VOLUME 5 May June July
NUMBER 3 2000
A Quarterly Newsletter for the
Descendants of the Couts Family #20
WELCOME-
VACATION TIME!!!
Randy and I will be winging
our way to Nashville, on Southwest,
back to Tennessee, Kentucky,
and Indiana on July 10th. This v
acation will be our first trip "
back home". I am so excited I can't
wait for school to be finished. We
have our tickets, car, and motel…just
waiting for the time! H
OPE TO SEE YOU ALL… L
et me know if I can bring something. Barb
A LETTER FROM JAMES ARMSTRONG
March 20, 2001 Dear Barbara,
For many years I have been
concerned with Mr. John Couts, Sr. a
nd his accomplishments in a new
world. The achievements and s
kills of this pioneer backwoodsman
are long remembered by
hundreds of descendants.
In the past I have attempted
to relate a few narratives
about Mr. John and, by linking
them, have shown a man who l
ived in a period where skills
and perseverance were
needed qualities.
This letter is not all about
a frontiersman, but concerns a
mistake I made in judgement.
One day as a teenager, I was
walking with my Dad along the
banks of Sulphur Fork Creek,
and he told me this story: He
pointed to a spot some few feet
from the creek bank and said, "
If you ever plow this area, don't
let your plow go too deep because
beneath the top soil there, lies a
stone wall put there by a former
owner, John Couts." He said he
was told by a recent owner (not Mr.
John) that "during Mr. John's time a
big flood left a natural channel. In
time, the rocks were covered with
dirt and today they cannot be seen."
Nearly seventy years later I decided
the area along the creek needed reseeding.
Still very aware of the warning given
to me, I set the plow to plow very shallow.
The problem was that I had forgotten
exactly where the forbidden spot was
located, so with care, I slowly plowed
along with apparent ease until all of a
sudden, the plow and tractor stopped.
The plow point had found the rock wall.
When the tractor hesitated, the governors
of the tractor opened and a fresh surge
of mechanical power moved the vehicle
forward, jerking the plow free of the
rock wall and completely out of the ground.
The result was a twisted useless implement.
Whose fault? Mine, hands down.
With Regards, James Armstrong
INTERNET CONNECTIONS
From: WACouts@cs.com
Subject: Found Half Brother
Dear Barbara, Thank you for
a wonderful web site. Because
of you and it my husband
Wayne has found and been i
n contact with his half brother
Jerry Couts who E-mailed you
about the Ohio and Michigan
Couts family. After reading
his e-mail posted on your site
about his grandfather Earl of
Bucyrus, Ohio I knew that we
had finally found the other half
of my husband's family. Earl
Couts only had one son Lester
who is Jerry's and Wayne's father.
Lester was married to Catherine
Reisterer (they lived in Sandusky,
Ohio) and they divorced. Lester
then married Thelma Braun (they
lived in Michigan). Lester and
Catherine had two sons Robert
and Wayne. Lester and Thelma
had two sons, Gerald and Dale.
"Ann T. Reed" anntreed@nwoknet.net
Subject: Kutch I am trying to
find information on the Kutch
family, whose name has been
spelled Kootch, Kutch, Cootch,
etc. Have you seen this
spelling in your family line?
My immigrant ancestor was
Tedtrick or Dedrick Kootch and
his wife was Susanna of Prussia.
Any information will be appreciated.
Thank You, Ann Tipton Reed
From: Diana Dunn
djensendunn@yahoo.com
Subject: Couts/Lockwood
Barb, I'm finally picking up
my research a little bit again.
By late this summer I should
be back in business.
We're moving to Alabama and
I'll give up my work for at least
a little while. I received the
newsletter and wanted to share
a small note with you. On
page 8 you have a letter from
my great aunt Bertha. She
helped me start my research
over 15 years ago by sending
me the info she had. She has
always been such a wonderful person.
She mentions in the letter that Sarah
and Alvis' children were orphaned
when Alvis died. At the time Alvis
died Sarah was still alive. Sarah
is listed in the 1880 Pike County
census with her children. I do not
know if she died shortly after that
or not. I do know that their Grandma
Couts (Nancy Reed) was living in
Crawford County, Arkansas by 1910.
She is in the household of her son,
Larkin at that time. She may have
traveled there with her grandchildren
or even more likely she may have
been there prior to their arrival.
That may be why the children were
sent to their uncle. My new e-mail
listing is: djensendunn@yahoo.com
Take Care, Diana
From: "Sue McCoy"
Subject:
Couts family history
Hello. Just read through
your newsletter. John &
Malinda Bookout were my
gr gr gr grandparents.
Wondering where you
obtained the information
on them. sharolyn mccoy
From: slh816@webtv.net
(Sharon Howard) Subject:
Bently B. BARTON
Hi.. My name is Sharon Mead
Howard and my grandfather was
Samuel Glespy BARTON. He
was the son of Samuel Houston
BARTON and the grandson of
Bently B. BARTON. While reading
some of your Couts Family Website,
I noticed that you have Bently's
wife listed as Patricia Pearson.
I have only known her as Martha
Elizabeth Pearson. My records,
news clippings and census
records have her as Martha,
and in Bently's last will and
testament, he refers to her
as Elizabeth. I'm curious where
you got the name Patricia from?
Also, three of his sons, Bently,
Alexander and Henry, were
Baptist Ministers, and Flournoy
was a lawyer AND a Judge in
Independence, MO. 1920-1928.
Three of the sons fought in the
Civil War Thank You, Sharon
Mead Howard, daughter of
Doryce Anna BARTON Mead Weed.
Subject: Re: Bently B. BARTON
Thank you, Barbara for you
response regarding the family
of Bently B. Barton. I'm very
much interested in what you find
out from Jerry Barton. Please pass
my email addy on to him (Jerry Barton),
if you don't mind. I would love to find
family members of my grt grandfather
(Samuel Houston BARTONs) siblings.
