COUTS

CALIFORNIA’S COUTS COUSINS
VOLUME 2 AUGUST-SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER NUMBER 1 A quarterly Newsletter for the descendants of the Couts Family EDITOR’S NOTE- Help!! We need information from you, so that this newsletter for the CoutsFamily (K-outs not Coots) will be successful. Write and tell us about your grandfather , great-grandfather, dad, mom, grandma, a favorite family story, your theories about the family. We’ll be happy to type it in, take it over the phone, etc., but we need input. If you have photos you and your family, ancestors, etc), make a clear copy on a copy machine, we’ll scan it into our newsletter. SHARE YOUR SIDE OF THE FAMILY WITH US!! WE WOULD LOVE TO GET TO KNOW THEM! CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEB PAGE - It’s official the Couts Family now has a Web Page on the Internet. Meredith and Alexandar Couts Evans designed and built the start of the Couts Family’s new page. Let me know what you think! The address is: www.syix.com/bevans/barbara/couts. html A FAMILY ASSOCIATION - is there anyone who would be interested in forming a family association? We would have to have a charter, dues, election of a board-president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer, family historian, bouncer? and even family reunions. How about the year 2000, in July, somewhere in the US? My backyard’s free. Voice your opinion. JAMES S. ARMSTRONG Through my correspondence with a number of people, libraries, and letters to editors, I was lucky enough to come across Mr. Armstrong. He has been patience, informative, and extremely knowledgeable about the Couts Family. He could be considered the “family’s friend.” Mr. Armstrong’s family bought the property where John Sr.’s cabin existed. Mr. Armstrong grew up playing in the cemetery and building an interest in the Couts Family’s History. The stories that he writes were “for the most part”, told to him by relatives and in some cases proved by records. Some of the stories came from people one or two generations away from the family. Mr. Armstrong has a “knack” for making his subjects come alive. Through this issue, with his permission, we will print his wonderful stories. REV. GEORGE ROGERS I included this story because of the relationship and friendship that existed between the Couts and Woodard families. Their association extended from John Sr.’s early days through Jackson’s life time. In the early years of the developing and settlement of this part of America, traveling preachers tried as best they could to fulfill the spiritual needs of a growing population. The events and experiences of such men of God if written and collected and placed in volumes, would fill a small library. Being isolated from the outside world, the early settlers were anxious to hear the gospel and to find out about other things beyond the dense forest. Whenever a preacher came into their settlement they turned out in masses to hear him speak. There were couples awaiting to be married, disputes and misunderstandings to be settled or mended, and these men worked to fill that void. In 1840, Arthur Woodard, a subscriber and believer in the universalistic movement, ask Rev. Rogers to be a guest in his home. People for miles around were invited to attend the two weeks brush arbor meetings. Jackson and Arthur were close friends as had been Wiley and John Sr. and I feel confident that the Couts family attended some of those meetings. JOSEPH CARTER STARK 1817-1890 One of Americas’ most treasured images of a successful man or woman is having been born in a log cabin and reaching a rung of success in some profession or business. Somehow we are given the impression that such a person developed a moral strength that others missed. This has been proven a myth as character is developed by Godly training as a young person and practiced in adult years. JoC. for short, was born in a log cabin in Sumner County, the fourth of eleven children. His Christian parents were John Stark Jr. and Margaret Primm. Jo C’s mother was the daughter of Captain John Carter Primm, a Revolutionary soldier with General George Washington’s Army at Yorktown. His company was among others honored for bravery. The Stark and Primm families were among the original settlers of Stafford and Loudoun Counties of the Common Wealth of Virginia. By the end of the Revolutionary War, many members of both families had moved or were in the process of moving to North Carolina. Genealogy traces some of both families who later came to Robertson County around 1800. The main line of descendants of Jo C. Stark’s family are splintered through out the continental United States, but our interest are in the ones that settled in Sumner and Robertson Counties. Leah Stark Couts, wife of John Couts Sr. came to Robertson County from Sumner County where her parents were cousins to our subjects’ parents. 1 JoC’s family lived on a farm not very far from the town of Gallatin. As a young boy he was assigned chores befitting his size and age. But once he became a teenager he assumed many of the duties of a man to help his father grow food for a large family. When he wasn’t needed to help with the work he attended a log, one room school. Being a very bright and articulate student, it became apparent that he was destined to become more than a farmer. He finished the required academic studies before reaching his eighteenth birth date and became a teacher in the school he attended and remained its head master for the next five years. His genuine love for the common people gave him dreams of a life of public service. Whenever he had the opportunity and time to spend, he listened to lawyers arguing their cases in the trial room of the Gallatin, Sumner County Court House. He felt many lawyers were ill prepared defending their clients, causing him to believe with training, he could do a better job in presenting a case. This psychology developed early in life and was routinely displayed in his defense of the common man and the law. When the school term ended in 1840, he approached a prominent Gallatin lawyer, the Honorable John J. White, and asked if he could read the law under his leadership. Records are not available indicating Mr. Whites’s reply, but apparently he saw something that assured him this young man had what it took to e a lawyer. Mr. White was a man with a good reputation dealing with people, was honest in the practice of law. This tract of character was so exhib ited and practiced by Mr. White I dealing realistically and sensibly with