PFAUTZ-FOUTS-FOUTZ NEWSLETTER
No. 13 March 1987 No. 13
Published by Dean R. Foutz, 1600 Kapiolani Blvd., Suite 1130, Honololu Hawaii 96814
ADOPTED SURNAME, AND ALL USED ‘FOUTS’
BLACK FOUTS ARE MOST NUMEROUS IN THE MIDWEST, BUT HAD NORTH CAROLINA ORIGINS; AT LEAST ONE FAMILY APPEARS TO HAVE OBTAINED SURNAME BY DESCENT
While Black Fouts are few compared to Blacks of other surnames, their origin in most part can be traced to slaves belonging to Absalom and Dougan Fouts, of Randolph Co., North Carolina, and Buchanan Co., Missouri, or to Solomon Fouts, of Ashe Co., North Carolina; Polk Co., Tennessee, and Murray Co., Georgia.
We have had no correspondence from any Black Fouts. Our data, therefore, is limited to Civil War military and pension records and what we have been able to glean from the U.S. Censuses.
Absalom and Dougan Fouts were brothers and were the sons of Jacob Fouts and Elizabeth Plummer. Jacob was a son of John Daniel Fouts and Mary (Garren?) and a grandson of Theobald Pfautz Sr., and Catherine Spengel. There were only three children in Jacob and Elizabeth's family, and in the late 1820's Absalom and Dougan, along with their sister Celia and her husband Larkin Arnold took up land in Shelby Co., Indiana, concurrently with their uncle Philip Fouts' coming north from Buncombe Co., North Carolina. The Fouts settlement in Shelby County did not last ten years, for Absalom -and Dougan went back to Randolph Co., N.C., in 1835 when their father died and left them a number of slaves and substantial land, Shortly thereafter, Philip Fouts and son Larkin Fouts, both of whom had Indiana land, sold out and moved to Polk Co., Missouri. The Larkin Arnolds, however, remained in Shelby Co., Indiana.
Economic conditions were depressed in North Carolina; the land was largely worked out--- so in the mid-1840s Absalom and Dougan Fouts sold out and moved to Buchanan Co., Missouri, about as far north and as far west in that State as could be located and hold slaves without abolitionist harassment.
From here on, it is the story of the Black Fouts:
In 1906 DUKE FOUTS, a veteran of the 54th Massachusetts (Colored) infantry and Co. H, 68th U.S. Colored Infantry, applied for a Civil War pension. He stated that he was born in Randolph Co., N.C., on 15 Jan 1836, that he was taken to Missouri as a slave by Dougan Fouts and subsequently sold to Tom Benton. He ran away during the Civil War, made his way to Denver, Colorado Territory, where he enlisted in the 54th Massachusetts. (Massachusetts was a radically abolitionist state and ranged throughout the nation in recruiting men to fight against the South. The Adjutant General of the State of California is his report of that state's participation in the Civil War noted that five regiments of Massachusetts troops had been raised in California!). Duke Fouts served from 24 Feb 1864 (Denver) until 5 Feb 1866 (Camp Parapet, Louisiana) when he was mustered-out. He lived at Red River Landing, Louisiana, for seven years and then located in Adams Co., Mississippi, where he spent the remainder of his life. Although married to Esther Tucker on 2 Feb 1878 at Natchez, there were no children. He died 22 Mar 1908. His wife died 31 Mar 1934 in Natchez.
WILLIAM FOUTS, Co. D, 13th Heavy Artillery, U.S. Colored Troops, identified as a "mulatto," enlisted for Civil War service on 3 Mar 1865 at Chicago, Illinois. He identified his birthplace as "Missouri," but never specified a county. He was mustered-out at Louisville, Kentucky, on 11 Nov 1865. He never married, had a nomadic life, filed for his disability pension from the Indiana State Prison in LaPorte in 1891, and died in Chicago on 4 Oct 1905.
