Person Page - 29

     Jacob Ruff I was born in 1746 at Germany. He was the son of Johann "John" Ruff. Jacob Ruff I immigrated on 27 Jul 1771 to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He married Anna Catarina Helm, daughter of Unknown Hellm / Helm, on 20 Sep 1774 at New Hanover, Montgomery Co, Pennsylvania. Jacob Ruff I married Anna Barbara "Barbara Ann" Muhlschlagel, daughter of Johann Andreas "Andrew" Muehlschlagel and Anna Maria Emmert, on 12 Mar 1782 at Winchester, Frederick Co, Virginia. Jacob Ruff I died on 25 Dec 1794 at Lexington, Rockbridge Co, Virginia.

      The Ruff family was from Germany. The consensus of opinion is the name is of Tutonic origin and means "great." The name was spelled Roff, Roof, Reuf, Ropp, Rapp, Ruf, Roufe, Rueff, Ruoff, etc and is found frequently in the Ruhr region of West Germany and in England. The first settlers in America were Protestants who were persecuted in the German homeland because of their faith.

Jacob Ruff was born about 1746 based on his 1794 death entry in his family bible. However there were multiple Jacob Ruff's born in 1746 in Germany, so this does not help identify his parents.

Jacob traveled on the brig "America" with the English captain William Copeland Lattimore; made a stopover in London, England; continued from London on 17 July 1771; and landed in Philadelphia, PA. His trip probably originated in Rotterdam, Netherlands. Jacob signed the qualification for foreigners' debarkation on 27 July 1771 which was an oath of allegiance to Britain's King George. Signing at the same time, which may indicate they traveled from the same region, were Johannes Beckman, Johannes Hepp, Justus Kornscheuer, Lorens Pfahl, Johan Georg Hals, Johan Dietrich Heppe, Johan George von Nieder, Jno Martin Van Nieder, Jno Jacob Van Nieder, George Jacob Koeller and Valtin Krieg.

Jacob settled in Hanover, PA. He seems to have had brothers, such as Mathias Ruff, and sisters in PA and later living in Virginia. Jacob migrated down the southwestern route to the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. Another researcher stated Jacob had a brother Simon born in 1753 but the proof is unknown and this research did not find a Simon Ruff on German records, making this name unlikely.

Jacob quickly married into a German family in PA giving credence to his Ruff line emigrating from Germany versus starting in England. Jacob and Catharina Hellm, were married based on a 6 Sep 1774 marriage license on 20 Sep 1774; note the original record refers to her as Hellm[an]; suffixes denotes feminine names and are not a part of the proper name.

Jacob Ruff and his second wife Barbara Muhlschlagel may have married at her father's Muhlschlagel homestead 'Sandy Ridge' on the Cacapon River, Hampshire Co, VA; they appear on the 1782 Frederick Co, VA census. From 1783 until 1785 they possibly lived near New Market, VA in an area between Massanutten and North Mountain. Jacob and Barbara then moved south to Lexington, Rockbridge Co, VA where Jacob bought the entire original block 15 in 1785.

From 1789 to 1793 Jacob owned the ordinary at the Lexington crossroads of the route west to Lewisburg, WV and the road southwest down the valley to the Wilderness Trail and Kentucky. His ordinary provided meals, alcoholic spirits, overnight lodging and blacksmith facilities for shoeing riding and stage horses. It is unclear whether the family also lived in the ordinary; no other mention of a home is noted and Jacob provided for a different home site in his will.

Rev Paul Henkel, understudy to Rev Christian Streit -- a Lutheran chaplain in the American Revolution and friend of the Milschleggel family -- convened Lutheran services at the Ruff ordinary in 1793 to discuss the threat to Lutheranism from the popular religions whose revivalists were drawing huge crowds to open air camp meetings. Meanwhile Rev Streit periodically convened services at the Muhlschlagel home.

In 1794 in Rockbridge Co, VA Jacob signed a bond of indebtedness for twenty pounds to Catherine Ceslon. The same year he signed a note to Andrew Reid for over four pounds.