the everyday work of the law office rubbed off on his susceptible student. Eighteen months later, having gained a reputation as a good young lawyer, JoC decided to hang his shingle in another town, rather than Gallatin. After visiting several small towns in middle TN, chose Springfield as his future home and place to practice the law. for nearly a half century, that shingle hung on the west side of the court house square. In 1844, the Robertson County court noting his honesty an keen ability appointed him clerk and master of the chancery court. He served in this office for seven years before returning to the practice of law. Before he could settle in is favorite vocation, friends and supporter insisted he run for the vacant Senate seat, representing Robertson and Montgomery Counties. He out distanced all opponents beginning by a large majority. Once in the Senate his colleagues appointed him chairman of the “Common School Committee”, where he served with distinction for two terms. Being in the Senate and knowing he had done the job well did not satisfy JoC., for the love of the law kept beckoning him to return. The next few years he was kept busy defending clients and counseling the clientele. Records found in the Robertson County Archives proved him to be a master of expression that showed the depth of this feelings for his clients. Quotes found in court records include theses two classical statements concerning this man of the law, “he created an atmosphere of awe when he spoke in defense of a client”. It was declared by his lawyer friends that “he stamped his name boldly in the annuals of logical conclusions”. Research has revealed the power of his`defense for `complex problems that faced many clients. In 1878,`again his friends`and supporters M urged him to`seek the Judgeship of the Circuit Court. When the announcement`was made public, there was no opposition. For twelve years, he patiently listened to hundreds of trial cases and rendered judicial decisions based upon the ability to come to opinions based upon tolerance and the understanding of the law. My summation of the man is that he displayed the integrity and ability to come to opinions about things, displaying understanding and good sense as he tried to capture the truth of life as he saw it. JACKSON COUTS’ FRIEND Jo C.’s friendship with Jackson began shortly after arriving in Springfield. Being a relative of Jackson’s mother, he often visited and spent time with the family. It has been said they were Masons, but documentation being absent, it is only a guess. Jackson and JoC. often hunted quail and other game on the 807 acre family farm. In Jackson’s son Will, a sum of money was given to JoC. to purchase a shot gun, “for my good and honest friend”. Given the opportunity to be away from the office and the pressures of business, he engaged in a sport like hunting, that resting his mind and body. Whenever he could, he slipped away from town and with Jackson hunted their favorite game, quail. Hunting on Jackson’s farm enabled`him to see the land and to know`boundaries, and`the terrain of M the farm that he was to later own. `This close friendship lasted beyond Jackson’s` Jdeath in 1845l until the last`child’s death in q857. It was this bond to the`Couts family that caused JoC. to pay close attention to the welfare of the children, even beyond the are that was given by the court appointed guardian, Mr. Dunn. He saw that moneys and medicines were provided for their daily care and comfort. (Jackson and wife both died from consumption) Tuberculosis. After their deaths, he selected with Mr. Dunn and had placed the head of each grave, a memorial rock. During the years of ownership he maintained the cemetery ground and built a fence to protect it from wondering farm animals. JOHN WALTER JUDD, JR. 1839-1938 Jo C.’s youngest sister Lydia (1816-1840) married John Walter Judd (1812-1861), a Methodist minister. John Jr. was born in Sumner County and at the death of his father, moved to Robertson County and began to read and study law in offices of his uncle Jo C. When the Civil War started he enlisted in the Confederate Army and saw action at Fort Donelson. Taken prisoner there was later exchanged and re-enlisted in the 9th TN Calvary and rode with General Morgan in raids into Kentucky, Indiana, and Ohio, in 1863. Severely wounded during the Battle of Mt. Sterling, was captured and remained a prisoner until the close of the war After the war returned to the practice of law in Springfield. In 1888, was appointed a justice of the Supreme Court of Utah. In 1893, was appointed U.S. Attorney for the District of Utah and held this office until 1898. In 1899, returned to Springfield to practice law and teach at Vanderbilt University. JoC. followed his favorite nephew’s career with pride and admiration. When JoC.’s eventful life came to an end in 1890, he was regarded as one of the most respected jurist ever to serve in Robertson County. For his friendship with Jackson and the love and care showed the Couts children, I have included him along with family. THIS CONCLUDES THE SERIES. THANK YOU MR. ARMSTRONG!! ANY MORE??? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ JOHN COUTS OF INDIANA’S FAMILY (JOHN SON OF CHRISLEY SR.) EMERY V. COUTS excerpt from the History of Pike County, Indiana Emery V. Couts, son of James and Mary E. hConnor) Coutsl was born in Pike County, Indiana on Nov. 3, 1893. His father, James M. Couts, was also born in Indiana to parents Simeon and Sarah Couts. A native of Kentucky, Simeon Couts farmed for a living. James M. was reared on the farm and he now owns a farm in Monroe Township, in Pike Co. Indiana. His wife, Mary E. (Conner)Couts, was born in New Jersey. Her parents, James and Ellen (Mulviehill) Connor, were native of Ireland who emigrated to America as young people. He farmed in New York and New Jersey and later served as a soldier in the Civil War. Emery V. Couts graduated from Spurgeon High School in Monroe Township in 1913. To further his education he attended Terre Haute Normal School. From 1913 to 1915 he taught in two schools in Monroe Township. He also taught math and science at Union High School for two years before enlisting in the service of his country in 1917-at the time of World War I. Emery served a total of twenty-three months with eleven of these being overseas duty. After an honorable discharge in 1919, Mr. Couts went back to his studies and graduated from Oakland City College in Gibson County, Indiana. This was in 1921, that he received his A.B. degree. This