COUTS
CALIFORNIA'S COUTS COUSINS VOLUME 2 NUMBER 6
FEBRUARY - MARCH - APRIL 1999
A LETTER FROM JAMES ARMSTRONG
November 11, 1998
I send you greetings from Tennessee where autumn has turned
these hills of green leaves into an array of colors so beautiful
even God smiles at his handiwork. This letter concerns Mr. John
Couts, Eli Baggett and a rock fence or an artificial
creek dike. Most people from the beginning were involved in
some kind of work or activity that was vital to their existence.
This spirit for work and a vision built this great nation and
developed a fast growing settlement in the western part of
North Carolina, known as the "Cumberlands". Between
(1783-1796) pioneers burdened by debts and a desire for a new
life migrated and demonstrated their willingness to suffer the
hardships of a new frontier to settlefree land or at least pay
a small price per acre. Some very early settlers did receive
free land, but Mr. John paid money for his purchases. Most families
came to establish homes but a few came to speculate. Mr. John came
to do both, settle and raise a family and make money by buying and
selling real estate. Apparently, he could have chosen a different
tract to build a home for there were several at the time to choose from.
We have no firm information that John Pennington, a South Carolina
speculator and John Couts were friends before arriving in the
"Cumberlands" and both were witness on several land deals.
Before Robertson became a county and afterwards, they served nine
years in the local militia. By 1796, thousands had poured into the
"Cumberlands", enough to make Tennessee the sixteenth
state, being the first state to be created from a U.S. Territory.
Robertson became Mr. John's county and Springfield its capital.
Thus far, we have been unable to pinpoint Mr. John's arrival in
the "Cumberlands". We think he came sometime
before 1778. We are certain he came with his father, brothers,
and the Stark Family, having married Leah Stark some time
prior to their arrival. Mr. John's tract deed dated September
1792, was recorded in Clarksville, a small town sixty miles down
the Cumberland River. To record a deed, a person rode on horse
back and for safety sake more than one person made the journey.
Some information states that some people went to Nashboro
[later Nashville] and took a both to Clarksville. These are
many reasons why we find many deeds dated and recorded the
same day.During the years (1805-1828),
Mr. John bought and sold many farms in different parts of the
county. He never forgot his children by providing property and
money to them. The farm given to William, has remained in the
family of W.H. Couts and his sister-in-law, Mrs. Joe Couts all
these years. He also gave John Jr. a farm on Beaver Dam Creek
that remained in that family until 1965. Each of these sons
set a plot of ground on each farm for a family cemetery.
Early stories about and evidence of things seen indicate
Mr. John has strong hands as well as a strong mind, deep
unfailing wisdom and using these talents with dignity, drew
attention to himself and made a respected name for generations.
Rainfall in Tennessee averages about the same each year with
the exception of every four or five years. When this occurs,
6-8inches sometimes falls in a one dayperiod causing Sulphur
Fork to spill over its band on to Mr. John's corn crop. The
current would be so strong that erosion was the result.
(Floodwaters without a strong current do not create problems,
but deposit most needed nutrients.)
Mr. John was not an engineer but a person endowed with good
common sense. He used this gift to solve many problems
including this difficult situation. With nothing more than a
strong back he undertook to excavate enough limestone rock
from the nearby bluff to build an artificial bank or wall
along the creek band, exactly where the current broke over.
These huge blocks were piled six feet high for a distance of
fifty feet. Water did continue to penetrate the rocks, but
the current was stopped and for years Mr. John enjoyed peace
of mind.
In Mr. John's will, Jackson was given the home farm at the
death of his mother, Leah. Records of the time frame indicate
the price of a gallon of whiskey was up one dollar over the
fast few years.
No doubt, Jackson wanting to satisfy the trade, finished
clearing the uncleared acreage of the creek bottom. (Those
farmers owning bottom land were very fortunate, they could
plant this land every year and expect good returns.) This
additional land enabled Jackson to grow more corn, to produce
more whiskey.
It was during this time Jackson named his "makings".
Before this time most whiskey was sold in unmarked containers
or refilled jugs belonging to customers.
"Rocky Springs"
100% Sour Mash Whiskey
Couts Distillery
Springfield, Tennessee
This same label continued to be used during the Stark &
Hilliard ownership, only the Couts name was dropped. Years
after Jackson's death, the new owners hired a man experienced
in the use of dynamite to blow limestone rock from the same
bluff that Mr. John used and within three weeks had enough
rock blown to extend the fence thirty feet. Each large rock
was shaped by hammer and chisel to a black size of 2' x 3',
and (by estimation) weighed five to seven pounds. The blocks
were stacked about six high, forming a level top. In the
time the flood waters deposited silt and dirt against the
wall and formed a natural bank. This worked well during the
Stark and Hilliard partnership. And when the two dissolved
partnership, Mr. Stark's last written word to Mr. Hilliard
(disposition-archives) was to use "$75.00 to make repairs
to the wall." The farm changed ownership in 1890, 1898
and in 1922. In 1965 the owner hired a bulldozer to remove
trees growing near the wall, and doing so damaged the base.
