Henry Couts
HENRY COUTS farmer and veterinary surgeon; P.O. Bucyrus; - was born in Lancaster Co., Penn., July 4, 1810. Christian Couts, the father of Henry was of Scotch descent and served three years in the American army during the Revolutionary war. He removed to Crawford County with his family, about the year 1821 when the subject of this sketch was about 12 years of age; they settled in Liberty Township southeast of what is now Sulphur Springs. When Henry Couts was a young man, between the ages of 14 and 20, he would frequently reside with the Indians and occasionally, these visits were several weeks in length. During these visits, he was frequently the guest of Johnny Cake, a half breed Wyandot Indian, whose father was a Frenchman. This savage resided at Upper Sandusky, in a hut which stood near the Wyandot Mission Church. Johnny Cake liked Couts, who occasionally practiced at shooting with the bow and arrows with the two sons of his savage friend; they would occasionally make hunting excursions together on the Honey Creek, Sycamore Creek and the Broken Sword. Couts relates that he also spent many nights with Bill Walker, one of the chiefs. This Indian read law and practiced some at an early day; he lived in a frame house, possessed many articles found in the homes of the whites, and was more civilized than Johnny Cake and many other savages. Walker had two sisters, with whom Coots spent many a pleasant hour. The subject of this sketch was always on friendly terms with the Indians, but once he had a fuss with one called Between-the-Logs. Couts had a very fine hunting dog, and this savage desired to purchase it and while the Indian was hunting on the Broken Sword. he visited Couts with the intention of securing, the coveted animal. But Couts didn't wish to sell the dog, and Between-the-logs became very angry about it ; He was intoxicated, and when Couts entered his cabin after conversing with him the enraged savage ran his knife through the door of the house. He also threatened Couts' life, and drew his gun upon him several times but did not fire at him: but he finally left vowing to remember Cout's in the future after he left. The owner of the dog thought over the indignities he had suffered and grew very angry about it; he followed the Indian several miles, and, overtaking him drew his gun to shoot the savage but the charge did not explode, and the warrior escaped. Couts says he was always glad in after years, that the gun missed fire. But at the next general muster, Between-the-logs attended: he became intoxicated, and commenced to abuse Couts who turned in and thrashed the savage. Couts was a very good wrestler in his younger days; was known as the "bully Dutchman," and one time gained a signal victory over a man named Erastus Finn who challenged any man in Capt. Linton's militia company. Couts was married to Sarah Ann Peterman on Aug. 25, 1833; she was born June 22, 1818. They resided in Liberty Township until September 1841 and then removed to Missouri, where they remained for about twelve months. While a resident of Liberty, he served as Constable several terms. When he returned from Missouri, he settled in Bucyrus and followed the occupation of teamster for Henry Converse, and made frequent trips between Bucyrus and Sandusky City. In 1846 he secured a contract for carrying the mail through the county and continued in this business for some eighteen years. He served as street Commissioner and Marshal of Bucyrus for two terms. In the early part of 1863, he secured a position as Veterinary Surgeon in the 34th O. V. C. under Col. Franklin, and served in this capacity nearly eighteen months. He removed to his present residence southwest of town, about 1866, where he ran a saw-mill until some two years since, when he sold the mill privileges to the County Commissioners; since then, he has been farming and practicing veterinary surgery. Mr. Couts joined the M. E. Church at Annapolis in his younger day's, and was a Class-leader for some five years. After he returned from Missouri, he connected himself with the Protestant M. E. Church, and is at the present time a member of the U. B. congregation. The subject of this sketch is the father of the following children: Samuel, born April 10, 1831; married to Sarah A. Nichols March 24, 1857, and died Nov. 23, 1865; David born Nov. 4, 1835; now a resident of Page Co., Iowa and married to Sarah A. Palmer; John A., born Oct. 2, 1837, married to Mary A.. Burst Nov. 29, 1860, and now a resident of Upper Sandusky; William H., born March 15, 1840, married to Hatty Mead Dec. 10, 1863, and now a resident of Sandusky Township; Barbara E. born March 18, 1842; married to George Sware, Dec. 18. l862, and after her first husband died, to Jacob Shupp, they reside southwest of Bucyrus; Jacob, born March 3, 1844 married Miss Catharine Forney Jan. 17, l864 and now resides in Bucyrus; Jeremiah B., born March 7, 1846, married Susan Myers and is a plasterer in Bucyrus; Frances born, July 18, 1848, and died in infancy; Hiram Andrew, born Nov. 6, 1849, and died May 7, 1871; Eliza Jane, born April 7, 1852. and died in infancy; Sanford, born Sept. 21, l854, married Cynthia Dixon and now a resident of Upper Sandusky; Charles Fremont, born March 29, 1857, married to Hattie E. Mahaffey on Nov. 12, 1878, and resides southwest of town. Six of the sons mentioned above (all who were old enough), enlisted in the Union Army during the late rebellion, and served their country on many a bloody-battle-field; their father was too old to enlist as a soldier, but entered the service as a Veterinary Surgeon.
From History of Crawford County and Ohio, Baskin & Battey, Historical Publishers, Chicago, 1881