Pike County man then served many year in the school system of this area: first as principal at Jasper (Dubois Co. ) from 1921-24 and at Winslow (Pike County) 1924-25 and later as County Superintendent of Schools in Pike County from 1925-1937. From`1y30 to 1933, he attended summer sessions at Indiana Universi4y and earned his A.M. degree from that University in 1933. His memberships and interest include the Kiwanis Club, where he served as president from 1933-35, the American Legion, the Governor’s Relief Committee, and the Red Cross. Mr. Couts is a member of the Methodist Church and the Democratic Party. His hobby is gardening, and he is especially fond of dahlias. On November 26, 1920 Emery V. Couts married Agnes Hyneman of Clay Township (Pike County). She graduated from high school in Unio® Township and attended Oakland City College also. Agnes taught school one year. They have one son, Robert E. born in Petersburg, Indiana October 4, 1931. Mr. and Mrs. Couts reside in Vincennes. Simeon and Sarah Couts ~ James Madison and Mary E. Connor ~ Emery Vincent and Agnes Hyneman ~ Robert E. Couts ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ MARY COUTS, DAUGHTER OF J.R. COUTS - Spike, TCU Library, Fort Worth, Texas Marianne Bobich Head, Reference and Online Services Mary Couts Burnett Library, TCU Fort Worth, TX 76129 m.bobich@tcu.edu It is amazing what you can find on-line these days. Just looking up the Couts name, I found the Mary Couts Burnett Library, Fort Worth, Texas, and the Couts Methodist Church, and Couts Library/Bank in Weatherford. Mary Couts, born in 1856, was one of five daughters of Colonel James Robertson Couts, a prominent banker and rancher of Parker County, Texas. He was known to be an admirer of Addison Clark who, with his brother, Randolph, founded in Thorp Spring the school which would eventually become Texas Christian University in Fort Worth. As for Mary, I recall being told that her first husband was a man named Baradel, but I cannot point to the source of that information. After Baradel's untimely death, Mary was wooed and won by wealthy cattleman (Four Sixes Ranch) S. Burk Burnett, himself a widower. The one child born to the couple, S. Burk Burnett, Jr., died as a young man. By 1920, the relationship between husband and wife had grown tense and Mrs. Burnett expressed fears that her husband was trying to kill her. Burnett claimed in court that his wife was suffering from "hallucinations" and won a sanity judgment against her. He was then successful in having her committed to a limited asylum in a private Weatherford home where she was kept virtually a prisoner until she engineered her own release on the very day, in 1923, of Burk Burnett's death. With the aid of her physician she then set about to free herself from the charge of insanity and to obtain her "widow's half" -- Texas being a community property state -- of the estate which Burnett had actually willed almost entirely to his granddaughter, Anne Burnett. She was successful in both these efforts. Then, in December of 1923, she surprised and shocked TCU by informing the University that it would receive nearly her entire estate in trust -- something over $3 million (equivalent to about 36 million in 1991 dollars). Before this moment, Mrs. Burnett had no known ties with or interest in the University. One story has it that Burk Burnett, a notoriously rough-edged character, had vehemently expressed that no religious or educational institution would ever get any of his money so that Mary's gesture may have been one of sweet revenge upon her late husband. Though she did not live to see it fully completed before her death, she was driven by the library building which would bear her name when construction was well advanced in 1924. The above consists of exact quotation, paraphrase and some interpolations (mine) from text found on pages 61 and 62 of: Swaim, Joan Hewatt. WALKING TCU: A HISTORIC PERSPECTIVE. Fort Worth: Texas Christian University Press [1992] ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ C.P. COUTS Information sent by Pat Couts Aaron Couts born 1780, Warren Co. Kentucky. Reported on the census in Warren Co, KY in 1820. Then, lived in Lafayette CO, MO in 1830. Aaron and [(1)Elizabeth (Betsy) Barton,] (2) Sally Kirby had Commodore Perry (C.P.) Couts born in 1819 in Morgan Co. MO and Jessie E.[Elliot] Couts born in 1822. Both were employed as farmer in Morgan Co in 1844. In 1870, the name on the tax roles changed to “Koutz”. [other children: Patsy Couts, b. 1818, d. 1847; Samuel Couts b. Dec. 16, 1820, d. April 15, 1855; Mary Jane Couts b. 1826, d. 1850; Aaron Couts b. 1830, d. aft 1850] Jessie and his wife, [Amanda LeFever] had Commodore Perry (C.P.) born June 5, 1885 in Morgan Co. MO, (William Edward) W.E., and an unnamed sister. The children were deserted when CP was 4 years old. Uncle Campbell was reluctant to keep the children. They were raised by various relatives. ( W.E. Couts had a daughter named Mildred Couts Davis and a son named Patrick Couts. Mildred had two daughters Gail and Vonda Davis). Commodore Perry Couts (1885) had his name legally changed to C.P. Couts. CP married Eva Elmara Davis, born Oct. 22, 1887, on November 27, 1907, in Hutchinson, Kansas. The newly married couple went to work in Oregon and Wallawalla, Washington. They worked for a family named Koon. Eva was the cook for the Harvest Crew and CP worked in the field with the thrashing crews. In 1916, CP and Eve headed for Gray County Texas via Oklahoma. CP knew David Armstrong (unrelated to the previous Armstrongs) while in Oklahoma. The Armstrongs later settled in Carson County and his grandchildren went to school with the Tabors in Panhandle schools. Frank Davis, Eve’s brother, bought a section of land (640 acres) 10.5 miles south and 1.0 miles west of Pampa, Texas. Each of the family shared in the section of 160 acres. (Frank Davis, Ike Davis, Josh Davis and Eve Davis Couts). Eve and CP lived continually on the land until 1965. The couple raised “dry land” wheat, milo, and hay. They had a good harvest in 1929, and drilled a 410’ waterwell and purchased a windmill. Prior to that date, the water was stored in a cistern, for rain water was collected for daily usage or hauled from a neighboring well. In 1933, the wheat crop was a bumper crop and sold at $.11@ bushel. The white wooden frame house was moved in the 1940’s. The previous residence was the old tool shed near the windmill. the white frame house was remodeled in 1960, first indoor plumbing. The Tabors helped CP