With 15 children, and only one that
never married, there must be
descendants somewhere. My family
is having a BARTON reunion in TN.
this Fall, and I would love to have
some added information for them,
and especially my mother, who is
83. Thank you for you help...
Sharon Mead Howard Santa Rosa, CA
From: "Abbie Slaman"
Subject: Bartons, bartons,
bartons, and not a Clarissa
Harlowe in the bunch!
http://www.coutsfamily.com/barton.htm
Here's how it goes:
1 Thomas Bartonb: WFT Est. 1704-1733
+Mary Unknown b: WFT Est. 1713-1736
2 Bavister (Babister) Barton b: 1742 in WALES
+Elizabeth b: 1760 in South Carolina
3 (FIFTH CHILD): Greenberry
b: 1795 in Lauren Co. South Carolina
*2nd Wife of [28] Berry (Greenberry) Barton:
+Barbara (Barbrey) Graham b: 1800 in Bowling Green, Warren
County, KY
4 Bentley Barton
Bently Barton and Elizabeth Ann Hendon
were the parents of twelve
children. Miranda Ellen Barton
was their eighth. She married
Joe L. B. Carroll, and I think
you know the rest. I downloaded
four family trees and merged
them all (all the misspellings
and too many capitals in names
made it a bear to merge all the
duplicate individuals), then I
did another internet search,
and found about 50 five-star
matches in more trees! Whew!
All the trees I downloaded are
submitted by our fourth or fifth
cousins, once or twice removed.
I have sent them letters, so will
let you know when I get more t
angible proof of all this.
My head is swimming! love, Abbie
From: Tony Shimmin
Subject:
your family tree Hello. I was just
going over your GEDCOM file and
under Bird/Byrd descendants,
you have a ROBERT HENRY
SHIMMIN listed. I was wondering
how he fit into your family? My
great grandfather was Robert Henry
Shimmin and I suspect he is one
and the same. Please email me at
your convenience.
Sincerely, Tony R. Shimmin
From: "Verna Helm"
guppi@blackfoot.net
Subject: Couts/Helm family
I recently did a search on
"Google" for our family name
and found us in your web page.
I guess I'm confused...who are
you and how are we related
to you? My name is Verna Helm,
daughter of Emery Alexander
and Helen Helm (found us
about half way down on your
page). How did you get all
the information? Subject:
Couts/Helm Hi this is Verna Helm.
I certainly don't mind being on
your page of family history.
In fact I was thrilled to see it.
I'm just very curious about how
you got our names... someone
must know our family To connect
it to the others. I've sent the
web page to my brothers and
sister and they found it very
interesting. We've followed t
he Helm family back for generations,
but never made the connection to
the Bird/Byrd family.Thanks for
replying and hope to hear from
you soon. By the way where
do you live? We're in the
northwest...Idaho and
Montana. Verna Helm
Subject: Re: Bartons,
bartons, bartons, and not a
Clarissa Harlowe in the bunch! T
o: bevans@coutsfamily.com (bevans)
Subject: RE: Bartons, Bartons, Bartons,
and not a Clarissa Harlowe in the bunch!
Wonderful to hear from you Sharon!
The Barton line was unclear to us
until very recently, as we only
knew that my 2nd great grandmother
as "Nell" Barton. My sister, Nancy
Jean Higginbottom LaPlante,
located several references to
Miranda Ellen Barton living in
Council ID, married to Joseph L. B.
Barton. When I finally got my new
Family Tree Maker software, I did
a search on Miranda Ellen Barton
and found her as part of the Hendon
line (Vol. 4, Tree 1668 by Rouen
Lea Duncan). This lead me to a
book "The Hendons from Gunpowder
River," by Grace Hendon Chancey,
which on page 143 lists Elizabeth
Ann Hendon (born 29 May 1820,
who married Bentley Barton
(born 16 March 1820). They had
thirteen children, including
Miranda Ellen Barton.
Mrs. Chancey's research is
very complete and seems
quite substantiated. Her
sources on this family group
were two granddaughters of
Bentley and Elizabeth... the
dates were taken from the
tombstones in Hickory Point
Cemetery in Miller County, MO.
Once I had that part of the
family entered, I did another
search on Bentley and
found several. These are
the trees I found:
Vol. 14, Tree 0167 submitted
by William L. Barton of Pasadena TX
Vol. 40, Tree 0470 submitted by
Lynnette B. Deming of Newport VT
Vol. 7, Tree 3271 submitted by
Douglas K. Patterson Burkburnett TX
These are the Bentleys I found:
Bentley Barton married to Elizabeth
Ann Hendon (mentioned above)
Bentley B. Barton married to
Martha Elizabeth (Patricia) Pearson
(from William Barton's Tree) Bentley
Barton, son of Bentley B. Barton and
Martha Pearson There is no exact
information (birth/death/marriage
dates or locations) in the Bentley B.
Barton branch and I would love to
have that if you would provide it to
me. In the meantime, my sister has
located more than one connection
between the Carrolls and the Bartons.
Please join our MyFamily.com site as
Nancy is posting her findings there...
This is exciting for us to make these
connections after so long.
Best regards, Abbie
p.s. Did anyone in YOUR Barton
family ever say we were related
to Clara Barton? Oh, yeah...
Bentley Barton spouse of Elizabeth
Ann Hendon was my 3rd great
grandfather, and nephew of
Bentley B. Barton, this way:
Bentley Barton, born March 16, 1820,
was eldest child of Greenberry Barton,
born 1791 in SC.; Greenberry and
Bentley B. were brothers, their father
was Baverster Barton, born 1755.
Any corrections to the above welcome! Abbie
From: "Robin Granicy-Sergent"
Subject: Lewis Changes Hello!!
I thought I should right since I
recently tonight located this
information let you know there
are a few changes to this.