When the next big rain fell the current washed out thirty
feet of the wall. Today, the flood waters run freely, eroding
the Couts' land they work hard to preserve.
With best regards,
James Armstrong
INTERNET NEWS ~
you wrote: Hi Mary, I am searching
for Couts (which has always been misspelled and mispronounced
Couch) anyway...I am searching for William Levi Couts and he is
supposively buried at Kinta, Haskell County, Oklahoma, Lona Cemetery,
but he is under the name "Couch". Thanks, Barb Couts Evans
From: Mary Bookout maryb@ionet.net Subject: Re: Couch or Couts? I just
woke up and got my mail YOU HAVE THE RIGHT PLACE--Now I will have
to wake up and see if I can help you- I GOT SO EXCITED! WILLIAM BERRY
"Billy" Bookout and Mary Ann Couts are my husbands
Grandparents. Who are you and where are you? Let me wake up and I
will read and absorb this and write back. THANKS SO MUCH I HAD GIVEN
UP ON THIS>
Name: Mary W. Bookout maryb@Ionet.net
Referred by: From a Friend From:
OK, Comments: Hi Cousins, Barbara Evans found us, and we figured out
we are cousins! It is always exciting! The relationship is actually
thru my husband, not me, however I am the genealogy buff. Glad to
meet all of you, now I will look-----and read----and see where he
came from. Thanks
Barb. Mary
Subj: Couts Family
Date: 98-11-15 16:01:42 EST
From: WSki200615
My name is William O. Skinner. My mother's name was Linda
Couts Hill. She was named after Linda Couts Burnet. There is a
Linda Couts Burnet library in TCU at Fort Worth. My mother's
were Oliver Perry Hazard Hill and Parthenia Pocahontas Sloan.
Parthenia's parents were Hugh Mcknight Sloan and Nancy Couts.
Nancy Couts father was James Robertson Couts . According to
information that I have , the parents Couts were John Couts and
Mary. I would like to know if this agrees with your information.
I am sending the information in the newsletters to Dorothy Samples
in Nocona, Texas. She is the Couts expert in the family.
Sincerely, W. O. 'Buddy" Skinner
From: ESmith99@aol.com
Subject: Re: Baggetts Barb,
The Robertson County Baggetts have one Couts in their line that
I found in the Maury Baggett book on the Baggett Family. Thomas
(Doc) Pitt b. 11-2-1867, d.7-23-1937 married Sallie F. Couts
b. 11-16-1864,d. 6-26-1931. They are buried in Elmwood Cemetery.
Their children:
Daisy Dean, Elizabeth Susan Pitt, Helen Payton. The lineage goes
back to Francis Elizabeth Savage m. John N. Pitt > Nancy Wilks
Baggett m. Thomas Savage. I have more if this is your line. Elsie
Record 84 Name: Marette Esperance
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: San Diego
Comments: Hi, Couts descendants.
My name is Marette Esperance. I'm a Senior Project Manager with
San Diego County Parks, assigned to site/structure development
at Rancho Guajome Adobe. Lucky me, the adobe is beautiful. I've
heard of the legendary hospitality of Cave and Ysidora--this web
site shows that it's spread throughout the family! The County
completed restoration of Rancho Guajome Adobe in 1996 and the
Adobe is open now to the public: Sat and Sun, tours at 11:00 and
2:00. School children tour on weekdays as part of the California
history curriculum! We have special events throughout the year.
The next one is Rancho Christmas, November 28th 2pm-6pm. The Adobe
will be furnished as it might have been when Cave and Ysidora
lived there and there will be period entertainment and demonstrations
of crafts. We at theParks Department are trying to improve our record
keeping and would love to hear from Couts descendants. You can e-mail
me and I'll let you know about upcoming special events. Or drop by
on a weekend and ask for Senior Ranger Diane Kennedy. She'd love to
talk to you. We're looking for photos of the Rancho from 1852-1900,
especially interior home photos, so that our furnishings will be
appropriate. We have only 2 photos from the inside of the home: one
in the parlor and one in the covered porch. Ysidora is shown in the
covered porch. Do any of you have photos we could copy? Thanks for
your help! and for maintaining the legendary Couts hospitality!
Marette
Subj: Re: Can anyone help her?