buy a television in 1956 and erected a 35’ antenna to get two stationsKGNC and KFDA in Amarillo. CP played a harmonica until all of his teeth were removed. He was shy but a self educated man. He read week old newspapers, Zane Grey Westerns, and adventure stories. He worked hard each day. He refused to eat any “green” food, as he said it was poison. He was a joker and loved his grandchildren, especially Venie. In home movies, CP would put rubber snakes on Christmas presents. In 1966, CP came into the house sitting that the tractor had run over him. It was unclear if that was what had happened. The doctors indicated that he had had a “stroke” and his mental capabilities were impaired from that date on. He spent the next 14 months in a skilled nursing home in Pampa, he had difficulty in adjusting as he wanted to go back to the farm. He died of kidney failure (traumatic). He had had only a few medical problems: spleen surgery 1954, that was nearly fatal due to peritonitis. He was 5’8” tall, light brown hair, blue eyes, and a regular build. He chewed “Bull of the Woods” dark plug tobacco. He would cut a plug and offer it to all. His nickname was “Dode”. His last vehicle was a 1959 Chevy pickup. He would not use 2nd gear. Eve never drove. On Saturday, he would go to the Ideal Food Store south of the Main Street Under-Pass and walk to other locations. His last dog was “Pup”. EVA ELMARA DAVIS Eve was born October 22, 1887 in Olcott, Kansas. She was 5’9” tall, with a slim build. She had green eyes and black hair. She had a number of childhood illnesses. One of the illnesses would cause her to “pass out”. Later in life she had other physical problems, like a reoccurring peptic ulcer. She was a good cook, canned and froze the fruits and vegetables. She had a cherry, apple, and pear orchard behind the house. When she was seventy, she killed a rattlesnake with the coupling of a garden water hose. During the depression, she killed a Chicken Snake who swallowed several chicken eggs. She saved the eggs. The house was heated from gas from the lease well, that Phillips 66 drilled. The oil lease is tied up. She had a gas refrigerator. She made fresh bread. Eve died on February 1, 1972 in Pampa, Texas. CP and Eve had two children: Gwendolyne Aillenn Couts, born June 9, 1920 in Pampa, Texas, married August 12, 1945 in Pampa, Texas and William Edward Couts, Sr., born March 21, 1924 in Pampa, Texas, married July 31, 1949 and died, January 3, 1990 in Pampa, Texas. He was a dry land farmer. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ NEW EDITIONS Summitted by jscouts@email.clover.net (James and Cindi Couts) Let me be the first to tell you that my wife Cini and I welcomed Alexander James Couts into the world on June 10, 1997, at 2:11pm. He was 6lb, 3oz, and 18.5 inches. CONGRATULATIONS, JAMES AND CINDI!! ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ LATEST FAMILY RESEARCH (Remember, we have no proof that these records are ours!) JOHN KOUTS summitted by Jim Shotts, Blacksburg, VA, an Armentrout Descendent 4/6/97 I have just seen your inquiry about Teter Couts. I do not have anything about him, but, I do have some information about Anna Elizabeth Hedderich ARMENTROUT and Johannes KOUTS (John Couts!?) Her maiden name was Anna Elizabeth HEDDERICH, her father’s name was Adam HEDDERICH. She married Johannes ERMENTRAUDT, in Bethel Township of Lancaster (now Berks) Co., by Rev. Casper Stoever in the Spring of 1742, at the Stover Church. Three children were born of this union. Her father and Anna’s family moved to Augusta Co., VA ca. 1752; subsequently Johannes ERMENTRAUDT, died between q753 and 1757.` J Sometime after`his death Anna Elizabeth married Johannes KOUTS and they for a time lived in her father’s`house. KOUTS finally`forced his wife`to demand a`settlement of her`first husbands estate. KOUTS was appointed executor of Johannes ERMENTRAUDT’s estate. In 1760, Her Father Brought A Civil Suit Against Johannes KOUTS, In Augusta Co. Va. When her father died in 1775/1776 he left her only one Shilling in his Will. they go on to state that nothing further is know about her or her second family; and state also that there are no known children from the second marriage. This sounds like it must have been a really will situation. I also have a page of the “Bill of Complaint” from Hedderich to Kouts. I am sure that there must be other court’s records from Augusta Co. about this incident, as there is no mention as to how the case came out. the above Complaint came from Chancery Court, Volume 1, page 321, Augusta Co. (Staunton- now Loudoun Co.) Court Record, 1760. the page that has her information on it is page 1 of over 160 pages that discuss the descendants of Anna Elizabeth and Johannes ERMENTRAUDT (ARMENTROUT) of which I am one; although I am not in this book, only my grandfather. I wish I could get this close to some of my ancestors! You don’t realize how much of a fluke it was for me to get this information. The book I purchased on the ARMENTROUT’s about five years J ago, had about`6`pages missing`and I had just contacted somebody about a month`ago who said they could copy J those pages from`another copy of`the book that`had them in it.` I had those pages in front of the book and `when I happened to open the book, for some reason my eye caught the reference to the HEDDERICH & KOUTS law case on the first page. Otherwise, I might not have realized that Anna Elizabeth and your Elizabeth were one of the same. This really is a strange hobby! Let me know if you want the two or three pages. If you have some further ARMENTROUT information, I would appreciate receiving a copy. Thanks. Jim Shotts ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ DIETRICH KAUTZ, Submitted by Earl F. Kisling and Wolf Sakowski (descendants of the Kissling Family) Your query to Genealogical Helper, Jan/Feb. 1997 on Christly Couts February 20, 1997 Dear Barbara Couts Evans, Are your Couts of German descent? The name Couts is an Anglicized form of the German Kautz, which I’m sure you know. Does Christly = Christoph? There was a long line of Kautzes who lived in Steinau an der Strassse, Hesse-Hanau, thirty-five miles northeast of Frankfurt an Main. Christian Kautz and son, Johannes, and his daughter, Anna Gertrude (nee Kautz) and husband, Christoph KiBling/Kissling came from Steinau, Hesse-Hanau, to Philadelphia, in Oct., 1752, on the ship Neptune. Christian Kautz’s son, Dietrich, had come prior to this in 1750, to Pennsylvania, and settled in the Tulpehocken area of either Berks or Lancaster Counties, PA.