+Lloyd Manning I TRY
NOT TO PUT EXACT BIRTH
DATES IN FOR CURRENT FOLKS…
8 Kenneth Lawence Manning
1958 -Married twice first to
Ruthie Clink and then to
Jennifer(Jan) Has 3 children by these unions
Tyler Andrew Manning
Lauren Beth Manning
second marrage Jennifer(Jan) Parson
married 1993 their daughter is
Camille Rebecca Manning
7 Ramona Ann Lewis 1938 -
+Kenneth Edward Beck 1935 -
8 Kenneth Edward Beck Jr.
1959 -never married
7 Armitta Mae Lewis 1940 -
+Robert Ray Granicy 1936 -
8 Robin Renee Granicy 1959 -
+Barry Hedrick no longer
married divorced in 1990 is
now married to Stephen Oscar Sergent
and has 2 boys Robert Alan Granicy
Sergent and Abraham Leslie Sergent
Robert born 10/3/91 and
Abraham 12/6/93
8 Barbara Belle Granicy
1961 -is deceased she
passed away June 7th 1981
8 Allison Maude Granicy
1965 -married to Daniel Gene
Knowlesb. July 29, 1961 and
also has two children Chistopher
Daniel Knowlesb.
and Michael Allison Knowles
Hope to hear back from you.
Also have name spelling corrections
and pictures of headstones to s
how for these corrections. Alonzos
wife was Armitta I have a copy of
her headstone if you would like it.
Hope to hear from you!!
Robin R Granicy-Sergent
--- Robin Granicy-SergenT---
granicy@earthlink.net
Clarissa Harlowe in The
bunch! Hi Abbie.. Thanks
for getting back to me.
I owe you an apology...I
misunderstood your genealogy
read out sheet, and I'm sorry.
I have a lot to learn about what
the internet and programs use
for recording data. They are
somewhat confusing to me. I
have Webtv., which does not
support the GED.COM format
or allow me to have membership
in sites like Rootsweb and others.
When I read your letter, I didn't
realize your Bentley was the SON
of Greenberry..I thought you
were showing his brother,
Bentley B. BARTON.
Did you find William L. Barton
who was/is the son of Bentley
B. Barton. For years I have
wanted and tried to find relatives
of Bentley B. Barton's children.
Had some names of spouses, a
few pictures, but little information,
other than what I discovered myself.
I would be happy to share it all. I
am also eager to visit the site you
spoke of and excited about meeting
new family members... Sharon Mead
Howard My Sweet 83-year-old mother,
Doryce Anna Barton Mead Weed,
will be so excited about all this. We
are planning a Barton Reunion in
TN next September..
From: R1L1hahn@aol.com Subject:
Bird/Byrd - Dade Co. Pioneer Family
I was very interested to find your
Bird/Byrd family information on the
Dade Co. site. My main focus of
research is the Round Grove
Cemetery in Lawrence Co., MO
and some of the Bird descendants
are buried in Round Grove. I notice
that Della Speer, the daughter of
Mary Bird and James K. Speer, is
listed as having married James Newman.
The Lawrence Co. marriage records
shows Della Speer married Thomas
R. Newman in 1903. Thomas
died in 1904 and is buried, with
his parents, Rev. Levi and Melissa
Newman, in Round Grove. Buried
by Thomas is Della who died in
1963. J. K. and Mary (Bird) Speer
are buried in Pennsboro in Dade Co.,
where many of my West, Bowerman,
and Forshey ancestors are buried.
Thanks, Lynda West Hahn (Originally
from Lawrence Co. but now living in
Carmel, IN)
Subj: Tetrick Kootch, planter Ann Hi
Barb (my sister is also named Barbara):
Now to the ancestors. I found land
records in Lincoln County, North Carolina,
for "Tetrick Kootch, planter." One was
signed Dederrich Rutss (or Kutss-German) .
This was from 1789 to 1797. Then from
1807 to 1817 , the following were listed
on Casey County, Kentucky, tax lists:
Daniel Cooch, Detrick Cooch, Detrick
Koutch, John Kutch, John Kutch, Dedrick
Kutch, Detrick Couch, John Couch,
Detrick Kooch. I'm sure these are the
same two men whose names were
misspelled by whomever was taking
taxes. In the information that I have
on the Kutch family, Tetrick Kutch
Kootch was the first one listed; shows
he was born 1745 in Buckingham,
Virginia, married Susanna of Prussia
and died 1834 in Mercer County,
Kentucky. Six children, Daniel Lee
Kutch Sr., John Kutch, Mary Kutch,
Elizabeth Kutch, Susanna Kutch
and Sarah Kutch. The Tetrick, Daniel
and John in the above would fit.
Looks like the children were all born
in Kentucky with Daniel Sr.'s son,
Daniel Lee Kutch, the first to move
to Weatherford, Texas. His children
were Margery Kutch, Bolin Lafayette
Kutch (my line), Charles Wesley
Kutch, Mary Frances Kutch, Hannah
E. Kutch and Benjamin Franklin
Kutch. Charles Wesley was born
in Kentucky and the rest of the
children in Texas.
Among Bolin Lafayette Kutch's
children was my great-grandfather,
GeorgeWashington Kutch, who was
born in Weatherford in Parker
County, Texas. Most of his children,
including my grandfather, Noah
Samuel Kutch, were born in Texas
(last child born in Oklahoma),
moving to Hobart, Oklahoma. Does
any of this sound familiar. Let me
know. Ann [I wish I could connect
with this family, we even seem to
live next to each other from 1790-95]
From: ALIZCOUT@aol.com Subject:
I'm a Couts, too! Hi, my name is
Amy Couts. My family has been l
iving in South Florida since the
1940s, but before that lived in
Indiana. I'm writing because I
couldn't believe there was an
entire website devoted to people
who share my last name (we
pronounce it "cow-tz"). My
father did extensive research
on the history of our family (in
pre-Internet days) and could
only trace the line back to his
grandfather Arthur Couts. I 'm
not sure what I expect you to
reply, but if you have any information,
or questions or tips for our
genealogical searches, that
would be great. Thank you.
-Amy COUTS
From: Lmraper@aol.com Subject:
Janet Liddle Hi - Noticed a Janet
Liddle on your family chart. Do
you have any additional information
on this individual i.e. parents'
names, place of birth, etc.?
Thanks for your time.
Marie Beeman Raper Canby, OR
Barb -Thank you for your reply.