From: amclaren@ix.netcom.com (Alfred S. McLaren)
Dear Marette, Your best source for photographs of the Couts family
and Cave Couts in particular would be the San Diego Historical
Society in Balboa Park. My maternal grandmother, Arcadia Bandini Scott
Brennan was Cave Cout's granddaughter (her father was Chalmers Scott
and her mother Maria Couts) and gave all her pictures to the Historical
Society. Alfred S. McLaren [Thanks!]
Record 15 Name: Caleb Couts
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Oskaloosa, IA Comments:
I have been interested about finding my family history. I thought my
family came from Scotland. There is a sub clan of the Farquarson clan,
named Coutts, that I reasoned I was related to
Record 85 Name: COUTTS
Referred by: Just Surfed On In
From: Wellington, New Zealand
Comments: Hi there. My name is Robert Andrew COUTTS. My father was born
in the Shetland Islands and the story is that there were three brothers
who set sail one day to do a spot of fishing out from the coast of Norway.
They got caught in a storm and were washed ashore on the coast of the
Shetland Isles. Their surname was spelt either KUTZ, KHUTZ or KUTZE and
over many years changed to it's present form of COUTTS. How true this
story is I don't know but if anyone reading this have connections with
the COUTTS FAMILIES of Shetland please e-mail me. You have a great page,
very interesting. Regards Robert Coutts
Record 14 Name: Kitty Couts, kitty96957@aol.com
From: Tennessee--Springfield
Comments: I was just curious to see if I could find any info or history
about our family. Was surprised to see so many listing for the family name
From: HarryBak@aol.com
Subject: Dederick Kutch Date: Thu, 3 Dec 1998 12:29:21 EST
Dear Barbara?, Dedrick Kutch died in Mercer Co. KY in 1833. His children
were: Daniel (of Greene Co. MO, John (of Monroe Co. IN), Elizabeth Roller,
Susanna Florey, Sarah Medlock, Mary Holderman. Wife, Susanna. He owned
land in NC in 1790. When he signed in German it looked like Katss. His
son Daniel married daughter of George Whitley there and then went to Maury
and Lawrence Co. TN. I have researched this line thoroughly. If you have any
questions, please contact me. Joanna A. Baker
From: HarryBak@aol.com
Subject: Dederick Kutch
Date: Thu, 3 Dec 1998
Dear Barbara?, Dedrick Kutch died in Mercer Co. KY in 1833. His children
were: Daniel(of Greene Co. MO, John(of Monroe Co. IN), Elizabeth Roller,
Susanna Florey, Sarah Medlock, Mary Holderman. Wife, Susanna. He owned land
in NC in 1790. When he signed in German it looked like Katss. His son
Daniel married daughter of George Whitley there and then went to Maury and
Lawrence Co. TN. I have researched this line thoroughly. If you have any
questions, please contact me.
Joanna A. Baker
Subj: Re: Dederick Kutch
Date: 98-12-04 07:14:30 EST
From: Harry Bak To: bevans@coutsfamily.com
Dear Barb, We have always assumed that the Tetrick Couts in VA was the
same as Detrick Kutch, carpenter, in NC. His son John said that he was
born in VA while Daniel's daughter claimed MD as her Father's birthplace.
Teter Couts bought land (a peppercorn lease) from Adam Rader on Walnut
Creek in 1761. The deed was recorded in 1779. Since a Susanna was the wife
of Deter Kouts when he sold this land on Walling Creek (then in Rockingham
Co. VA, 1781) and the wife of Dedrick Kutch when he died (he was over 90
years old according to the census) we had always assumed they were the same
man. We may have two families or two marriages or two men.
The fact that he sold his land in VA just before he appeared in NC always
seemed to reinforce this idea. He bought land in Lincoln Co. NC in 1789
and sold this land in 1795 when he moved to KY and bought land on Rolling
Creek. The settlement of his estate after the death of his wife, Susanna,
pinpoints the families of his children and where they had located. The land
was not sold until 1840. His son John married in KY. His son Daniel married
in NC. Daniel had a large family andno probate has been found for him yet,
but many of his children have been tied to him thru marriage records,
tax records and court records. .If this helps or more is needed, let me know.