Jacob left a Bible record of his and his children's births and deaths. His will decreed his children by Barbara become good English scholars and his sons be bound to a trade at about age sixteen. Jacob provided in his will that the ordinary be rented and his family live on 26 acres on Hoffman's Run, which they did not elect to do probably because Barbara married again about 16 months later.

Jacob's will postponed the estate settlement for sixteen years when the youngest son reached age sixteen. Jacob's estate included six windsor and twelve rush chairs, a walnut fall-leaf table, a case clock, walnut cupboard, three pine tables and a walnut table, a mirror, two chest of drawers, two beds, two cows, a horse, a wagon and a female servant. On 5 Nov 1813 Barbara sold the Hoffman's Run land for 76 pounds, about $256.

The Jacob Ruff Main Street ordinary survived the great fire of 1796 and became a desirable location; the Ruffs stayed there until settlement of the will in 1810 when John M. Ruff, his son, purchased the ordinary for one thousand dollars and built his own home on the site. The ordinary and home were on the block bounded by Main and Henry streets (lot 15, 1787 plat) and another Jacob Ruff property was located at lot 6.

     Anna Barbara "Barbara Ann" Muhlschlagel was born on 14 Mar 1762 at Berks Co, Pennsylvania. She was the daughter of Johann Andreas "Andrew" Muehlschlagel and Anna Maria Emmert. Anna Barbara "Barbara Ann" Muhlschlagel was christened at Peter's Church, Richmond Township, Berks Co, Pennsylvania. She married Jacob Ruff I, son of Johann "John" Ruff, on 12 Mar 1782 at Winchester, Frederick Co, Virginia. Anna Barbara "Barbara Ann" Muhlschlagel married Christian Varner / Verner I, son of Peter Varner, on 21 Apr 1796 at Lexington, Rockbridge Co, Virginia.⁵ Anna Barbara "Barbara Ann" Muhlschlagel died on 18 Mar 1836 at Lexington, Rockbridge Co, Virginia, at age 74.

      Anna Barbara Mühlschlägel's birth was noted in her father Andreas' diary, as translated from the German, "14 March 1762 my daughter is born to the world, the witnesses were Michael Gollinger and Anna Barbara Emmert[in], both single, and they gave her the name Anna Barbara." She followed German naming customs and went by the name of Barbara.

Based on an album of her hair lockets last seen in 1937, Barbara had reddish-golden hair. Family tradition is she spoke only broken English. Barbara was a pious Methodist in her later years. Her leather-bound German Bible was printed in 1794 and she dated it 1800. Barbara and her second husband Christian Varner were married by Rev. William Graham. She died at the home of her son John Ruff in Lexington, VA.

Barbara also used the names Milslage, Milshagle, Millslagel and Milschleagle.

     Bessie Mae Cloninger is the daughter of Edward Lee Cloninger and Mattie Louella Winslett.

     Isaac Counts was born in 1780 at Orange Co, North Carolina. He was the son of PVT Nicholas Counts II and Eve Lydge. Isaac Counts married Martha "Patsy" McElhaney, daughter of William McElhaney and Mary Cunningham, on 14 Mar 1803 at Grainger Co, Tennessee. Isaac Counts died c 1845 at Huntsville, Madison Co, Arkansas. He was buried at McBroom Cemetery, Madison Co, Arkansas.

      Isaac Counts moved in 1788 with his family to Grainger Co, TN. Issac and Martha's marriage bond was dated 14 Mar 1803 in Grainger Co, TN and was signed by Issac Counts, John Counts and James Bowen. The marriage bond appears to state "Patsy McMurrey aka McElheny" and another marriage records says "Patsey M. Murry."