[Brother, George, stayed in Germany]. These later arrival probably joined Dietrich in this area. In about 1758, Dietrich moved to Brocks Gap, old Augusta County, VA, now Rockingham Co. Va. John Kautz and Christoph and Anna Gertrude (nee Kautz) Kissling moved to near McGaheysville, Augusta Co., VA later Rockingham Co. VA. I do not know what children Dietrich or John Kautz had. But this may give you a lead, if your Couts family was / is German. The Kautz name is spelled Couts in some Pennsylvania and Virginia records. Christoph KiB(ss)ling was my GGGG granddad, so I’m not directly related to the Kautz, but I am 1/2 related to the descendant of the first marriage of the GGGG granddad. If this information does help in your search, let me know. I know of many of my 1/2 cousins who’d love more information on this Kautz/Couts familyn We only discovered this information last yeár so we are still delving into these Kautz and KiBling families. Steinau is most famous as the hometown of the German fable writers, the Grimm brother. Good luck in your search, Earl F. Kisling ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Subj: Coats/Couts Date: 97-07-21 08:48:39 EDT WILLIAM COUTS EXISTED! NOW WE JUST HAVE TO SORT THROUGH From:cjc@ewol.com (Caroline Coats) THE COATS AND THE COUTS. IT’S AMAZING, THEY HAVE BARTONS Reply-to:cjc@ewol.com & STARKES, AND WILSONS. THANK YOU CAROLINE! Our Coats--from THOMAS b ca 1675 Glasgow, Kingdom of N. Britain. m SARAH CRAMER--dau of CLASS HERMONSON CRAMER 2 sons WILLIAM & JOSEPH b ca 1700 &1705. Both immigrated to SC 1715/1719. WM. m unknown womam had 6 offspring. Oldest was WILLIAM, JR. b ca 1735--m FRANCES ???? Lived and died (15 Dec 1783) Camden Dist. SCoffspring: ANNE b ca 1754/56 m WM STARKE ca 1775-they migrated to Robertson Co. TN mid 1780's. PRISCILLAb ca 1757/58--no other information. BARTON b ca 1759 m NETTIE???she b 1760-son BARTON,JR --dau Elizabeth and possibly another dau. Migrated to Robertson Co. TN same time ANNE and family did. WILSON (ourline) went to Sumner Co.TN mid 1780's CATHERINE CELIA RUYLE 8 Feb.1790. Moved to Shelbyville area in Bedford Co. TN early 1800's. "Celia" b 1770 Hampshire Co., VA--d Shelbyville 1868. WILSON d Shelbyville 1822.They had 10/12 children--oldest was WILLIAM hour line) b 22 Nov. 1790. WM m HANNAH ALEXANDER`ca 1809--they m)grated to Monroe Co., MS 1817 with GEO. WASH. b 1810 & LEROY WILSON b Dec 1816. WM. in war 1812 rec'dbounty land. They had five more offspring b MS HANNAH d 1827 childbirth (or soon after) only daughter. WILLIAM m #2 ELIZABETH GIDEON and fathered 12 more offspring. Youngest was KOSSUTH (our line) b 1852 Itawamba Co. MS graduated Vanderbilt med school 1881 and settled in Sevier Co. AR. Wm d Pontotoc Co. MS 26 Dec 1865. ELIZABETH b SC 1804/071887 Pontotoc Co. MS. KOSSUTH m SARAH ELOUISE NUNŽELLEY 1883 Sevier Co., AR. They were parents of 10--4 d early. Oldest son ALONZO NUNNELLEYwas the only one to have children--2 sons- 2 daughters. My husband was 2nd son. I remember someone from MS sending a chart showing a VAUGHN but haven't been able to put my finger on it. Believe his name was LITTLEBERRY VAUGHN. I will keep looking although I don't think this is the one you are looking for. If I find it I will e mail the info. Caroline Coats cjc@ewol.com ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ FAMILY TREASURES submitted by Vivian Francis Williams, Pattonsburg, MO Page 1 This is a history of the Pearson family as was written by my Uncle William Henry Pearson and give to my cousin Mattie Bess- Vivian Francis Williams. John Randolph Pearson was married 3 times. His second wife’s maiden name was Rebecca Wright [sister of Sarah Wright, wife of Christley Sr.] and we are of her lineage. They settled near Bowling Green Kentucky about the year 1800. They were natives of Virginia and were people of means, owning land and a number of slaves. They were the parents of a large family. One son being named Nathaniel, and a daughter was named Elizabeth. About this same time there came from Tennessee but earlier from Georgia a family of Bavister Barton who settled nearby. This was a large family one son being named Bently and 2 daughters named Bath-Sheba and Elizabeth. The younger people became friendly and in time Bently Barton and Elizabeth Pearson married. Nathaniel Pearson married Bath Sheba Baritone. While Elizabeth Barton was married to a man named Couts of whom I have no history. (Note-Chrisley Couts (Jr.) is Nathaniel Pearson’s first cousin. ) Records show that Elizabeth married Aaron Couts, May 1818, Chrisley Couts Jr. married FannieBarton. The younger people were of pioneering spirit. The Pearsons and Bartons soon went to the wilderness of Illinois settling in what is now Morgan Co. About 40 miles south of present Springfield. After a few years Bently Barton and his family came to Missouri, settling a few miles south of Mayview where they lived to a great age and reared a family of 14 sons and 1 daughter. Nathaniel Pearson and wife remained in Illinois where he farmed and taught school. After the death of his wife in 1857, he returned to Kentucky where he lived to the age of 85 years. The Couts family remained in Kentucky a number of years. Then they came to Missouri settling near the Bartons, south of Mayview. The father died in Kentucky or soon after coming to this state. Henry Couts, a son of their family married Nancy Minton a native of So. Carolina and settled on a farm a few miles from Mayview, where they reared 4 children-one daughter being Mary Martha. John Bently Pearson, son of Nathaniel Pearson and Bath-Sheba grew to manhood in Illinois coming to Missouri, at the age of 26. He farmed a number of years near Mayview then bought a farm that became his home for a number of years. He married in 1869, to Mary Martha Couts, daughter of his first cousin Henry Couts. They were the parents of 4 children- Mary Frances Birdetie-William Henry -Martha Elizabeth and John Bently. NOTE-Mother’s records calls Bently Barton’s wife Martha, Uncle Wills notes call her Elizabeth-Since there was a triple marriage between Bartons and Pearsons- Patricia married Barton’s, one was the mother of 14 sons-records show Elizabeth married- John Rosa, Patricia married Bently Barton-Warren Co. KY records. 