Joanna
Subj: Cave Couts Date:
98-11-14 15:22:07 EST
From: Njaybird1 To: bevans@coutsfamily.com
Enjoyed the article on Cave Couts. His grandfather, Thomas Johnson
had a sister who is my husband's ggg-grandmother. Are you
interested in Johnson and related family history? Do you have the
article Cave Johnson wrote for his sons in 1887 in picturesque
Clarksville, TN ?[No, but I would love to have it]
Subj: Mary Magdalene Stark
Date: 98-09-17 06:39:11 EDT From:
UncDoo@aol.com Can you quote your sources on Mary Magdalene Couts, who
married Walter Stark. My sources indicate she was a Woodard, sister to
Arthur Woodard. Can you shed some light on this? She was my
ggg-grandmother. (Their daughter, Nancy married my gg-grandfather, Gravit
Edwards) Thanks,
Dewey Edwards Springfield, TN
[Desc.of James Stark Vol 1-3]
Subject: Re: Mary Magdalene Stark
Date: Sun, 18 Oct 1998 09:15:18
EDT From: UncDoo@aol.com
Yes, I have the same Walter Stark info (my ggg-grandfather) except I have
Mary Magdalene WOODARD as his wife. Most of my info came from the three
volume "James Stark" collection, as well as other sources.
Thanks, Dewey
From: UncDoo@aol.com Subject:
Re: Mary Magdalene Stark Date:
Sun, 18 Oct 1998 09:20:25
Arthur Woodard died testate 1856 in Robt. Co. TN.. His widow filed a suit
to dissent from the will to get a larger part of the farm. They had no
children, so all his brothers and sisters, or their heirs, each got a
small portion. They were all listed by name in the suit. Dewey
********[ OK "Starkies", what do you
have in your files about Mary M? I only know what I have read in the
books…but books have been wrong. I haven't found her in Uncle Henry's
will or mentioned by brother John.
Please, let me know…Barb]*********
Couts Family Assoc. Name:
Thomas P. Kouts From: born in
Evansville, tomnmary@midamer.net
In Comments: Didn't know you had a web page, guess I never looked.
Great grandfather was born in Kouts, In. Have been there several times.
Also have attended 1 Kautz, Katz,
Kouts reunion.
Name: STEVEN BRIEN COUTS
TFOREU@AOL.COM Just Surfed
On In From: REDDING, CA Comments: thank you for providing information
on my family - I was Most interested in col. Cave Couts -it is true
that the apple does not fall from the tree. Is there any additional
information on Colonel Couts West Point days?? Thanks again.
Record 94
Name: Hope Caldwell Petrofsky
Hoppieami@aol.comReferred by:
Just Surfed On In From: Texarkana, Tx. Comments: I was looking at the
Caldwell page..it's very good. I wonder perhaps if you can help me. I
have hit a stump. I'm looking for James Draden Caldwell or Colwell born
abt 1834 in S.C. county unknown, I can't trace back past him, unable
to find his parents. Do you have him as a descendant of one of those
lines? If we can connect I have a vast amount of info on Caldwell's in
Arkansas from his descendants...Please e-mail me
either way
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County
Compiled and Submitted
by Charles Burnett
Oklahoma City Oil Journal
March 14, 1931 BATTLED NOTED
OUTLAW
Both Roe and Joe BURNETT were among the city's early
day officers, the family being pioneers who helped blaze the trail of
civilization in the southwest. The family is related to the late
Captain S. BURK BURNETT, famous pioneerof Texas, who owned the
Burkburnett ranch. The late Joe BURNETT, uncle of Sam BURNETT, engaged
in a hand-to-hand struggle with "Red" KELLEY, a noted outlaw, a
number of years ago. BURNETT had arrested KELLEY near the old Frisco
depot. During the struggle BURNETT killed the outlaw. KELLEY was the slayer
of Bob FORD, outlaw and former partner of Jesse
JAMES.
PIONEER DRILLERS
JOHNSON and KEMNITZ, drilling contractors, have taken the contract
for the No. 1 Burnett. This firm has drilled about 20 gushers since
the city field opened, all of which were for the I.T.I.O Company. The
drillers completed a well flowing 62,500 barrels last week for the
Mid-Tex Company in the north end of section 2. Sam BURNETT
is owner of part of the fee under the new operation by the Manning
Oil Corp. Mr. BURNETT is a son ofRoe BURNETT, who was a city
policeman for 22 years, also is a nephew of the late Joe BURNETT,
who served as night chief of police under Mayor Henry M. SCALES,
also as captain of detectives.
(Note) Samuel Burk BURNETT, was born in Bates County, Missouri January
1, 1849 to Jerry and Nancy(Taylor)BURNETT. When he was eight yrs.
old his family moved to Denton Co. Texas. About 1875 Samuel Burk
BURNETT bought a large piece of land on the Big Wichita. Later he
bought the 6666 Ranch, B Ranch and Dixon Creek Ranch, all of them in
Texas, constituting some 350,000 acres. He was married twice: 1st
in 1871 to Ruth LOYD, 2nd in 1892 to Mary COUTS. Burk BURNETT died in
Ft. Worth, Texas June 27, 1922.
CAN YOU REMEMBER OLD
FAMILY STORIES?
