R. COUTS (JAMES ROBERTSON COUTS) The
subject of this sketch was born in Robertson County,
Tennessee, April 6, 1833. He was a descendant of
German immigrants who settled in North Carolina in early
colonial days. After the revolution his grandfather moved
to Tennessee, where James Couts, father of J.R.
Couts was born...The Daily Herald Vol. 5, No. 1272
- November 29, 1904This morning at 5:20 o’clock, attended
by his physician and a number of friends, J.R. Couts, after
a short illness died of Bright’s disease. Mr. Couts was a
descendant of German immigrants who settled in North
Carolina during the early colonial days. His grandfather
moved to Tennessee after the Revolution, where
James Couts was born...In all of our research, we have
yet to prove the immigrant grandfather, however.
KEEPING TRACK OF THE INFORMATION
In order to track of the family information, the data is
being entered into an IBM compatible, with Microsoft
software, version 6.0. The genealogical data is being
stored in Family Tree Maker version 4.01 (Mac and
versions can be converted). If you would like to
send your information, stories, pictures, or a disk,
please send it to: Barbara Couts Evans, 4171
Glidden Lane Yuba City, CA 95993. It is my personal
goal to collect as much information about the Couts
Family past and present, and to store it in a computer,
until the family history can be distributed to all!
History of Parker County Texas and the Double Log
Cabin -written in 1900, Weatherford, Texas
James Robertson Couts was born April 6, 1833,
in Robertson Co. TN and after almost 72 years of an
eventful life, he died at Weatherford Texas Nov. 29,
1904. In 1858, with his wife, Martha Hardin Couts, and
2 small children, he came by wagon and team from
Arkansas to Texas and settled on 160 acres on the east
side of the Brazos River opposite the mouth of Palo
Pinto Creek. A double log cabin surrounded by a high
picket fence made of cedar poles was the Couts’ home
and fort.
One Sunday there was preaching at Soda Springs
Church about 6 miles from where Millsap now stands.
Mr. Couts has his family with him, and they were
going in an ordinary ox wagon. As they passed a
house on the roadside near the church, he saw 4 men
standing in the yard with horses saddled. He recognized
them. He also observed that after his wagon had passed,
the 4 mounted and followed a short distance behind.
Three of them kept their guns ready for quick
action. Mr. Couts drove to the spring some 75 feet
from the church and sent his wife and children on to
the church. He intended to follow with a bucket of water
and carry a baby chair. In the meantime, the 4 men
arrived, dismounted and took their station in the woods
on each side of the path from the spring to the church.
Mr. Couts stuck his Colt’s revolver under the waistband
of his pants, threw his wife’s shawl over the chair which
he took in his left hand and carried it so as to
hide the revolver, giving him the appearance of
being unarmed. He took the bucket
in his (CONTINUED ON PAGE 4)
CEMETERIES
Robertson Co. Tenn. 18-14 Couts Cemetery - located on
Owen’s Chapel Road across from farm owned by C.D.
Register.
Couts, John--Sept. 12, 1798-May 2, 1868.
Couts, Henrietta B--June 23, 1800-July 20, 1882
Couts, John S. March 9, 1873-Oct. 8, 1880
Couts, Sallie J. March 9, 1873 - May 9, 1874
10-10 Couts Cemetery-turn right at first gravel road
after passing Cemetery 10-9.
This tombstone is on farm owned by James Armstrong.
Copied by James Armstrong.
Couts, Albert. W.--August 8, 1837--Nov., 1857.
Couts, Crissley--died 1811-brother of John Couts 1790
9-11 Elmwood Cemetery
Infant dau. of Joe C. and Mary Couts--b and d Nov. 18, 1893
Couts, Mary M.--1876--1917.
Section 5 page 50
Couts, John T--1878-1934
Couts, Effie V.--1881-1965
Couts, Wilbur Herblin--1910-1911 son of John T. and Effie V. Couts
Couts, Tennie P. Aug. 29, 1883-Nov. 22, 1964
Couts, Joe C. Sr. --Oct. 22,1871-June 24, 1958.
Couts, Joe C. Jr.---Sept. 14, 1921-Jan. 4, 1974
15-32 page 66
Couts, Joseph--1929-1970
Couts, Willie--Mar. 17, 1890-Mary 11,1963
Couts, Lorena--Nov. 6, 1894- Feb. 28, 1966.
Couts, Jimmie--Jan. 15, 1898-May 23, 1968
Couts, Mary --Apr. 14, 1898--Aug. 9, 1969
Couts, Arch---Apr. 1, 1852--Oct. 24, 1939
Couts, Pernecy--Jan. 7, 1859--Nov. 3, 1939
Couts, Mattie I--Nov., 5, 1896------____
Couts, Walter W. --Dec. 14, 1885--Apr. 8, 1941
Section 12
Couts, Mary Carter--June 30, 1923--Apr. 7, 1971.
18-22 Couts Cemetery-located on Krisle School grounds on
Orlinda Pike
Couts, Daisy---1888-1906
Couts, Mary Emma--Oct. 7, 1870--Sept. 19, 1919.