6 Once more I am favored with this another opportunity of writing you a few lines. They leave me as well as common together with the ret of our connection and friends here as fare as I know. Winz (Winns) wife was porely the last account I had from her. I am afraid she is going to have bad health. I am still trying to work. Have been chair making since your Uncle A. Rose got home. You wrote in yous that you wanted to see me. I can’t express the deire that I have to see you and I hope you will come as you are young. If we should never see each others faces nomore in times let us try to live and act so as to meet each other in that world of bliss and glory whare there will be nomore parting of friends, whare there will be nomore trouble but on Eternal rest. Letter 14 - page 1 1859 State of Illinois, Clinton County June 23 1859 November the 6th 1859 Dear and loving Cousin and all inquiring friends once more I take my pen in hand to write you these few lines which leaves us all well except Charity Nicholas’s William about 12 or fourteen years old he is down and has been for the last six week with arisin on his thight, something like the which swelling and still gets worse all the time harveys family is all well and the Nabo is general is well, we have had a helthy summer and fall so far tolerable good crops of all kinds and a nuf to eat and to ware so fur for which we feel thankful frome the soue from which it come My own helth is not good but I am glad it is no worse I hope when these lines comes to hand they will find you all well and doing well Cousin john Mother would be glad if you would write a few lines and tell her why her money does not come as she has not recevied only $20.00 as yet. the first years went by and so doing you will ablige your old aunt. ever Shall in this life Letter 14 a page 2 1859 Bently I would be Glad if you have not got my money that from Hall to make him pay it for you no Hall will never pay it if he can help for that reson I won’t want you to wate on him at all and I do hope some other good man had got the place this year. I am olde and frail that you now and Malissas helth is very bad and for that reson I want my pay as soon as it is dew. My just rites is all I want. I don’t want to take advantage of my children in no shape nor form and I hope they will treat me with the same respect I have no more to rite worth yur attention at present but I wold be glad to see a letter from you at a early period give my best respects to all so no more at present Collins and Polly and Melessia sends you all their love and best respects - Now I will close this short and unworthy letter by Subscribin myself you unworthy sister until deth Charity Rose To BB Barton and family. (Outside of letter ) Please to give this to B.B. Bartens. over Letter 14a page 3 1859 and one other thin I will tell you if you want to see Marthy M. Lanes land it is in henry county south of you and is numbered as follows to wit the N.W. of S.E. and the N.E. of SW. quarters of Section 21 in town 40 of range 25 it is said to be good timber near a large prai If you see it and like it send her a libral bid and what kind of land it is ther is only eight acres of it We have had good meetings hear for Some time and a good work is still gowing on there has severel made a perfession of religion and I hope they will all stand fast in the liberty where with Christ has made them free and be not a gave intangled with the Yolk of bondage. I would be glad to see you and gave give our love to all inquing frends and shear largely in the same yourself. Yours truly Robert C McKever to John B. Pearson (Robert Mc Keevers wife was a Rose - Charity Bartons son-in-law Letter 2 Part 1 August 30, 1874 Windsoill Madeson Co.Ark Dear Sister. I take my pen in hand to answer your kind and welcome letter whitch came to handin dew time it found all well. We recieved it on the 10 and I was taken sick on the 12 and on the nght of 12 Mary. We had a darling little boy bornd to us but his stay in this sinful world was short. He only lived from bout mid night Wednesday night til just before day Sunday moring he was buried in the (unreadable) grave yard Sunday coming. Mary he suffered O so mutch, he was sick I think all the time after the first day and he fretted a goodel that day. We think it was the bold hives it had. We never named it Mary. Eovil (blurred) loved it so well. She cald him her little brother. Mary it was hard to give him up but I know he is better off and I hope to meet him in that better world above where there is no mor Sorrow or pain. I Letter 2 part 2 1874 will send you apeace of the lining and covering of the coffin in apeace for fannie. I would write to hear(meaning Her) but I wrote once and she never answered my letter. Mary I have got along the best kind as well as any one could sider. I am knocking round the house and I made up my bed this morning, kiss Willie and the babe for me. Write soon W.C. Moon. Mary I had one of the best old wimin with me she is worth 2 or 3 doctors. The following letter is on the other side of the page. August 30 Dear Marry these few lines is from your dear father and mother. We are as well as common for old people. We received your kin and verry welcome letter whitch gave us much satisfaction to hear from you all we was glad to hear of your getting along so well. We are on the other hand sorry to hear Letter 2 page 3 1874 of the failure in the corn crop for I hear of that in many places. It had been a bad season here. Crops is cut short on account of the dry weather tho there will be plenty of corn here to spare. their is plenty of old corn here yet the people is coming in here to by. Corn in the fields by the quantity tere is nothing made in Bento and Washington Countys scarcely except wheat. That was good. Wheat was speedied here. Corn 50 cents wheat 75 cents per bushel. We will have plenty and some to spare. I think we will have pelenty of molasses and sweet potatoes and that is good. You know we have dryed our apples and that is something near 4 bushels of them and have commenct on the peaches and their will be several bushels of them if we have luck`to save them. We`have a molasses`mill verry near done to make up our crop and maiby some others.