About 1831 Issac and his family moved to Madison Co, AR where he became one of the progenitors of the Counts family in Arkansas. The migration may have been fueled by soil depletion in Tennessee. According to Goodspeed's History of Northwest Arkansas, migration from various central Tennessee counties to the future Madison Co, AR has a long history; the first wagon reportedly entered this area in 1828. About 1831 a closely intermarried extended group of McElhaney, Bowen and Counts family members migrated from White and Grainger counties in TN to Madison Co, AR. Understanding how the participants who traveled together were related was key for establishing the parentage of Isaac Count's wife Martha McElhaney.

Among the wagon train travelers were at least six sets of siblings: among the Bowens there were Margaret Hannah and Anney, William B. and Nicolas, John W. and Joseph C; in the McElhaney family Martha and John; in the Counts family Isaac and Mary Anna; and in the Adams family Mary and Sarah. Furthermore given the prevalence of reusing given names within and across generations and the proclivity of these families to have intermarried numerous times, untangling the relationships was time consuming. Extensive Bowen family research was done on the chance that Martha McElhaney was the daughter of John McElhaney and Margaret Hannah Bowen; of note a Lillian McIlhaney married in the early 1700s a John Bowen who became the progentor of the Bowens from Virginia and later Tennessee. The dates associated with the above people are only provided herein to distinguish names from same-named individuals and illustrate generational relationships and thus must be adjusted as further data becomes available on each individual. By 1840 many of the above settlers were living near each other in Madision County, including the families of William, Joseph and Nicholas Bowen and John, William, and another John McElhaney.

A spring wagon trip would have taken over two months. These people settled in the area south of Huntsville near the War Eagle River that would come to be known as Bowen township. According to a letter written by James Upton, "...They were farming without fences. They didn't need them much for there was only one cow, ox or horse to the family and they were at work most of the time. There were plenty of bear, deer, turkey, coon and possum which we all feasted on plentifully." Madison County was created from what was a part of Washington County by the Arkansas State Legislature in 1836. In many cases entire groups of neighbors and relatives moved westward to settle around each other in the area south of Huntsville, the county seat of Madison County. The area along the War Eagle River, a short distance east of Drake's Creek where the Counts lived, was settled beginning in Nov 1834.

The wagon train is believed to have included:

--William B. Bowen (1796- ~1870) and his wife Levica McElhaney (1798-1874) with their baby Martha Bowen (1830-1903) and their parents:
--Henry Bowen (1769-1855) and his wife Mary Anna Counts (#8206; 1778-1866), the parents of siblings William B., Nicolas and Anney Bowen traveling in this wagon train
--John McElhaney (1771-1840) and his wife Margaret Hannah Bowen (est 1773-1845), the parents of Levica McElhaney (1798-1874. Also traveling were John and Margaret Hannah's other children. Margaret Hannah Bowen was the daughter of Sgt Henry Bowen (1738-1808) and Ann Cunningham; Margaret Hannah was also the sister of Annie (below). Margaret Hannah's husband John McElhaney was the son of William McElhaney (~1736-~1801) and Mary Cunningham. Mary and Ann Cunningham were also sisters and daughters of Daniel and Ann Cunningham. Of note in addition to Sgt Henry Bowen, his brothers James, Reece and John all migrated to Grainger Do, TN.
--Nicolas Bowen (1803- ) and his wife Rebecca and their family; Nicholas was the son of Henry Bowen (1769-1855) and Mary Anna Counts and the brother of William B. Bowen (all above);
--John W. Bowen and Joseph C. Bowen, the sons of William B. Bowen by his first wife.
--Mary Adams (1823-1898) and Sarah Adams (1825-1874), the daughters of Levica McElhaney (above) by her 1818 first marriage to Solomon Adams (1799- )
--David Jackson and his wife Anney Bowen (est b 1780) and family; Anney was the sister of Margaret Hannah Bowen and was the daughter of Sgt Henry Bowen (1738-1808) and Ann Cunningham;
--John Bowen and his wife Jane Bridgeman (married 1823) and their family; John was the son of John Bowen (1764-1823) and Sarah Bean (1768-1790).
--Willam Benjamin Boat(w)right and his second wife Nancy Morgan and their family. William first married Jemima Bowen (1792-1821) in 1808. Jemima was the daughter of John Bowen and Sarah Bean.
--James Boatright, the son of William Benjamin Boatright (1784-1875) and his first wife Jemina Bowen (above);
--Issac Counts (1780-1845) and family; Isaac was the brother of Mary Counts (above). Isaac's wife Martha “Patsy” McElhaney (1775-1845) died in Madison Co, AR, so she evidently accompanied Isaac with their children to AR and thus traveled with her brother John McElhaney and her niece Levica McElhaney. Martha was the daughter of William McElhaney (~1736-~1801) and Mary Cunningham.
--Other unidentified people were also in the wagon train.