Do you know the area they
were from? Marie
From: Launa Kitro Subject:
Counces in Boone Co., MO
Barb, I just revisited the site
below. Much has been added
since I last was there. My
gggrandfather Forshey is here
as well as a variety of Counces,
Coons, Coonrods and Chrisley
--as well as Bavester Barton
descendancy and two Birds,
John and Jesse. Have you
connected any of these other
names to the extended Kautz
family? Launa
http://worldconnect.rootsweb.
com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?op=REG&
db=vedemarce&id=I15033
ID: I08062 Name: John Coonce
Sex: M Birth: BEF. 1818 in
Pennsylvania Note: Extensive
farmer of Cedar township, came
from Pennsylvania in 1818
(Williams, History of NE MO,
v. 1. Boone County. by North
Todd Gentry, Columbia, p. 237).
in same tree as above
ID: I15033 Name:
Jacob Coonce
Sex: M Birth: BEF. 1766
From: wolffcreek@netscape.net
Subject: Re: Bartons Barb,
Have you had a chance to
find the name on those books?
Sharon bevans
wrote: Hi, I'll have to search
through the info to see what I
sent...Barb At you wrote:
Barb, Hi! It has been awhile
since we corresponded with
each other. I am now doing
some more research on
Bavester Barton. I am trying
to prove my line to him for a
supplemental for DAR. In
reviewing my file on him, I
found where you had forwarded
Appendix B on him to me last
April. My question is this: There
are two books or articles that
you mention in the Appendix
and I guess I need more info
on these sources since I could
not find them at the Library or
online. If you have a more
complete description on them,
I would appreciate it. I
am going to Salt Lake in April
and thought I could maybe find
them there. The two were: You
stated "see Stewart's notes on
the 1800 census of Pendleton
District, SC (Stewart 1963, 87-89)"
and the other source just says
"(Gorin 1993, 96)" it is on a
deed from a survey. If you can
get this info for me, I will be
very grateful. Thanks,
Sharon Moore Wolff
Subj: Coonce family listed
in Rootsweb From: james.
coonce@gte.net (James
Coonce)To: veasleyd@aol.com
Hello, I was reading your
entry in Rootsweb about
Jacob Coonce, John Coonce,
Geo. Washington Coonce,
etc. I descend from the
same stock and have a
bit more info on them than
is listed in your entry.
Jacob Coonce is believed
to have married 3 times
with John born 1787 KY
and Susanna born 1-14-1789
KY by the first wife. Then
he is reported to have married
either Maria Beall or Maria
Bell (This may have been
2separate Jacobs marrying
2 women with similar names.)
The marriage of Jacob and
Maria Bell did not produce
any children, however, Jacob
married again and had at
least 8 more kids in St. Charles
Co, MO. If you wish me to
send you what I have, let
me know. Jim Coonce of
Raytown, MO.
Marriage 1 Married: BEF.
1787 Children
1. John Coonce b: BET.
1786 - 1787 in Kentucky
2. Susanna Coonce
b: 14 JAN 1789 in Kentucky
Marriage 2 Maria Beall
b: BEF. 1772 Married: AFT. 1789
Marriage 3 Married: AFT. 1790 Children
1. Eight Children Coonce b: AFT.
1790 in St. Charles County, Missouri
From: RogerRByrd@cs.com
Subject: Kautz/Byrd/Houghton
Dear Barb, I'm aware of some
Byrd/Kautz-or Couts connections.
I am curious if you have any info
on a Jacob Kautz family that
settled in Caldwell Co, MO. The
following is information that I
have on this family. This line
married into the Houghton family,
my mother's paternal line.
FIRST GENERATION
1. Jacob KAUTZ1.
Jacob Kautz came to
Caldwell Co, MO in
1859 via IL and IN.
THE KAUTZ FAMILY
IN CALDWELL COUNTY
Narrator: Worth Kautz
of Wichita, Kansas The
Jacob Kautz family came
to Caldwell County in
1859 from Illinois to which
they had come from Indiana.
They settled in what was
known as Grand River
township now New York
township in the Pleasant
Ridge district. They came
in a slow ox-wagon. The
settlers who came here in
the fifties had a much harder
time than those who came in
the sixties, for every year of
pioneering advanced
conditions of living in a
new country. There were
three sons; George, Ross
and Worth; six daughters;
Laura (Dodge), Emily (Lemon),
Hannah (Lambert), Margaret (Noel),
Annetta (Houghton), and Mollie
(Spivey). When they came here
they all lived in a covered wagon
till the house was finished; and
since there was not yet sleeping
room inside for the boys, they
slept that winter out doors in the
covered wagon. In those days
of 1859-60, the Kautz house has
been mentioned by old-timers as
one of two houses to be seen for
twelve miles south of Hamilton.
When the Civil War was about to
break out and it became likely that
the oldest boy George would be
expected to go to war, he went back
to Illinois to enlist with boys whom
he had known before they moved
to Missouri. Those first few years
were hard ones. They had to find
the right crops for the new soil and
they had to subdue the soil. They
had to provide for the family needs
and they had very little money to
spend. They rarely ate store victuals
for most of their food came off the
place. They had little white bread
mostly corn bread. Worth was the
youngest son and he went with his
mother on her trips to gather berries
(gooseberries, strawberries, blackberries,
elderberries); to gather herbs for
medicine since doctors were costly
and far away. He used to hunt bee
trees for by the old law of the land
the finder of a bee tree had the honey,
no matter where the tree. He and his
father and brothers shot or trapped
wild game and kept them for winter
meat. He told of hunting deer with
Al Pemberton of the neighborhood.
The Kautz and the Houghton family
intermarried. Annetta Kautz married
Ira Houghton. Mary Houghton
married George Kautz and Sophia
Houghton married Ross Kautz
Interviewed November 1933.