(the following in first hand`writing ) John and Mary mother sais she wantI 7 Letter`2 page 4 1874 to see you misty bad but she never expects to in this world but she hopes to meat you in a better one. She sais kiss the children for her and to not let Willie forget her. She said for you to tell fannie when you see her that she would like to hear from her and if she wont write about herself to write about the children. We hav’nt had a scratch of pen from them yet. Henry and Nancy Couts Write soon Note - my grandmother pearson was a sisiter-in-law to W.C. Moon the writer of this letter. The Jannie referred to is Fannie Pool. Another sister. The old folks who wrote were my great grand parents. Willie referred to in this letter was uncle Will Pearson. Francis Williams. Page 1 April 25, 1877 Dear Children, I will try and say a word or to. I do want to see you all mity bad but it is along ways between you and me. I am mity porely most of the time but still able to go roun and do my work. I hope if we never meet no more in this world we will meet in a better whore thare will bee no more sorrow or pain. Kiss them sweet children for me tell Willie to knot forget his grandmother I want you to write as soon as you get this letter as ever your mother. Nancy Couts ` hdifferent hand writing) tell`Willie Evie wants hime to come to Texas to play with her. Mary Marthie and`Lone has three children all boys. Aprile 26mWell as I did not`get to send this to the office.M I thought I`would add a few`more lines. I am not so well this fine morning. Well we have a good old fashioned rain it commenct on Munday and is a little showery yet. I have taken a heavier cold I think I will be all right soon. As we can’t plow I thought we would go over to Joseph’s tomorrow if all was right, stay page 2 1877 until next Monday. Some things I forgot the grasshoppers came down on us last fall in innumerable multitudes destroying all the late cotton cutting off all the last boles stript the cotton of the leaves-destroying all the turnips then went for gardens and wheat everry thing generally. The young ones is not doing much harm yet, I would like verry well they would not visit us any more. We have 3 acres to plant yet in molasses cane yet and cotton, melons and soforth well I would like you all to come to Texas if you could or would be satisfied. This is the peace to get good cheap homes. Well we have here preaching 2 semonts today and (not legibes) to have meating every. Sunny or nearly so and they was talking of starting a Sunday school here. Well for the other side of the question I think this county is more subject to drouth than most other countries,the water corses here dry up and stock water gets very scearce, as to the (not legible) they are scearce in this county. I hav not but very few in this county tho last year was a bad year for the potatoe crop page 3 1877 insects is very bad in small plants the tobaccos, I think it is the little ants. Some hate showers sometimes frost comes very late in spring. Wo to fruit and small grain crops. then spiders is said to dwell in places and fine houses-Theare is ugly look ones here, they live in the ground and you will hardly ever see one any other time than June or July for that is the time they come out and travel round they are sayed to be verry poisenous tho. I have not heard them doing any harm since I have been in Texas. Some sand taps, they are a long yearwig shae nasty ugly looking worm with black backs and yellow legs and verry wilde will always hide if they can they also live in the ground under old rocks. I think are not verry dangerous.`then and tho teraîcile (terrantanea) is a little like the indians preach more tales than riders they are great bugerboos a hoard more than nead be. but verry few poisonious snakes. I have seen none yet a good many coach whips and hard to ketch. Their is as little harm in them as a bleu (blue racers) Very few varmints. Now and then the page 4 1877 opposom and pole cats visit the hen nest. deer and _____________ is scarce buffalo is plenty out west. About 700 in one mile men go from here and bring in thousands of pounds of beef, it is dayd to be verry goo tho I have not seen any of it. You may add a few lines of this to the brighter side you must excuse me for not writing soner as I have nothing verry strange or uncommon to write. So I must close May the Lord bless you all tell Willie to not forger gran mah and grow up to be a good boy and learn his books learn to write so he can write to gran pah so nothing more at present. Henry Couts ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Vol 2 #2 SO YOU WANT TO RESEARCH THE COUTS LINE???? BEST OF LUCK!! -Several researchers have written to ask how they could join in the research. Things planned to do AND COULD WE USE SOME HELP ON IT...Here goes........
PENNSYLVANIA ARCHIVES~Harrisburg, Philadelphia-County Clerk’s Office, Berk or Lancaster Hist. Societies 1. A copy of Dieterich Kautz’s signature on his naturalization paperwork, August` ` ` 13, 1750 or Christian’s Oct.`1w52. 2. Inde8 /f Pennsylvania’s Colonial Records, by Dr. Mary Dunn; copy of the original on Kowatz---Colonial 11:531 3. Kisling, Jacob (Col.) 11:11; Kisler, Nicholas (Col.) 14:114. 4. Land Deeds or Marriage Bonds from 1750-1756 for Philadelphia, Lancaster, Berks, or Bucks (Tulipehocken) Counties- copies of originals and maps. Listing could be Christian Dietrich Kautz or Jacob Christian Kautz. 5. Church Records for Reformed Lutherans- Tuplipehocken, St.  John’s Haines, any other-marriages, christenings, info 6. Description of travels down the Deleware River Gap circa 1750. 7. List of Germans killed by the Indians from 1750-1756. 8. Will or Probate for Christian Kautz-circa 1753 (School master Reformed Lutheran Church-Girls School) 9. Lancaster Legacy V1 Deed Abstracts 1737-1787, Biographies of old residents; V2 Deed Abstracts 1728-1769; V. 3 Lancaster Co. Naturalizations 1740-1756; Vol 4 Land Transactions 1735-1770; Vol 5 land transactions 1747-1773. 10. History of Berks County by I.D. Rupp, Members of the German Reformed Church 1735-1755, German massacred along the Blue Ridge 1754-1763; early taxable inhabitants. 8 11. History of Berks County, by Egle’s History of Pennsylvania- info on early settlers. 12. 1894 Portrait and Biographical Record of Lancaster County, birth and death information 1700-1896. 13. Ermentrout and Hedderick were married in Rev. Casper Stoever’s Chruch, but attended others St. Johns (Haines) Reformed Church or Christ Church of Tulipehocken- any records of Kautz or Koutz. TENNESSEE ARCHIVES~ Nashville 1. Any records of the State of Franklin, Fincastle, Sumner, Davidson, Montgomery, Lincoln, Augusta Co. or Tennessee Co. Pre-1789, copy of original minutes of circuit court or town council, tax records. 2. Copy of a faded deed, Frederick Couns and Samuel Barton 1790 3. Clarksville Newspaper - Obit on a. John Couts, 1829, Sister Elizabeth Couts, Mason, 1855 -+ 4. Any (E)Armentrout Biography’s that mention John Kouts or Bro.,any Kissling Bio. 5. Records of Rev. George Rogers marriages, births, etc. KENTUCKY ARCHIVES~ Frankfurt, Univ. Western KY, or Univ. of KY 1. Any records of the State of Franklin, Fincastle, Sumner, Davidson, Montgomery, Lincoln, Augusta VA or Tennessee Co. Pre-1789, copy of original minutes of circuit court or town council. 