We are looking for folklore from your family lines. Stories that
have been handed down about the origins of our Couts family,
what life was like, way back when, how or why you family moved
where they did, or with whom they moved. This type of information
can give us another slant to the reason the family broke up into
small pocket areas. Plus, the stories will help fill the newsletter
with interesting information. Our Couts lines seem to be as follows:
CHILDREN OF CHRISLEY ~ John and Polly Couts moved to Indiana, circa
1813-probably for land bounty from the War of 1812 or new cheap lands.
John's sister Elizabeth Anderson and her family moved there with
them, as did Larkin Graham and his wife, stepsister to John, Christine
Collins. There seem to be several Wrights and Caldwells who moved
there about the same time. 2.) Chrisley Jr. and Aaron Couts moved with
Capt. William Collins and their mother Sarah Wright, the Birds/ Byrds
(Nancy Couts daughter of John Sr.), the Bartons (Nancy Couts married
John Barton) , Baileys, and Moons. They met and married into the
Pearsons. CHILDREN OF JOHN ~ Nancy Bird to Missouri, Mary married
Appleton and lived in Kentucky, James, Sally, Jackson, Archer,
Robertson, John Franklin Jr. and William Henry remained in Tennessee,
but W.H.'s children went to Texas (J.R. Couts) and California (Cave
and WillieCouts) . CHILD OF WILLIAM ( Mary Couts Vaughn) and CHILDREN
OF MARY MAGDALINE ~ (And Walter Stark) stayed close to Robertson County.
May not be ours?/? CHILDREN OF MARGARET ~ disappeared, possibly to
Southern Tennessee or Georgia. CHILDREN OF HENRY ~ died in childhood.
Surnames: BOMAR, COUTS, FREEMAN, LINCOLN
Responses:
Early Morning Freeman-Couts
Trivia : Tom Wilbur -- Sun, 11 Oct 1998
I also am interested in the Freemans of early Hardin (I suspect the
circa 1850 and later Hardin-area Freemans were not related). Elizabeth
Freeman married Dr. Wilson Bomar, at Hardin County, 1806. They were my
ancestors (and I can prove it with real evidence). An Elisha Freeman
was surety to their marriage (although I don't believe he was her
father and I suspect there were two or three different Elisha Freemans
in early Hardin records). In the 1820 (Harrison County, Indiana) and 1830
(Hardin) censuses, Wilson and Elizabeth Bomar were enumerated next to
Philip and Susanna (Couts) Freeman (they married at Hardin, 1814, and
Henry Couts was surety). Early Hardin-Hart Church records also suggest a
relationship between the two families. About 1833, Wilson and Elizabeth
(Freeman) Bomar and their eleven children (who produced 80+ grandchildren)
went to Knox County, Illinois, and Philip and Susanna (Couts) Freeman went
to Hickman-Fulton Counties, Kentucky. A note on a circa 1835 Hickman
tax record suggested Philip's father was a Thomas Freeman. In the
1850-60 censuses Philip was listed as born in Mississippi. He lived with
a possible son named Elisha and near yet another, slightly younger, Elisha
Freeman, who also was listed as Mississippi born. From the censuses, both
Philip and that Elisha had children; but those children have been hard to
follow through later census and other records. I suspect, with some
evidence, that one or more sons and husbands of daughters joined the
Confederates and were killed in the War. Alas, I know little about
Confederate pension and other records. Early Amite and Adams County,
Mississippi records have as many Freemans as early Hardin (and Elisha
[not Elijah] and Thomas are prominent given names in them). Men--the same
ones?--named Elisha Freeman also show up in the land, census, and other
records of other states, including Illinois and Missouri. Henry Couts'
1815 Hardin will included a bequest to "Henry Boman [sic] son of
Wilson Boman [sic]." He was Henry C. Bomar, third child and second
son of Wilson and Elizabeth. I have one bit of indirect evidence--no
proof--to suggest Henry C. Bomar's middle name was Couts (he has MANY
descendants, mostly in the American West). Like the author of this query,
I would like to hear from anyone who can add any bits of new and real info
to the above (and many more) Freeman, Bomar, Couts, and related puzzles. A
caution: this Freeman family has been blessed with the usual share of guess
work, wishful thinking, commercial baloney, etc., that passes for Modern
(or Modem) Genealogy Lite. And, as with many early Kentucky families,
that Lite Etc. is being spread via cyber-speeds and visually -attractive
programs that combine to give it a satisfying--or, at least, hypnotic--
appearance of substance. ("Oh, your web site is SO attractive and
well organized!") According to LaRue Historian Otis M. Mather,
by the way, Thomas Lincoln and family lived only briefly--perhaps
June 1808 until May 1811--in the same neighborhood-South Fork
of Nolin--as our families. (Maybe it's time for another cup of Heavy
Coffee.) William Henry Couts - Article copied from the Clarksville
Newspaper When the order came to fire, word was passed to each
man, aim at the breastplate of the enemy and fire as rapidly as possible.