Additional commentary from: THE
PUCKETT FAMILY IN NEW YORK
TOWNSHIP IN 1859 Narrator:
James Puckett, 79, of Hamilton, Missouri
Mr. Puckett was born 1855 in Carroll
County Virginia. With his father Constant
Puckett and the other members of the
family, he came 1859 to Caldwell County
to live. Constant's brother-in-law Elisha
Edwards already lived here. They came
to Lexington Missouri by boat and from
there overland by ox team. Whenever
any relation came out to visit the Pucketts,
they always drove over to Lexington
after them. Constant Puckett first bought
a forty from the Government in New York
Township, later an eighty from the railroad,
six miles south of the railroad, the land
still is in the Puckett name, being
owned by James the narrator. James'
father and some of the sons were in
the Union army. Neighbors of the
Pucketts were: Elisha Edwards, J
ohn Cormona, John Cox, Isaac
Edwards and Billy Hawks. His first
home was a one-room log cabin l
ater a shed kitchen built on. The
cabin had a window at one end a
nd a chimney at the other and a
door in front. Inside was a bed, a
trundle bed to be shoved under the
bed and often beds on the floor for
the children. The church was Hopewell,
Baptist with Father or Grandpap Andrew
Baker (they called him both) as pastor;
in this church Mrs. Constant Puckett was
a constituent member. The school was
Pleasant Ridge and early teachers were:
Mr. Woosebeck, Annetta Kautz who
married Ira Houghton, Miss Scott (later
Clevenger). Amusements were literary
societies, debates, spelling matches
and all day work like husking
corn at some farm when the
women quilted and the
food "was brought in".
Mr. Puckett recalled some of
the old farming ways, which he
had known as a youth. There
was the old linch pin wagon and
the stiff tongued wagon which
used the linch pin wheel, the
jumping shovel plow for ground
with stumps (it was like a single
shovel but had a cutter in front
of the shovel which made the plow
jump the stump) there was the old
wood turning plow. He recalled
how first the ground was broken
with one yoke of cattle, then run
over with single shovel plow, then
planted by hand from a seed bucket-
-three seeds to the hill (one to rot,
one to grow, one for the birds).
The plow then went through the
parallel lines, then checked in the
other way through and at each check
seeds were planted. Then it was
covered by dragging a stone the size
of a pillow over the field. Later came
the hand planter, still later the horse
planter. Changes came to in cutting
wheat. First a bunch of wheat was
taken in hand and cut with a hand
sickle until enough was done for a
bundle. Then came the cradle and
the binder. Today's machinery
combine many of these steps. The
old wheat threshing was done on
a "threshing floor" which was
really hard ground swept clean,
then the wheat was spread out
with heads all in the same
direction and horses were
driven over it in a circle. It
was cleaned by a fan. Few
people had buggies those days.
Billy Clampitt, and Charlie Hawks
were the first in their part. The
buggies (later spring wagons)
cost $150 to $200 and that was
a lot of money to spend when
you already had a farm wagon.
Interviewed July 1934.
He was married to
_____ _____.
Jacob KAUTZ
and _____ _____
had the following children:
+2 i. George KAUTZ.
+3 ii. H. Ross KAUTZ.
4 iii. Worth KAUTZ.
+5 iv. Laura KAUTZ.
+6 v. Emily KAUTZ.
+7 vi. Hannah KAUTZ.
+8 vii. Margaret KAUTZ.
+9 viii. Annetta Martha (Nettie) KAUTZ.
+10 ix. Mollie KAUTZ.
SECOND GENERATION
2. George KAUTZ. He
was married to Mary
HOUGHTON (daughter
of Otis HOUGHTON and
Elsie (Elcy) SWORD).
Mary HOUGHTON2 was born on 2 Feb 1847.
3. H. Ross KAUTZ. He
was married to Sophia
HOUGHTON (daughter
of Otis HOUGHTON and
Antha HOLLAND (2)) on
4 Mar 1874. Sophia
HOUGHTON was
born on 12 Nov 1852.
5. Laura KAUTZ.
She was married to _____ DODGE.
6. Emily KAUTZ.
She was married to _____ LEMON.
7. Hannah KAUTZ.
She was married to _____ LAMBERT.
8. Margaret KAUTZ.
She was married to _____ NOEL.
9. Annetta Martha
(Nettie) KAUTZ was
born on 16 Feb 1847
in Rising Sun, IN.
She died in 1915.
She was married to Judge
Ira HOUGHTON (son of Otis
HOUGHTON and Elsie (
Elcy) SWORD) on 23 Dec 1869.
Judge Ira HOUGHTON3 was
born on 19 Jun 1845 in Jefferson
Co, NY. He died in 1916. In
1863 became a member of Co.
C, 20th New York Cavalry,
remained 'til the close of the
war. In 1866 moved to
Caldwell County, MO. and
added 435 acres sections
6 & 7, Fairview township.
Annetta Martha (Nettie) KAUTZ
and Judge Ira HOUGHTON had
the following children:
11 i. Mary Helen HOUGHTON was born in 1868.
12 ii. Jessie HOUGHTON died. Died as infant.
13 iii. Edith Ann HOUGHTON was born on 23 May 1873.
14 iv. George Otis (John) HOUGHTON was born on
27 May 1874. Owned a furniture store and funeral parlor in Hamilton, MO.
15 v. Ira Allen HOUGHTON was born on 17 Nov 1878.
16 vi. Elsie A. HOUGHTON died. Elsie died as youth.
+17 vii. Eugene HOUGHTON.
18 viii. James K. HOUGHTON was
born on 1 Feb 1887. He died before 13 Jan 1953.
He had an estate probated on 13 Jan 1953 in Platte
Co, MO. Have copy of "Notice of Letters Testamentary",
filed 13 Jan 1953 in Platte Co, MO with Harold E.
McCullough appointed executor by the probate court,
Judge John M. Yeoman.
10. Mollie KAUTZ.
She was married to _____ SPIVEY.
THIRD GENERATION Note:
The following are my maternal
grandparents. 17. Eugene HOUGHTON
was born on 1 Feb 1884 in Jefferson Co, NY.