2. French and Indian War Bounty Land, Rev. War Bounty Land for the Western Division-George Rogers Clark’s Co., Fort Jefferson, or the Falls of the Ohio (It should be south central KY, now Warren or Logan Co. near Bowling Green) - could be State Land Clerk’s Office. 3. Any minister’s records of marriages, births, etc. 4. Wills or probates for 1789-1792- Chrisley, 1776-1805-Dietrich. 5. Records of Rev. George Rogers marriages, births, etc. NORTH CAROLINA ARCHIVES~ or Chapel Hill, or Duke 1. Copies of any original deeded listed in Newsletter 4 2. Birth Records or marriage, pre 1786, probably found in church records only 3. Any records of the State of Franklin, Fincastle, Sumner, Davidson, Montgomery, Lincoln, Augusta VA or Tennessee Co. Pre-1789, copy of original minutes of circuit court or town council. VIRGINIA ARCHIVES~ Richmond or Univ. VA, Rockingham Hist. Soc. 1. Patents and grants 1750-1774 2. Land Bounty Certificates for French and Indian War for Western VA and W. VA (present) or PA if they have them. 1774-Dietrick (Teter-Teterich) Couts,Kouts, Koutz, Kautz, Kowatz 3. Military Certificates for bounty land in KY-Dieterich or Christopher (Chrisley) 1785, Index 1782 -1876. 4. Copy of an original deed of any listed in Newsletter 4 or 2 tracts of land in Augusta (now Rockingham Co moved summer 1752. 80 acres from Jacob Pence 104 acres Jacob Nicholas. On 12 Oct. 1753 Adam Hedderick bought 400 acres on Peaked Mtn. 5. Rev. Stoevers Records or Rev. Alderman’s Records, especially marriages (circuit riding ministers) Dieterich - Reformed Lutheran, Chrisley - ? Methodist or Baptist, John- Methodist 6. Any State or Franklin, Fincastle, Lincoln, Augusta, or Tennessee Co. Records. 7. Records pre-Rev. might be found in the County Clerk’s records in Augusta Co. 8. Lawsuit of John Kouts and Adam Hedderick took place in Staunton, records could be in Loudoun Co. but probably in Augusta County Court Records- exact pieces of land? Chancery Book I, page 321, App 1-2. Land appraised March 15, 1758; Civil Suit August 17, 1760. 9. Virginia Colony - land sold to Johannes Kautz (Kouts) or Dieterich, English Records.
FAMILY INFORMATION- Send facts about your family line (nothing fancy, just the facts), your children, you, brothers and sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, parents, grandparents, any information that you have-Dates of BIRTHS, DEATHS, MARRIAGES, AND THE LOCATION OF ALL; Family Bible information, tombstone inscriptions We’ve spent the summer collecting as much family branch information as we could. We are busily typing it into the Family Tree Maker Files. We hope to produced the lineage lines in one of the up coming editions. Send your family information (charts are not necessary), (but computer disks are nice), in now!! PLEASE SEND A COPY OF ANY INFORMATION OR PICTURES TO US!!! THANKS,THANKS,THANKS,THANKS, x MILLIONS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Copies of pictures we have thusfar: Cave Johnson Couts & Ysidora Bandini Couts- Bancroft Library; JR Couts, History of Parker County; Joseph Mansfield Couts, His wives: Rebecca J. Askew and Ida Onstott- their children and their descendants-Rhonda Couts Rodericks; Lutetita (Lettie) Couts and her husband and children, Oscar Lockwood, Nancy, Loel, Lewis, & Nettie-Diana Dunn, Mintons by Mary Lou Peacock. EDITORIAL FORUM - OPPOSING OPINIONS: Nov. 1996 Dear Cousin Barbara, Received your sweet letter yesterday and it sounds like you don’t want to be Scotch-Irish. Go to your library, “Genealogy Dept.” Tell them you want to look up your name “Couts”- Then, if you think your name has been changed from Kautz? Look it up. Then, ask them if they will help you look up, when Kautz came to America. Bo Couts knows that John Couts SR. was his gggg-grandfather, not a Dietrich-But Bo wants to be German too.Do you have some German documents signed by a Couts? You know you were from Clarence Roy, (whose relative) came from Indiana. There were no Germans in Indiana until 1820-29. There were some Germans in Pennsylvania, called the Pennsylvania Dutch. Couts-Coutts are the same- the OU is OW in English. When you are at the library look up Scotland on the microfiche. You can go back to 13-1400, look up the Coute, Couts, and Coutts brothers. The Couts International Registry has been developed to determine where the Couts Family have migrated from, the computer bounces in Europe, North America, Australia, and Africa-over 220 million names and address on their records have been searched to locate Couts Family members. There sources are electorate rolls, telephone books, city directories, and public surname lists. I received most of my information from Army Archives - Library Genealogy. I have written to Couts all over the U.S. and they send me their genealogy charts. If I can’t help them I ask Bo. He has helped me a lot and I have helped him too. Bo looks a lot like Cave Johnson. Many Scots went to Australia, some to Ireland, U.N., and some to the European Continent. Does this mean Germany? If so, it is possible that a Scot could have been in Germany with a Couts name and came to America in the year 1829, but the Coutses were here 150 or more years before that- nobody could legally change their names or would even want to go back to those days. I have my Coat of Arms and my scroll, also I am a member of the Hutt River Ordinance under Prince Regent in Australia. If you want your coat of arms you can get it in England or from Haberts in Bath Ohio. If you want your coat of arms under Kautz wite-Der Herold, 1 Berlin, 33 “ Dahlem” Archivstrasse, 12-14 Berlin Germany, Southern Germany and Austrian Origin, The Adler Society, Haarhof 4A Vienna, Austria. If you are from John, Chrisley, Chrisley Jr. and John, then, you are Scot. I am from Aaron. One more Question: Why would a German Come to this country and marry a Scot-Irish or English, when they never even spoke the same language. Well Barb, you’re still my cousin and no, you didn’t ruin my day and please o to the genealogy department of your library and ask. They will help you a lot and write me again soon. Please don’t get upset because you are a Scott. Still your Cousin, Earl K. Couts, God Bless. “There are two ways of spreading light; to be the candle or the mirror that reflects it.” -Edith Wharton
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