From: Biographical Review of Cass, Schuyler
and Brown Counties, Illinois 1892, by Biographical Review Publishing
Company, Chicago, Illinois; page 311-12; a reprinted by Stevens
Publishing Co., Astoria, Ill., 1971, is sold by the Schuyler County
Historical Society, Rushville, Illinois.
Samuel De Counter, one of the largest land-owners in Woodstock
Township, was born in Brown County, Illinois, October 4, 1827, a son of
Peter Frederick and Nancy Scounts De Counter. They were married
in 1824, near Bonn’s Lick, Missouri. The father was a native of
France, and emigrated to the United States in 1820; five year later he
came to Brown County, and the following year brought his family here;
he bought land which he converted into a fertile farm, residing upon it
until his death at the age of eighty-four years; his wife also died in
the county, at an advanced age, she was a Virginian by birth. Two
children were born to them: a daughter, now deceased, and the subject
of this sketch. Samuel remained at home until he was twelve years
old, and then his father married Mary Manser, who died ten years later.
Samuel engaged in driving a peddling wagon until he was
twenty-five, and then began his career as a farmer. He has been
twice married; his first union was to Miss Catharine Miller, a native
of Summit county, Ohio; she died in Brown county at the age of
thirty-one years, leaving three children. Frederick is married
and the father of five children; Morris L. is married and has seven
children; Emma is married and the mother of seven children. Mr.
De Counter was married a second time in 1860, to Mrs. Harriet Stubbs,
who was born in Floyd county, May 17, 1826, and was the mother of two
children. Her parents, William and Jane (Gailey) Clark, father a
native of Kentucky and the mother of Pennsylvania, emigrated to
Illinois in 1852, and died in this State at an advanced age; they have
ten children, two of whom are now living. By his second marriage
Mr. De Counter had one daughter, who died at the age of twenty-one
years, leaving one boy, Clarence Southey.
Politically, he adheres to the principles of the Democratic
party, but takes no active interest in the movements of that
body. He has been one of the most energetic and enterprising of
farmers, and has amassed a handsome estate. He has always pursued
strictly honorable methods, and has an enviable reputation wherever his
name is known.
From: Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois Illustrated 1908, edited by
Newton Bateman, LL. D. and Paul Selby, A. M., Volume II, Schuyler
County”, edited by Howard F. Dyson, pages 811-812, a Reprinted by
Stevens Publishing Company, Astoria, Illinois 61501, 1970, is sold by
the Schulyer County Historical Society, Rushville, Illinois.
De Counter, Samuel - A lifelong resident of the locality which
is still his home, and still in the days of his prime, one of the most
vigorous, successful and useful characters of Schuyler County, was born
in Ripley (once part of Woodstock) Township, Schuyler County, Ill. {now
Brown County}, October 4, 1827. He is a son of Peter Frederick
and Nancy De Counter, natives of France. His father was a soldier
in the Napoleonic wars, and was with Bonaparte when the great Emperor
was captured. Having effected his escape, the subject of this
sketch immediately came to the United States, landing at New
Orleans. After teaching school there for a while he went to St.
Louis, and then to Boone’s Lick, Mo., where about the year 1823 he was
married to Nancy Sconts, a lady of Scotch-German descent. In the
spring of 1827, they came to Illinois, settling in Schuyler County, in
the southeast quarter of Section 33, Woodstock Township. Peter F.
De Counter cleared and cultivated a well conducted farm in moderate
extent, on which he remained until the time of his death, in 1855, his
wife having passed away in 1833. They were the parents of two
children, Jeanetta and Samuel. The former married Jonas Albert,
by whom she had three children, as follows: William Albert, Ida and
Samuel Albert. William A. is now a resident of Kansas, living in
Smoking Valley. Ida first married Alpheus Eddy, and after his
death, Jonas Albert, by whom she had one child, Sherman Dalgreen, now
living at Los Angeles, Cal., both of his parents being deceased, the
death of the mother having occurred in 1884. Samuel Albert has
been for twenty years lost to the family, no tidings of him having been
received during that period.
In early youth, Samuel De Counter had an opportunity of
attending school about three months only. He left home when he
was little more than twelve years of age, his father having married a
second time. When quite a young man, he had some experience in
riding race horses, and from that drifted into teaming. About the
year 1850 he turned his attention to farming in the vicinity of his
birthplace, and in 1860, bought eighty acres of land in Section 27,
Woodstock Township, four acres of which had been cleared. A log
cabin with a wide fireplace stood in the opening, and applied himself
to the arduous task of clearing the ground of timber and brush, and
making a comfortable home and productive farm. In this effort he
achieved a signal success. Under careful and sagacious
management, all his undertakings were attended by profitable
results. To his original 80-acre purchase he made additions
amounting to 958 acres, and the home farm now comprises 1038 acres, of
which 668 acres are in Camden Township. His career has been one
of the most prosperous ever known in Schuyler County. Beginning
without the advantages of even ordinary schooling and destitute of
financial resources, he gained his education through keen observation
and by availing himself of every opportunity of self-instruction, and
this, together with energy, perseverance, thrift and integrity, is the
foundation of his present handsome competency. Naturally
possessed of a strong mind and sound judgment, he became a leader in
connection with the agricultural interests of the county, and for many
years was conspicuous in all enterprises pertaining to its progress and
development. In the period of his activity, he was always a man
of genial disposition, of jovial bearing and kindly impulses, and never
declined to relieve the needs of anyone approaching him in distress.
Mr. De Counter has been twice married, his first marriage taking
place in 1850, when Catherine Miller became his wife. Three
children were the issue of this union, namely: Frederick S., Maurice
and Emma. Frederick first married a lady named Shull, and after
her death, was wedded to a Miss Ronery, residing in Camden Township,
Schuyler County, who is now deceased. He was the father seven
children by this marriage, as follows: one who died in infancy;
Harriet, Anna, Dorothy and Brice, all deceased; Peter F. and Clarence
of California. Frederick De Counter departed this life in
1895. Maurice De Counter married Minnie Houser, and by her had
seven children, namely: Dotty and Mary, both of whom died at the age of
twenty years; Nettie, who died in 1905; Samuel, deceased; Susan, Lella
and Lon. Maurice De Counter died January, 1901, and his widow is
a resident of Camden Township. Emma, the third child of Samuel De
Counter’s first marriage, became the wife of Nelson Riding, a farmer in
Camden Township, and they had eight children, namely: Laura, Samuel,
Katie and Daisey (deceased), Clifford, Logan, Raleigh, and Guy.
Catherine (Miller) De Counter, first wife of the subject of this
sketch, passed away in 1854, and Mr. De Counter subsequently wedded
Harriet Stubbs, who died, much lamented, November 7, 1906. She
was a faithful and devoted companion and a constant helpmeet of her
husband for half a century, and much if his success is attributed to
her invaluable assistance. Her union with Mr. De Counter resulted
in one child, Catherine, who died at the age of nineteen years.
The later became the wife of George Luthey, and was the mother of one
child, Clarence.
Politically, Samuel De Counter has been an adherent of the
Democratic party throughout his mature life, but has never entertained
any ambition for official distinction. On numerous occasions he
has been solicited by appreciative friends to become a candidate for
public office, but has steadfastly declined, preferring to devote his
whole attention to his extensive personal interests, and to promoting
the welfare of the community by his earnest endeavors as a private
citizen. He is profoundly respected by all classes in the
locality where his career has spanned a period of four-score years. 1861 Militia Roll