The squirrel shooters of Tennessee and Kentucky thinned the lose
quartered columns of charging the English soldiers causing them to
hesitate in the face of the deadly aim of these young back-woodsmen.
All along the defense line the story was the same with the other units,
too much fire power coming from men fortified behind barricades of
bales of cotton and in trenches causing the brave English troops to
retreat beyond the range of the squirrel rifles. During the battle,
William received a slight leg wound, but remained at his post until the
last charge had been repulsed. The Tennessee Volunteers remained in
the New Orleans area several weeks. When the order was given to return,
William was well and ready to travel home. William married the daughter
of the Honorable Cave Johnson, Postmaster General under President James
K. Polk.
Historical Quarterly, Eastern
Robertson County Summer 1998
Commission book of governor
John Sevier 1796- 1801
James Norfleet, James Appleton and William Cheatham commissioned
Justices of the Peace in and for the County of Robertson during good
behavior November 2 1797. Charles Simmons commissioned on Ensign in
regiment of Robertson County during good behavior January 9th 1800.
MRS. GEORGE COUTS OF
MONROE TWP. DIES IN SLEEP TUESDAY
Pike Co. Democrat March 22, 1935
Mrs. Louise (Fleenor) Couts, wife of George Couts, was fund dead
in bed alongside of her husband about 9:50 o'clock Tuesday night,
at their fame home a half-mile south of "Simtown" in Monroe
Township. She and her husband had retired about 8:20 o'clock and
evidently had fallen asleep. He aroused from his slumber and in
his effort to awaken her, found that she had passed away in her
sleep. Coroner Owen Eubanks of this city was called from his home
just a short time after the discovery that she had died, and when he
made an examination, it was his verdict that death was caused by
cerebral hemorrhage. Mrs. Couts was born in Monroe Twp. near
where she died, her maiden name having been Fleenor. She was
68 years 7 months and 8 days old. Surviving is the husband together
with four children, Curtis, at home, Tom, who lives south of Winslow,
Sarah, the wife of Postmaster Pearl Mc Cord of Winslow and Charley
of Monore Twp. All married. A number of grandchildren also survive.
Mrs. Couts was a member of the Spurgeon Baptist Church, was a
devoted wife and a loving mother. Her funeral took place at 2:00 p.m.
yesterday from that church with burial in the adjoining cemetery.
Historical Quarterly, Eastern
Robertson County Autumn 1998
Printed with permission from Ruby Covington
THE WEDDING By Ruby Covington
This article was created through personal interview and written
diary loaned to me by Mrs. Robbie Holmes. Christmas Eve, Wednesday,
December 24, 1919, two couples knock on the door of Walter Wilson,
JP, asking to be married. Bedford Holmes, veteran back from World
War I, son of Alonzo and Sarah Beasley Holmes to wed Robbie Franklin
Patterson, daughter of Robert C. and Eliza Wright Patterson.
The second couple Byrum Payne, son of James and Flora Byrum Payne to
wed Ruby Simmons, daughter of T.W. (Babe) and Nellie Couts Simmons.
They left the Wilson Home in two cars heading for Nashville, some 35
to 40 miles away. The Holmes couple arrived first as the Payne's had
a flat tire on the way.
From the diary:
We "4" went to Nashville to the Princess Theater, spent the
night at the Maxwell House. (According to Mrs. Holmes they ate breakfast
the nest morning at a place near the hotel called Papa John's). We,
Bedford and I, went to Mama's and Auntie and Uncles (Tom and Carrie
Wright), Mother, Mama, Papa (John and Lucy Wright), Aunt Alice
(Patterson), Bedford and I ate dinner up there. We came home and Ruby
and Byrum came over here and spent the night. Saturday we went over
to Mr. Holmes and took dinner, then came home and spent the night.
Sunday A.M. we went to PH (Pleasant Hill ) to church, Tommie Roark
preached. We all 4 went to Will Jernigan's for dinner and to Portland.
All of us stayed until Monday P.M. The on Tuesday Mama, Papa, Coma
and Billy (Groves came and spent the day. Bedford and I went to town
(Cross Plains) with Billy and he came off and left us. We had to
walk part of the way and we met Tom (Brooks) over on Mr. Covington's
hill in the buggy coming after us. On Wednesday we went after Nola and
Sister. They came and spent the night. We carried them home on
Thursday and went to Nannies (Mrs. David Wright) for supper.
On Sunday we stayed at home all day. Mother, Bedford and I.