On 12 Feb 1832 the New Hope Chruch at Kingston was constituted by Elders Wheet, Poston and Hachel with ten members including Isaac Counts and Martha Counts.

Isaac was deceased by 1845 when his heirs George, James, Nicholas, Sally Henderson and Eve Bolinger sold their interests in a slave named Louisiana to their brother-in-law, Pleasant Miller Johnson, who was married to their sister Margaret. (Madison Co, AR Deed Book B)

Other Issac Counts lived in the same areas where our Issac lived, but their years of residence show them to be different from our ancestor. In 1840 an Issac Counts age 30 to 39 was still living n Franklin Co, TN with a family of 7 other individuals including small children. In 1860 an Issac Counts was in Illinois, Washington Co, AR.

Reportedly either Isaac or his brother Aaron had two sons -- Henry and Joell -- who went to Texas about 1860; 1860 would have been very late in life for these sons to move.

     Aaron Counts was born on 8 May 1797 at Grainger Co, Tennessee. He was the son of PVT Nicholas Counts II and Eve Lydge. Aaron Counts married Rutha Hammers, daughter of Joel Hammer and Hannah Otty, on 23 Sep 1817. Aaron Counts died on 30 Nov 1878 at Avon, Sainte Genevieve Co, Missouri, at age 81. He was buried at Mayberry Cemetery, Farmington, Missouri.

      Aaron Counts was also noted as born 3 May 1792, however another sibling was noted as born in 1792.

     George Washington Counts was born in 1804 at Countstown, Grainger Co, Tennessee. He was the son of Isaac Counts and Martha "Patsy" McElhaney. George Washington Counts married Matilda "Tilda" Johnson, daughter of SGT Martin Johnson I and Sarah "Sally" Combs, in 1828 at Warren Co, Tennessee. George Washington Counts died in 1864 at Wesley, Madison Co, Arkansas.

      George Counts left Warren Co, TN and came to northwest Arkansas to Wesley or Thorney Creek by 1828 when he was on the Washington Co, AR tax list. George appeared on the 1830 Washington, Arkansas Territory census with one male age 20 to 29 [George]; one female age 20-29 [wife Matilda] and two males under age 5 [sons William and Martin.] On 6 Apr 1837 George was appointed postmaster in Clinton, Van Buren Co, AR.

On 20 Aug 1838 George living in Washington Co, AR bought 40 acres of public land in Madison Co, AR. In the 1840 census George, age between 30 and 39, is living in Richland, Madison Co, AR with his wife Matilda age 30 to 39; three males age 5 - 9 [sons Martin, Isaac, John]; one male age 10 - 14 [son William]; two females under age 5 [daughters Martha and Mary]; one female age 5 to 9 [daughter Sarah]; one female age 10 to 14 [daughter Caroline.]

On 10 Jul 1844 George received a patent for 80 acres of land. George's land acquisitions are likely what enabled his sons to have farms near his. On 28 May 1846 George's appointment as postmaster in Clinton, AR was renewed.

By 1850 George was farming in Richland, Madison Co, AR; the value of his real estate is unclear but looks like 1200. In 1850 he had a newborn daughter Elizabeth; by 1860 Elizabeth is listed as age 11 and another 11-year-old, Nancy A. Counts, is also in the household. However because there was already a living daughter named Nancy born in 1833 and because Nancy A. born circa 1850 was not listed on the 1850 census she is not a twin of Elizabeth's and is likely the Nancy A. Counts born in 1848 to George's son Martin and was temporarily living with her grandparents when the census was taken.