He died on 7 Aug 1944 in at the home
of his son, Denison Houghton, in
Columbia, MO.. He was buried in
New York Settlement Cemetery,
Caldwell, Co, MO. Obituary:
Eugene Houghton, son of the
late Ira and Martha A, Houghton,
was born Feb.1, 1884, in New York
Settlement community. He passed
away Aug 7, 1944, aged 60 years
at the home of his son, Dennison
Houghton at Columbia, MO. He lived
in New York Settlement until 1893,
moving with his family to Iowa and
lived there six years,
then came back to Hamilton
where he completed high
school. The following fall
he attended the business
college at Quincy, Ill.,
and later the Westminster
College at Fulton. He
settled as a farmer in the
New York township. He
served as judge of the
eastern district of Caldwell
county for two terms and
later as highway engineer.
In 1906 he was married
to Ethel Dennison. To
this union six children
were born. Those
surviving are Dennison
Houghton, Columbia;
Mrs. Elizabeth Brady,
Kansas City; Mrs.
Catherine Christensen,
Keokuk, Iowa; Mrs.
Pauline Byrd, Joliet, Ill;
and Mrs. Jane McCullough,
Arlington, VA. The funeral
service was held Friday
morning at 9:00 o'clock
at the Bram Funeral Home,
conducted by Dr. Albert
Wilson. Interment was
made in New York Settlement
cemetery. He was married
to Ethel DENISON (daughter
of Elva DENISON and
Clarinda (Carrie) GAMMILL)
in 1903. Ethel DENISON4
was born on 24 Dec 1884
in Caldwell County, MO.
She died in Feb 1970.
She was buried in Highland
Cemetery, Hamilton, Caldwell
Co, MO. Eugene HOUGHTON
and Ethel DENISON had the
following children:
19 i. baby boy HOUGHTON died INFANT.
+20 ii. Gifford Denison HOUGHTON.
+21 iii. Elizabeth HOUGHTON.
+22 iv. Mary Katherine "Katie" HOUGHTON.
+23 v. Eugenia Pauline "Polly" HOUGHTON.
ß My Mother married Alvin H. Byrd
+24 vi. Clara Jane HOUGHTON.
SOURCES
1. CALDWELL COUNTY, MISSOURI HISTORY
Interviews by Dr. Bertha Booth of
Major Molly Chapter, D.A.R.
2. DAR, Major Molly Chapter, 1933/34.
Interviews with children of Pioneers of
Caldwell Co, MO.
3. History of Caldwell and Livington County.
Otis, James and Ira Houghton. pp 354,450,
486-7 Saint Louis National Historical
Company, 1886 Saint Louis, MO Reprint:
Printery, Clinton, MO.
4. Research that cousin Marilyn acquired.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR
WONDERFUL NOTES AND
SOURCES…BARB
From: RogerRByrd@cs.com
Subject: Kautz/Houghton
Dear Barb, Sure, I don't
mind if you use the info
for your newsletter. Since
sometimes email garbles
it a little, I am attaching
my original word.doc that
you may use. Who knows,
I might get a reply from someone
that reads it and recognizes it.
Launa Kitros suggested that I
contact you about the Kautz
connection. She is member a
group of about 20 researchers
trying to make sense of a covey
of Byrd/Birds in Tennessee around
1800. My paternal line is Byrd.
Nice to chat with you.
Best regards, Roger Byrd
From: genealau genealau@sbceo.org
Subject: Re: Kautz/Byrd/Houghton
Roger Byrd's ancestor,
William Bird/Byrd who md
Rebecca Archer is a possible
brother to my lost John Bird
and both possible sons of Thomas
T. Byrd III. His William
connection is lost too.
He just sent me what
he had sent you.
Subject: Your page From: "
candace walsh"
candacetwalsh@hotmail.com
I found my father, uncle and
grandparents on your website:
How are they related exactly? I'm confused!
From: Gibbsparty@aol.com
Subject: new cousin Hello
Barbara, my name is
Rhonda Parnell Gibbs.
I started genealogy about
1 year ago and have seen
your name on genforum. I
went to your Couts page and
stayed up all night reading the
newsletters- how do I get on
the mailing list? They were
wonderful- what an adventure
you have taken on. I hope I
can help contribute some
information. Let me start by
telling you whose line I am
from- some corrections to your
chart are in order. My great-
grandmother was Effie Henry
Couts Cook Smelser, names
in that order. She was born
December 28, 1879 in Springfield,
Robertson County, TN. She first
married John Edward Cook, son
of Carter Cornelious Cook and
Nancy Jane Swann Cook, on
September 24, 1898 in Robertson
County, TN. John Edward was
born November 4, 1870 and he
died October 21, 1910 at the
age of 40 of typhoid fever.
He was a farmer. To this union
was born 4 sons: Otis Carter
Cook, Obie Cornelious Cook,
Eddie Patterson Cook and Archie
Bearl Cook. Otis was born in
1900, Obie was born in 1905,
Eddie was born in 1908 and
Archie was born October 13,
1910- just 8 days before his
father died. His father never
saw him. Archie is my grandfather.
Effie second married John Walter
(Pete) Smelser, son of Stephen
and Elizabeth A. Dozier Smelser
on December 24, 1916. He was
a butcher at Moudy's Grocery
Store. He was married before
but had no children from either
marriage. Born April 19, 1866 in
TN, died March 24, 1944. He
is buried at Hopewell Cemetery
with his first wife- there is no
marker for either of them. Effie
died in 1947 and is buried along
with John Edward at the Mt.
Carmel Baptist Church in Cross
Plains, TN. My grandfather Archie
was a fireman, raised rabbits, and
was in W.W.II in the coast guard.
He married Helen Jeanne Greer,
daughter of Willis Charles Greer
and Helen Round Bird Greer, on
October 6, 1940. To this union
was born Judith Jeanne Cook
and Linda Greer Cook. Judith
was born in 1942 and Linda in
1946. Archie died July 9, 1986
of a heart attack. My grandmother
is still alive and kicking. Judith
is my mother. She married Clint
Edward Parnell, son of Archie
Ralph Parnell and Maudie Parlee
Qualls Parnell, on August 9, 1963
in Nashville. To them was Rhonda
Dianne Parnell and Jeffrey Alan
Parnell. I married
October 20, 1990 to Dwaine
Lee Gibbs. We have three
children: James born January 29, 1997,
Meredith born August 24, 1998 and
Maggie born April 7, 2000. We live
in Sumner County, Cottontown, TN.