The next Saturday, Bedford carried Pauline and me to Pleasant
Hill to YWA and GA meetings. We had a YWA meeting but there wasn't
any GA's there. Mother heard Effie (Wright Cline) was sick and she went
out there and spent the night. We went to Pleasant Hill the next day
and to Lizzie May and Vernie's (Pippy) for dinner. We did not get there
until late as Byrum and Ruby got stuck up. On Monday P.M. we carried
mother to Springfield and we spent the night with Leonard and Lovey
(Villines- Bedford's sister & her husband). I went to Coz Annie
(Patterson) the next day. Bedford was at the tobacco sales.
On Wednesday night a crowd came and shivered us: John A
(John A. Covington) and Miss Bonnie (Bonnie Simpson who married John
A.), Nola (Empson), Boots (Hayes), Neola, Roy (Sanders who married Nola),
Joseph (Dr. Swann), Maxie (Empson), Bruce (Cook who married Pauline
Jones), Ara (Jones Cook), Euwel and Priscilla (Swann Glidwell) and
Billy. They did not do anything much. They went in the dining
room and ate some cornbread and ate it.
On Friday we went out to Mr. Holmes and Bedford stripped tobacco.
On Sunday we went to Springfield after mother. On Monday P.M. Bedford
and I went to Cross Plains for a few minutes. One Wednesday I called
down to Mr. Rob's at dinner to see if he wanted anyone to strip
tobacco. He did so Bedford went. I went with him, then mother came
u to Miss Verners. Ruby and Byrum came by going over to Mr. Simmons.
I saw a vacuum cup tire track up to the gate and so I called over at Mr.
Simmons and Lena said they ere there, so I talked to Ruby. Then
on Friday went they came back
they stopped a while…..
PIKE'S COUNTY INDIANAPOLLIS
- April 28, 1905 Pikes County Democrat
Albert Craig and Miss Ethel Couts were married recently at Mr. Carmel,
Ill. and came to this city where a reception was tendered at the
home of the groom's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wm. Craig. About forty
relatives and friends were present to extend congratulations and wish
them a long and happy life. They will reside at Bicknell, where the
groom is engaged in the jewelry business..
CALDWELLS~ Brent Holcomb
scmar@netside.com Subj. Caldwell
I noticed your query on the Laurens County page. Curtis Caldwell,
sometimes spelled Culwell, had a North Carolina grant , which fell
into South Carolina. Check my book titled North Carolina Land
Grants in south Carolina 1741-1773, published by Genealogical Publishing
Co., 1001 N. Calvert St. Baltimore, Md 21202. Also see my we page
www.netside.com/~scmar. Brent H. Holcomb
DISTINGUISHED FAMILIES OF
THE SOUTH, By Bodie
Collins of South Carolina, Kentucky, Missouri Page 76-79
William Collins, of York, England, m. Mary Campbell, descendant of Robert
the Bruce. They had Thomas Collins. THOMAS COLLINS b. 1729 in York,
England; d. Spartanburg, S.C. 9/11/1796. Their gravestones are still
legible and an be seen in Old Nazareth Church Graveyard. Thomas and
Rosanna emigrated to Pennsylvania, where their first child. John Collins,
was born in 1754. Their second child William was born there in 1755. In
1760, the family was living in Rockingham, Virginia, but in 1761, Thomas
and Rosanna with their children had taken up a large survey on the Tyger
River, Spartanburg District, South Carolina. (Ref: Howe's "History
of the Presbyterian Church", Vol 1, page 544).
CHILDREN WERE: John b. 1754 d. 4/4/1841, m/. Elizabeth
Brown S.C.; William b. 1755 (see later); Richard; Frances,
(Fanny), m. _____ Allan; Joseph Alexander b. 2/10/1763,
d. 8/24/1847, m. Elizabeth Fleming; Jane (Jennie) b. 6/23/1765,
d. 11/9/1849, m. Col. William Austin; Nancy b/ 1768, d. 1859;
Alexander, Mary m. ____White.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR RECORD OF THESE CHILDREN:
Capt. John S.C. Militia; Richard Roebuck's Company; Joseph
Scout, S.C.; Jane served by carrying important dispatches
in her saddlebag, at night and alone; swimming two rivers to
N.C. (Ref: Austin and Allied families p 35); Capt. William
Collins served under Lt. Col. Marion. ….
After the War, William and his brother, Richard went to Kentucky. They
settled in Warren County, but Richard returned later to S.C. as there is
a record showing that he served as "Citizen Attorney" in a land
matter, and his WILL is there. He was on the Tax List of Warren Co. Ky,
in 1800 and 1801. Both Capt. William Collins and his brother Richard were
Bounty Recipients.
Kentucky was then a frontier, over-run with Indians and with wild beasts.