Couts, Annie Stark--July 1, 1884-Jan. 5, 1921- wife of JG Couts
Couts, James Wallace--Aug. 2, 1902--June 11, 1953
Fuqua, Mary Couts--Mar. 29, 1880-Dec. 18, 1908
wife of William Fuqua
Couts, Mary A.--May 16, 1836--Feb. 2, 1916
Couts, John G--Apr. 10, 1830-April 15,1918
Couts, Sarah--Dec. 12, 1841--Jan. 4, 1927
Couts, W. Milton--1869-1941
Couts, Ellen H. 1853-1917
Couts, Archie b. --1833-1911
Couts, Sue C.--Aug. 16, 1837- July 25, 1878
Couts, R.O. -- Mar. 27, 1867- Apr.17, 1878
Couts, R.O. --Mar. 27, 1867-1911
Couts, Minnie D. --Nov. 20, 1865--Aug. 28, 1940
Couts, J.M. --Aug. 17, 1866--July 25, 1928
MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
Ordeal by Fire, A History of the fourteenth
Tennessee Volunteer Infantry
Regiment, CSA, by CL Wallace Cross, Jr. page 115.
Couts, George A.- Prvt. Co.
H; enlisted May 23, 1861 at Clarksville, Tn;
discharged December 31, 1861 on
account of disabilities near Winchester, Va.
from knife attack to his eye; born in
Robertson Co., Tn; occupation-farmer.
Enlisted Men in the War of 1812
COUTS, William, Sgt; of Col. Thomas Williamson,
Capt. John Crane and Capt.
James Cook. Vol. Mtd. Gunmen.
FROM WHICH LINE DO YOU DESCEND?
So far, our proved information only goes back to
a to the mid-1700, with the following individuals:
John Couts(wife Leah Stark), Chisley Couts(wife-Sarah
Wright Collins) , William Couts(wife- Emeline Epps),
Henry Couts (wife Sarah Freeman - no issuance),
Margaret Couts(unknown)l Mary Magdelane
Couts(Walter Stark), and Elizabeth Couts(Mason).
This is not`to say that these were the only
brothers and sister. We have not however, tied
the remainder to the family line.
JAMES ROBERTSON COUTS
(teContinued from page 1)
right hand and walked toward the church door.
When only a short distance from the door,
the man with whom he had the former trouble
fired. Mr. Couts dropped the bucket of water,
jerked his revolver and fired at man #1 who
fell dead at his feet. The others opened fire
on him at close range, but a bullet jammed
the gun of #2 up just as he pulled the trigger.
Another quick shot from Couts’ pistol crashed
through his shoulder and man #2 lay prostrated
on the ground. Man #3 having emptied his gun
broke to run for #4 seeing the battle was lost
rushed for his horse and in his hurried
urged the animal over a rough place where
it fell and caved in the face and shoulder of
the rider. This left the victor standing in the
center of the battlefield.
Mr. Couts remained on the ranch until 1865,
when his growing family and the constant
menace from Indians demanded a safer
home so he disposed of his ranch
properties and moved to Weatherford.
About 1866, Mr. Couts decided to drive
1000 long-horned cattle over the Rocky
Mountains to California. He secured cowboys
and soon had his outfit well trained. He could
not take a direct route to the west because of
lack of water so he left Parker Con and headed
North on the Kansas trail through Indian Territory.
He staked all his capital, the earnings of a lifetime,
on the venture. When far up in Kansas, the
party turned west for Colorado. By the they reached
Colorado a severe winter was on. They had
traveled more than 1000 miles. They stayed
there for the winter camping on the south side of
a big mountain. His men constantly rode the
range to ward off Indians. When the snow began
to melt, they broke camp and moved west crossing
the Great Divide into Utah passing on to the
long Pacific slopes where they met speculator
from California who bought the cattle, cow
horses, chuck wagons and all equipment,
and hired the men to continue the drive.
The cattle cost Couts $10.00 per head. He
sold them for $90.00 making a profit of
$50,000 in gold coin. Couts’ grandson,
Carter Moseley, said Couts retained his horse,
one pack horse, a repeating rifle and six shooter.
He placed the gold in bags weighing 200 pounds
all one horse could carry. Riding alone and
leading the pack horse he climbed the summit of
the Great Divide and followed their mountains
and valleys down the Platt River to Missouri.
At night he staked his horse near his pallet and
slept with his head pillowed on the bags of
gold. On reaching the Missouri River, he took
passage by steamer for St. Louis.
Here he got a Mississippi River packet for New
Orleans. He had his treasure locked in a big
safe on the boat. In New Orleans, he placed
the gold in the Canal Bank. He had never been
in a bank before. Then, carrying the gold with
him, he took passage to Houston where he
traveled by stagecoach via Austin, Waco, and
Cleburne to Weatherford and landed safely
without the loss of a dollar.
On arriving home, Mr. Couts found an
addition to his family, a daughter 6 months old.
There was not a bank in that part of the state
so, he constructed a vault and in it put a
safe for the money. Others deposited their
money with him, and he soon found himself
in the banking business. He took as a partner
John A. Fain and gave the firm the name of Couts
and Fain until 1871. The bank was nationalized
in 1882, under the name of The Citizens National Bank
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