I have visited with Pam Couts
Drake and compared notes
and exchanged pictures. She
said you were coming to TN
in July. I hope we can all meet
together. Pam and I are
planning a visit with Mr.
Armstrong for a tour and
to hear stories. I read
everything he had sent
you. He sounds wonderful
and full of knowledge. Pam
and I are both descended
from Archer Couts, her from
Susan and me from Mary Ellen
Huddleston. We just recently
met at the museum while I was
there buying some books.
Small world! I also have
knowledge of a granddaughter
of Susie Couts Edwards, sister
of Effie, who works on genealogy.
I have not contacted her yet, but
plan to in the next couple of days.
Again , let me know how to get
on the newsletter mailing list.
Rhonda gibbsparty@aol.com
THE DEEDS OF HENRY COUTS
Uncle Henry is the key who connects
the Couts family together, and the
key who connects us to Teter Couts
(not Kutch or Kooth) . He and Teter
lived in Lincoln County, Kentucky,
by 1785. Henry married Sarah Freeman,
daughter of Elijah Freeman,
Jan. 19, 1786 in Lincoln Co. KY.
Lincoln County was a large county
at that time, taking up a large portion
of Kentucky. Early KY Landholders
1787-1811 pg 65 Henry Couts/Coutch
and Teeter Couts in Kentucky.
Uncle Henry shows up in the Kentucky
Tax Records 1789 - Henry Couts 1wm
over 21, 1 horse or mule. In the 1795
Census of KY Henry and Teter Couts
are listed for taxes. By this time, they
are no longer in Lincoln County,
Kentucky; they are in Garrard County,
Kentucky, on Sugar Creek. We estimate
1795, the timeframe for Teter's death.
By 1795, Lincoln County is becoming
Harden County, Kentucky, Uncle Henry
buys land from his father-in-laws and
moves onto the Dix (Dicks) River.
One portion of the Sugar Creek land was
sold to: This Indenture made this
August 16, 1791, to John Matthew
and Mary his wife of the County of
Madison of the one part and Teter
Cotes of the County of Lincoln, by
survey Forty Acres situated lying
and being in Lincoln County on the
head of the middle fork of Sugar Creek.
Then, another portion was sold, on
August 18, 1795-Teter (indexed as
Peter) Couts to John Bryant, Both of
Lincoln Co. No. Carolina, for 63
pounds 10 shillings, 40 acres in
Lincoln Co. on the waters of Sugar
Creek. The deed was acknowledged
in court by Teter Couts to be his act
and ordered to be recorded on
18 August 1795.
In 1795, Lincoln County Tax Records
Henry Couts 1 wmover 21 4 horses,
7 cattle, Sugar Creek, 50 acres and
Peter wmover 21. By 1798, Henry is
selling land on Sugar Creek, which
we suspect this was also, Teter Couts
property: Couts, Henry and Sarah
(Wife) Grantor Coal, Ebenezer Grantee
Deed Book A Page 116 70 acres on
Sugar Creek, FILM 25146 PART 3.
Teter was living with or close to Henry
and Sarah, because EARLY KENTUCKY
HOUSEHOLDERS 1787-1811
Deterick appeared with Henry Couch/Couts,
within a page of each other or on
the same page. Teter records
disappear after 1795.
In the Index to Kentucky Wills to 1
851 Testators Coutz, Henry Hardin
Co. Ky 209 Book C 1818, Uncle
Henry leaves land and money to
his nephew Chrisley Couts and his
sister Margaret Couts.
NEW INTERNET SITES~
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PLACESNAMED.COM
Couts
1. Couts is the 19,251st most popular
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United States; frequency is 0.000%;
percentile is 77.683 [SourceCBN]
Great New Search Engine -
American Memory Library of Congress
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Cave J. Couts http://rs6.loc.gov/
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pnas,papr,runyon,wtc,detr,hlaw,lhbumbib,
varstg,horyd,mgw,hawp,nawbib,
suffrg,papr,nfor
Another Great Site - eHistory.com
http://www.ehistory.com/uscw/search/index.cfm
HEADQUARTERS FIRST
BATTALION CURTIS'
HORSE, Fort Heiman,
March 13, 1862.
SIR: In accordance
with your instructions
I left Fort Heiman during
the night of the 11th.
Proceeded with Bulliss'
battery of Saint Louis
and the First Battalion
of Curtis' Horse [Fifth
Iowa Cavalry] to Henry
County, Tennessee, to
afford protection to Union
men, friends, and
citizens of that county,
who wished protection
from being drafted on the
12th at Paris, Tenn. Large
numbers fell in and traveled
in our rear for such protection.
Our advance guard came
upon the outer pickets about
6 miles from the town; on
seeing them killed 2, taking
their arms. I then detailed
20 men, under Lieutenant
Williams, to advance cautiously
and secure their pickets. This
he did successfully, surprising
them, taking 8 prisoners,
with their horses and equipment.
Among them was Captain Couts,
of Stock's mounted infantry.
Ascertaining about the
enemy's force, I made a
charge upon the town.
About 5 p.m. I ordered one
section of Bulliss' battery, the
cavalry in advance, for a charge
on the town, which we did
successfully, driving the
enemy before. We passed
down Main street, with white
flags hanging in every window,
driving the enemy into their
intrenchments, about a mile
and a half west, in the timber,
on a high hill. Then we planted
our battery, and soon shelled
them from that portion of their
grounds. Thinking it vacated,
I ordered a charge up the
hill with two companies of
cavalry (Companies A and B,
under Captain Lower and
Lieutenant Summers). About
two-thirds the way up the
hill we discovered the
ambuscade. About 300
opened a terrible fire on
us, but it passed over our
heads. Companies A and B,
much to their credit, returned
a successful fire with
revolvers and carbines
of three volleys, returning
with a loss of 5 killed and
3 wounded. I had the battery
open a fire on them, causing
a sad havoc among them.
