Early Settlers of Runnels County

Published by San Angelo Genealogical Society in their publication "Stalkin' Kin"

Originally submitted by Mr. Frank Jenkins
Published in "Stalkin' Kin" Volume IV Number 1

Permission to post here granted by the society.

RICHARD FRANKLIN COUNTS

Richard Franklin COUNTS was born 13 April 1838 at Woodville, Jackson, Alabama. He moved to Senatobia, De Soto, Mississippi, where he married (1) Edna Gould COLEMAN (or Edna GOULD) on 25 October 1860. Descendants are uncertain of the maiden name of his first wife.

Richard Franklin COUNTS enlisted in the Confederate service in the spring on 1862 at Senatobia, De Soto, Mississippi. He was a private in compandy D, 2nd Mississippi Calvalry and was attached to the Army of Tennessee. He participated in the Battle of Denmark, Tennessee, on 29 July 1862; then he participated in the battles of Iuka, Mississippi; Corinth, Mississippi; and Jackson, Mississippi. He was in the Georgia campaign when Generaly SHERMAN marched through the state. In 1864 he participated in the Battle of Charleston, South Carolina. He also fought in other skirmishes and battles. He was wounded in a battle twelve miles north of Florence, Alabama on 14 October 1864.

After the Civil War Richard Franklin COUNTS moved to Johnson Station, Tarrant, Texas. After several other moves, he moved to Coleman, Texas, prior to 1877 and to Runnels, Texas in December 1879. He settles on land which he purchased in the northeast corner of the county near Content, Runnels, Texas.

He and others purchased a piece of land to be used as a public cemetery. This cemetery is now known as COUNTS Cemetery.

Richard Franklin COUNTS helped organize Runnels County. After it was organized, he held the office of Justice of the Peace and Commission of Precinct #2.

By occupation, he was a successful farmer.

His first wife, Edna Gould (COLEMAN) COUNTS was born in 1842 and died on 12 February 1887. She was buried in a marked grave in COUNTS Cemetery, Runnels, Texas. Her children were:

  1. Lucy Gray COUNTS; born 4 October 1861; married (1)23 October 1877, Coleman, Texas; William BREWTON; married (2) 7 August 1881, Runnels, Texas Millard M. GIVENS
  2. Thomas Peter COUNTS; born 1 March 1865; died 1 November 1959; married 16 October 1892 Coleman, Texas; Vana WHISNANT
  3. Eliza Carrie COUNTS; born 30 November 1867; died 19 November 1894; buried Birds Mill, Indian Territory; married 30 December 1885, Runnels, Texas; B.F. MASSENGALE. He married a second time.
  4. Alexander Burford COUNTS; born 8 March 1870; died 6 August 1888.
  5. James Richard COUNTS; born 4 March 1872; died 5 December 1959; married; 5 April 1885; Lula Allen PAIGE
  6. Ada B. COUNTS; born 2 May 1875; married 29 January 1891, Runnels, Texas; R.W. COULSON
  7. Virginia Edna COUNTS; born 13 January 1878; died 1 November 1967, Brown, Texas; married; George Washington GUYER; born 24 June 1868, Henry, Missouri; died 20 April 1854, Brown, Texas.
  8. Lily Pearl COUNTS; born 29 July 1880, died 19 February 1966, Port Lavaca, Calhoun, Texas; married Willard Ewin MICKLE; born 17 December 1880; died 17 November 1940, Port Lavaca, Calhoun, Texas.
  9. Terry Monroe COUNTS; born 6 April 1883; died 17 September 1858; married 5 May 1901, Runnels, Texas; Martha Elizabeth SISTRUNK.

After the death of his first wife, Richard Franklin COUNTS married (2) Ladora Wiley ( or Wylie?) on 16 March 1887, Runnels, Texas. She was born on 10 December 1858 and died on 6 January 1935. She was also buried in COUNTS Cemetery, Runnels, Texas. Her children were:

  1. Nannie Lee COUNTS; born 3 March 1888; married; Carl STEPHENSON.
  2. Sam COUNTS; born 15 July 1889; died 2 March 1905; buried COUNTS Cemetery, Runnels, Texas.
  3. Ezra Homer COUNTS; born 12 November 1890; died 22 April 1908; buried COUNTS Cemetery, Runnels, Texas; married 22 December 1907, Runnels, Texas; Myrtle WHITE.
  4. Willie Davis COUNTS; born 26 January 1891; died 22 February 1972; married; 11 December 1913, Runnels, Texas; Claudia BURFORD.

Richard Franklin COUNTS died on 2 August 1892 and was buried in a marked grave in the cemetery which bears his name (COUNTS Cemetery, Runnels, Texas).

REFERENCES:
Mrs. Anna (GUYER) Pulliam
COUNTS Cemetery, Runnels, Texas Records
Runnels, Texas Court House Records, Probate Record #79
Coleman, Texas Court House Records
RUNNELS COUNTY PIONEERS, The Ballinger Bicentennial Commission, Ballinger, Texas, pages 15, 16, 43
126 Biographical Sketches of Confederate Soldiers, H.D. PEARCE, Robert Lee, Texas, September 1910, page 17.

The above article was written by Frank D. Jenkins, editor of RUNNELS COUNTY PIONEERS

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