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.
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. 1861 Militia Roll