In 1850 George was living next door to his father-in-law Martin Johnson age 70 born in Virginia and his mother Mary age 70 born in North Carolina. Because of the proximity of the living arrangement George and Mary Johnson are presumed to be the parents of George's wife Matilda. Martin Johnson was farming land worth 300.

On 7 May 1852 George was reappointed postmaster in Clinton, AR again.

Unsourced online data state George's middle name was Washington, his wife was Matilda Johnson born in 1807, and they were married in 1826 in Tennessee.

In 1850 there is a Robert Johnson age 28 living with his family a few homes away from George's son Martin Counts. Also nearby is a Pleasant M. Johnson age 45 with his wife Margaret, both born in Tennessee, with a large real estate holding worth 1200.

In 1860 George was farming and living in Wesley, Richland, Madison Co, AR with real estate valued at 1500 and personal property valued at 1400. On the 1860 census living a few farms away from George are:
--Nicholas Counts [George's brother] age 50 born in Tennessee living with wife Sarah age 45 born in Tennessee; Rufas B. Counts age 17, Martha Counts age 11 and Nelly P. Dorsey age 6, the latter three born in Arkansas.
--Douglas Neal age 23, a farmer born in Tennessee living with Matilda J. age 19 [likely George's niece and the daughter of Nicholas]; Frances Reman age 13 and Paraless Reman age 11. Of note, George Counts had married a Mathilda and the Jefferies interview indicated George had a daughter named Pairlee.
--Bethel Counts [George's nephew and the son of Nicholas] a farmer age 22 born in Arkansas living with Lucinda age 23 and Alex T(?) Counts age 2 and James N. Counts age 1.
--Thomas Counts [George's nephew and the son of Nicholas] a farmer age 23 born in Arkansas living with Caroline age 24, and Siotha Counts age 4 and Josephus Counts age 1.
--Clara Jeffries age 42 and her daughter Clara age 9 who later married George's grandson George Counts.
--A cluster of Johnson families likely related to George's wife Matilda Johnson: Rachel Johnson age 45; Robert Johnson age 38; John Johnson age 20; and Nancy Johnson age 20 living in the C. H. Boatright home.

Note there was also a contemporary George Washington Counts, born 10-5-1805 and died 4-1-1898 who married to a Malinda Tong and had 11 children.

Detailed source:
--Madison Co, AR History and Biography, 1899, http://interactive.ancestry.com/7806/HistMadison-AR-0054/219?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.com%2f%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3fdb%3dHistMadison-AR%26h%3d219%26indiv%3dtry%26o_vc%3dRecord%3aOtherRecord%26tid%3d3296680%26pid%3d-1751995838%26rhSource%3d8054&ssrc=&backlabel=ReturnRecord#?imageId=HistMadison-AR-0054 (history of small towns.)

     William Counts was born on 27 Oct 1827 at Warren Co, Tennessee. He was the son of George Washington Counts and Matilda "Tilda" Johnson. William Counts married (Unknown) Wood a 1852.³ William Counts died on 3 Jul 1914 at Madison Co, Arkansas, at age 86.

      By 1870 William Counts was a farmer with 1500 value in land and 1000 in personal property. He was living with his mother Matilda in Richland, Madison, AR; also living in the household are his siblings Ann T. Counts age 24 and Henry Counts age 23. Living on a farm between William and his brother Martin is an Elizabeth Counts age 45 born in Virginia [born circa 1825 out of the area of the Counts family members were born], who would be too old to to be their sister Elizabeth born in 1849, so the Elizabeth living between the brothers in 1870 must be the widow of one of their brothers (not Martin or Issac's wives named Elizabeth who were still alive) in order to have obtained a portion of the family land.