There is an interesting story in records of Western Ky. University
concerning Richard. [Can some one find this story? I want to know who the
Dutchman was.] One night, he was sleeping under a tree with four or five
companions, when Indian surprised and killed them all except Richard, who
escaped to a Dutch settlement, clad only in his shirt. An old Dutchman
kindly took him in, and clothed him in his own blue britches and yellow
jacket, and as Richard was tall and thin, and the old Dutchman was short
and fat, Richard's appearance was a source of great merriment to the
young daughters of the family.. the women of the house soon wove and
made a new suit for Richard…
Capt. William Collins was about 20 at the outbreak of the War.
He fought in almost every battle in the area- at King's Mountain, at the
Battle of Cowpens, and was among those who chased Tarleton out of
the South. He was twice wounded…. William took up a large survey
in Warren Co. Kentucky, near Bowling Green (as it is today). There he
married a Miss Wright born in Virginia, probably the daughter of John
Wright) circa 1796. [Sarah Wright- widow of Chrisley Couts].
CHILDREN: Sarah, b. 1798; Richard b. 1800; William b. 1802; Thomas b.
ca 1805; Christine; Rosey; and Joseph. Richard Collins married Caty Ennis
(Innes) 4/16/1818; Christine married LeRoy Barton, 8/2/1827; Sarah married
Elijah Key 9/24/1799; and William married Susannah Bowmer 7/18/1818…
William married Nancy
Moore Dyer, widow of Abner Dyer. They were married 3/8 /1818. [It has
been recorded that Sarah Wright died , in Lafayette Co. Missouri ,
January 29, 1823]
By his second marriage, Capt. William Collins had a daughter
Harriet Adaline Columbia Ann (called by a shortened form of
Columbia, b. 1/27/1818, married Ira Anderson and another child,
Jane, died in infancy. William Collins was an important landowner of
Warren County. He was Deputy Sheriff; Tax Collector; was chosen
"Defender of Orphans", bondsman, etc; appointed "Chairman
of Riders" (to ride and guard against unlawful assembly of slaves);
road surveyor. He was a man of affluence and renown, resected by all;
known as "Handsome Big Bill". (Ref: Records in Western y
University Library; Warren County Minute Books, and Court Records,
Bowling Green, KY).
In 1825, we find him with his family, sons-in-law, and friends,
settling in Davis Township, Lafayette County, Missouri, lush, rich land
surrounding what is today the town of Lexington. He died there in April 1835.
HEIRS OF WILLIAM COLLINS: William Collins; Richard Collins; Larkin Graham
[settled in Warrick Co. Indiana] for wife Sarah Collins; Wheeler O. Harris for
wife Rosey; Thomas Collins; Leroy Barton for wife Christine; Harriet A.C.A.
Collins; and wife Nancy Collins son, Joseph Collins is not mentioned, but
had been sent back to Warren Co KY to dispose of some property for his
father, and on his return to MO, died in St. Louis, MO, 1856…..
LAFAYETTE COUNTY MO- GENERAL
INFORMATION ABOUT THE CONNECTED
FAMILIES OF BARTON, COUTS,
COLLINS, PEARSON, WRIGHT
from "The Prairie Gleaner" Vol 12,
No. 4-Sept. 1981, W. Central Mo. Genealogical Society Quarterly Contributed
by Mrs. Vivian Williams, Pattonsburg, Missouri 64670When the Boone Salt
Mines opened in Howard Co., Missouri, a large number of families went to
that county; boundaries have been changed. We have a record of a Joseph
Collins, John Barton, some of the Wright family and John Randolph
Pearson older sons in Howard Co. around 1816 or later. It is evident that
the caravans of families crossed South Missouri over to Barton County,
which was named for Senator Barton, a relative of these Bartons. They
went north, then east; the river was too hazardous to travel with wagons.
Around 1824, Joseph Collins, a bachelor and brother to William Collins,
a revolutionary soldier, entered Davis Township. He was the first man to
enter the area which is now just south of Hayview. Shortly after a
caravan of connected families came including William Collins, who was a
descendant of Scotch and English royalty, with his wife Sarah Wright Couts
Collins, widow of Christly Couts Sr. The family included her Couts
children [John and Polly Couts and Elizabeth and Joshua Anderson were
married and had left for Indiana in 1813. Later, Larkin Graham is also
found in Indiana] and their Collins children, also Elizabeth Barton,
who was a widow, Bently Barton and his wife, Patricia Pearson.
These people were Baptist, having joined the Southern Baptist Church
movement in the South. The Collins family traveled south and
finally settled near Fayetteville in Johnson County. They are buried
in the cemetery of Liberty Baptist Church , which they helped organize.
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