Captain Bulliss was mortally
wounded in this fire. The
action lasted a little more
than an hour, then firing
ceased. We fell back upon
the town, cut off the telegraphic
communication, took possession
of the court-house and a large
hotel for our sick and wounded.
Page 947 Chapter XXXIX.
THE GETTYSBURG CAMPAIGN.
0946.cfm0946.cfm
0948.cfm0948.cfm
During the night I thought best to
fall back here. We expected to
find General Grant with a force
of right. Was at this time
subjected to a lively shelling
from the enemy's artillery, by
which the Fifth U. S. Cavalry
lost 2 horses. Went into camp
near Upperville at sundown.
Very respectfully, your obedient
servant, J. W. MASON, Captain
Fifth U. S. Cavalry, Commanding
Regiment. JAMES F., McQUESTEN,
Actg. Asst. Adjt. General, Reserve
Cavalry Brigade. No. 342. Report of
Captain George C. Cram, Sixth
U. S. Cavalry. CAMP NEAR ALDIE, VA.,
June 23, 1863. SIR: I have the honor
to transmit the following report of the
part taken by the Sixth U. S. Cavalry
in the operations of June 21; The
regiment marched before breakfast
from its position on picket near Aldie,
in the brigade column and, crossing
Goose Creek, was employed a
different portions of the day, with
the rest of the brigade, as a
supporting reserve until reaching
the slopes on the higher side of
Upperville, when, forming squadron
and advancing for some time at a
trot, it was suddenly called on to
defeat an effort of the enemy on
our left flank, the volunteer cavalry
at this time being engaged with the
enemy in front of us. Instantly
breaking from its formation in
column of squadrons, and passing
through a narrow gap in a stone
wall, and reforming on the other
side, as well as the time allowed
it and the circumstances and
ground would permit, moved
immediately forward, and, on the
command being give, charged up
to the enemy, under a harassing
artillery fire and over a long stretch
of heavy and marshy ground,
intersected by a most difficult
ditch and terminating in hill of
plowed ground, beyond which,
on the firm ground in the edge
of the woods, the enemy in large
force awaited it. The charge was
unsuccessful, the most of the
horses being so blown that it was
impossible to bring or keep them
for such a distance at a charging
pace. On the regiment rallying and
reforming on the nucleus of the
second squadron, commanded by
Captain Claflin, on more favorable
ground, the enemy being within
easy reach and everything favorable
for a successful charge, for
which it was then preparing,
the regiment was then ordered
to dismount and fight on foot,
and was used dismounted, under
the cover of stone walls, to protect
our left flank, the enemy retiring at
the same time into the woods on
our front. On being relieved from
this position, and the engagement
having terminated, it moved in
column of squadrons, with the
rest of the brigade through the
woods and toward the entrance
of Ashby's Gap, till it succeeded
in attracting the fire of the enemy's
artillery, when it was withdrawn, and
went into bivouac on the hither side
of the town of Upperville. The regiment
marched out 12 commissioned
officers and 242 enlisted men
strong. Its casualties were
Second Lieutenant Henry Mcquiston,
severely wounded. Private John Might,
of Company E, slightly wounded;
C. F. H. Reomer, of Company A,
mortally; Jacob Couts, of Company
G. slightly; [Michael Slattery,
Company F, slightly; [Michael
Kurnan, Company A, slightly.
Privates[Joshua W.] Dubois, Company
Page 397
Chapter XVII. CAPTURE OF
FORT DONELSON, TENN.
Numbers 76. Report of Captain
T. W. Beaumont, Fiftieth
Tennessee Infantry, commanding
battery. JACKSON, MISS.,
October 1, 1862. In compliance
with your order I submit the
following report: During the
several engagements between
the batteries at Fort Donelson
and the Federal gunboats on
the 12th, 13th, 14th, and 15th
of February, 1862, my company,
numbering 67 effective men,
had charge of four 32-pounders,
under your command. There
were no serious casualties of
any kind. Two large shots
penetrated the battery without
doing my harm, and some few
of the men were slightly
bruised by lumps of earth
thrown up by the balls of
the enemy, and one by the
rebound of a canister shot
which struck one of the
guns. Gun Numbers 1,
nearest the river, was
superintended by Lieutenant
George Maring; Numbers 2
by Major Robertson, formerly
a lieutenant in my company
(who volunteered his
services on the occasion),
and Numbers 3 by Lieutenant
W. C. Allen, and each was
admirably served by these
gallant officers. Gun Numbers
4 was managed by Lieutenant
Raimey. Among the privates
who acted with conspicuous
courage and coolness were
Elisha Downs, Poston Couts,
Nelson Davis, Isaac Christie,
William Trotter, Thomas Pearce,
and R. M. Crumpler. Sergt. J. S.
Martin and Corpl. W. H. Proctor
deservehonorable mention as
gallant and meritorious non-commissioned
officers. Corp. Dan. C. Lyle
had charge of the battery
magazine, and by his efficiency
aided materially in the victory
achieved over the gunboats.
AND ANOTHER….
www.ellisislandrecords.org
Ellis Island Records
MEMORIAL TO A
WONDERFUL LADY
- JUNE KAUTZ 1920-2000
Although I have never
personally met June Kautz,
I have known and enjoyed
of her fascinating life through
letters written by her husband,
John Kautz (President of the
Koutz, Kouts, Kautz, Couts
Family Association). After
a long bout with cancer,
June left us December 15, 2000.
She will be dearly missed along
with her travel stories
(13 times to Europe),
genealogy, and old
fashioned adventurous fun!
John Kautz recently returned
from Iowa, where he had
arranged a Memorial Service
for June. His next adventure
is to Kutztown, PA at an
Elderhostel offering during
July. There he will meet up
with Harvey Ilgen in Mifflinburg,
PA. The Ilgens are descended
from Rev. Ludwig Albrecht
Wilhem Ilgen (1765-1852 who
married John's Anna Barbara Kautz.
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