By the time of the 1880 census William was still farming and living with his mother Matilda near other Counts families judged to be his brothers and his father in Lamar, Madison Co, AR at the time on the 1880 census. Although in the Jeffries interview William was said to have married a Ms. Wood, on the 1880 census the census taker changed William's marital status from married to single. William's age fluctuates by about five years from census to census.

     Martin Counts was born on 8 Feb 1828 at Washington Co, Arkansas. He was the son of George Washington Counts and Matilda "Tilda" Johnson. Martin Counts married Elizabeth "Betty" Lawson, daughter of Maxwell "Max" Lawson and Anna Grey, a 1846 at Arkansas. Martin Counts died on 20 Sep 1908 at Lamar, Madison Co, Arkansas, at age 80.

      Martin Counts was living in Richland, Madison Co, AR in 1850, 1860 and 1870; in 1860 his post office was Wesley and in 1870 it was Drakes Creek. In 1850 Martin was farming his real estate valued at 1000 and in 1860 he was farming with real estate valued at 660 and personal property valued at 850. In 1860 Martin was living next door to his father George's extended household. The 1850 and 1860 census showed Martin was born in Arkansas whereas later census documents stated Tennessee. By 1880 Martin was farming near his sons George and Erastus in Madison Co, AR; also nearby were two Counts families presumed to be his brothers: William age 57 living with their mother Matilda age 72 and Henry age 33 living with his family. Neither Martin or his wife Elizabeth could read or write.

Living near Martin in 1850 was:
--Rhoda Counts age 30 born in Tennessee with her five children
--Maxwell Lawson age 48 and his wife Anna age 45 [parents of Elizabeth, wife of Martin Counts] both born in Tennessee with their nine children.

By 1880 Martin was living in Lamar, Madison Co, AR and was continuing to farm. His son George was living next door with his family and his son Erastus was living nearby with his family. Also living nearby were Henry H. Counts age 23 with his wife Malissa and their family and his brother William Counts age 51 with their mother Matilda.

Martin was still living in Lamar, AR in 1900 and was a widow. He was living in the household of his son Martin (Marcus) D. Counts age 32, his wife Mary J. Counts and their children Audie age 6 and Ottis B. age 2.

     Isaac Nicholas Counts was born on 19 Dec 1831 at Washington Co, Arkansas. He was the son of George Washington Counts and Matilda "Tilda" Johnson. Isaac Nicholas Counts married Elizabeth Mathews Fritts, daughter of John Valentine Fritts, on 14 Mar 1861 at Washington Co, Arkansas. Isaac Nicholas Counts died on 6 Jun 1870 at Madison Co, Arkansas, at age 38.

      During 1860 Issac Nicholas Counts was a farmer living with his wife in his father's household.

     Nancy Caroline Counts was born on 20 Jun 1833 at Wesley, Madison Co, Arkansas. She was the daughter of George Washington Counts and Matilda "Tilda" Johnson. Nancy Caroline Counts married Fielding "Felix" Hash on 6 Mar 1851. Nancy Caroline Counts died on 26 Aug 1917 at Goshen, Washington Co, Arkansas, at age 84.

     Fielding "Felix" Hash was born in 1828. He married Nancy Caroline Counts, daughter of George Washington Counts and Matilda "Tilda" Johnson, on 6 Mar 1851. Fielding "Felix" Hash died in 1894.

     John B. Counts was born in 1835 at Richland, Madison Co, Arkansas. He was the son of George Washington Counts and Matilda "Tilda" Johnson. John B. Counts married Hannah Drake c 1854. John B. Counts died on 6 Sep 1870 at Madison Co, Arkansas.

     Sarah "Sallie" Counts was born on 20 Nov 1836 at Wesley, Madison Co, Arkansas. She was the daughter of George Washington Counts and Matilda "Tilda" Johnson. Sarah "Sallie" Counts married George Washington Fritts, son of John Valentine Fritts, in 1853. Sarah "Sallie" Counts died in Feb 1880 at Madison Co, Arkansas, at age 43.

     Martha Asliene Counts was born on 13 Oct 1838 at Wesley, Madison Co, Arkansas. She was the daughter of George Washington Counts and Matilda "Tilda" Johnson. Martha Asliene Counts married Benjamin Franklin Clark on 22 Mar 1855 at Goshen, Washington Co, Arkansas. Martha Asliene Counts died on 14 Feb 1901 at Goshen, Washington Co, Arkansas, at age 62.

     Mary Counts was born on 9 Sep 1840 at Wesley, Madison Co, Arkansas. She was the daughter of George Washington Counts and Matilda "Tilda" Johnson. Mary Counts married Mark Dekalb Lucas on 10 Jul 1860. Mary Counts died on 16 May 1931 at Wesley, Madison Co, Arkansas, at age 90.

     Mark Dekalb Lucas was born in 1839. He married Mary Counts, daughter of George Washington Counts and Matilda "Tilda" Johnson, on 10 Jul 1860. Mark Dekalb Lucas died in 1914.

     Amanda Jane Counts was born in Mar 1842 at Madison Co, Arkansas. She was the daughter of George Washington Counts and Matilda "Tilda" Johnson. Amanda Jane Counts married Sylvanus Joshua Blackburn in 1868. Amanda Jane Counts died in 1900 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

     Clyde Ogle married Dorris Laverne Weathers, daughter of Lemuel "Lem" McDuffie Weathers and Mary Francis Garris, a 1999.

     James "Jim" Seward McDonald was born in 1849. He married Anna Elizabeth "Eliza" Counts, daughter of George Washington Counts and Matilda "Tilda" Johnson, in 1876 at Arkansas. James "Jim" Seward McDonald died in 1927.

     Henry H. Counts was born on 10 Mar 1835 at Arkansas. He was the son of George Washington Counts and Matilda "Tilda" Johnson. Henry H. Counts married Sarah Ann Brewer in 1851 at Cabot, Pulaski Co, Arkansas. Henry H. Counts married Melissa E. (Unknown) a 1870. Henry H. Counts died in 1880 at Richland, Madison Co, Arkansas.

      Henry H. Counts, a farmer, was living near Counts' families who are presumed to be his brothers and father in Lamar, Madison Co, AR at the time on the 1880 census. However, there may have been two Henry H. Counts families in that area because records show both a wife Elizabeth and a wife named Sarah Ann Brewer.

     Erastus Azariah Counts was born on 29 Sep 1859 at Richland, Madison Co, Arkansas. He was the son of Martin Counts and Elizabeth "Betty" Lawson. Erastus Azariah Counts married Lorea Etta "Laura" Thompson a 1878. Erastus Azariah Counts married Delilah "Lila" Sherry a 1881. Erastus Azariah Counts died on 10 Oct 1938 at Elkins, Washington Co, Arkansas, at age 79.

      At the time of the 1880 census Erastus / Erastas Counts was a farmer living a couple of homes away from his parents and his brother Martin.

     Ciner Boone Counts was born on 23 Jun 1861 at Japton, Madison Co, Arkansas. She was the daughter of Martin Counts and Elizabeth "Betty" Lawson. Ciner Boone Counts married Steven Harvey Springston in 1884 at Arkansas. Ciner Boone Counts died on 2 Mar 1933 at Washington Co, Arkansas, at age 71.

      Ciner Counts was also noted as Seener Counts.

     Steven Harvey Springston was born a 1859. He married Ciner Boone Counts, daughter of Martin Counts and Elizabeth "Betty" Lawson, in 1884 at Arkansas.

     William Lenton Young was born in 1861. He married Martha Ida Counts, daughter of Henry H. Counts and Sarah Ann Brewer, in 1883. William Lenton Young died in 1942.

     John Andrew Ellis was born a 1880. He married Minnie Lenora Counts, daughter of George Washington Counts and Clara Jeffries, on 11 Oct 1905 at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Co, Oklahoma.