LEVI FOUTS, lst Sgt., Co. K, 83rd U.S. Colored infantry, enlisted originally in the 2nd Regiment, Kansas Colored Infantry, on 17 Oct 1863 at Fort Scott, Kansas, noting that he had been born in Buchanan Co., Missouri. He was mustered-out of service on 9 Oct 1865, with a distinguished record of valor and promotion. Levi died 19 Jun 1891 in Atchinson Co., Kansas. On 11 August of that year, his wife Rosa, nee Rosa Campbell, applied for a widow's pension. She proved her marriage to Levi Fouts on 18 Jun 1869 at Atchinson, Kansas (an Alfred Fouts attested to both Levi and Rosa being of age in obtaining the marriage license). According to Census and Pension data, there were five children: Mary, b. 1869; Albert, b 1871; William, b. 1874; George, b. 3 Mar 1876; and Roy, b. 27 Dec 1880. Albert, William, and Roy were all living with their mother in Atchison, Kansas, in 1900. Rosa died 4 May 1900 (three days after the Census enumeration). She was 47-years-old.
SIDNEY J. FOUTS, Co. H, 55th U.S. Colored Infantry, enlisted 31 Oct 1864 at Burlington, Iowa, giving "Iowa" as his birthplace, and being a substitute for Harrison Blacklidge of Des Moines Twp., Van Buren Co., Iowa. He was mustered-out of service on 31 Dec 1865 at Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Sidney J. Fouts never applied for a pension, has no veteran's file. A Van Buren County history notes that he was a barber there for many years. He is not enumerated in the Census of 1900. The only Black enumerated in Iowa in 1900 is listed with a Kansas birthplace.
LISTED IN CENSUS OF 1900
There are three Black Fouts households listed in Missouri; 2 in Kansas; one in Iowa; and one in California in 1900, all of which are Missouri-Kansas in their origins.
Southwards, there is one family each in North Carolina and South Carolina, both associated with the one slave that was in the family of Jacob Fouts of Macon Co., S.C.
In Georgia, there are not as many Black families as might be expected, for Solomon Fouts owned twelve slaves in 1860. In 1880 there were four Black Fouts household enumerated. In 1900, only two.
After the Civil War, there were several Black families in northern Virginia who variously used the "Fouts" surname. However, these were ultimately identified as spelling errors and were FAUX or FOX,
The large Foutz family of Bedford Co., Virginia, apparently never held slaves, unless some of those Buchanan Co., Missouri, slaves belonged to Jacob Foutz of Bedford Co., Virginia, who settled in Buchanan Co., Missouri, just before the Civil War, and appears to have been a casualty on the Confederate side in 1863. This Jacob Foutz, incidentally, was the only one of the male Bedford County Foutz who left Virginia before the Civil War. The rest of them stayed close to the Blue Ridge.
We may have missed one or two families, but this would appear to be the Black Fouts --- except for; LEMUEL FOUTS, of Steubenville, Ohio, who was born in Rankin Co., Mississippi, on 1 Jan 1840 and was a light mulatto with blue eyes. Lemuel served in Co. G, 187th Ohio Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War from 7 Feb to 30 May 1865. He was never in a colored unit.
Lemuel was the son of Ann Fouts of Minerva, Carroll Co., Ohio, and was never a slave. After the Civil War, his family is increasingly identified as "Mulatto," then "Black." All four of the Fouts households identified as "Black" in the Ohio Census of 1900 are Lemuel or his children.
NOT SUPPORTED BY EVIDENCE
IDENTIFICATION OF BISHOP HANS MICHAEL'S WIFE AS A SCHLAUCH (SLOUGH) DISPROVEN
John Eby Pfautz (1881), a printer in Ephata, Lancaster Co., Pa., identified the wife of Bishop Hans Michael Pfautz, Jr., 1709-1769, as Catherine Neff. Dr. Martin Grove Brumbaugh, a learned educator and one-time governor of Pennsylvania, identified (1899) the Bishop's wife as Catherine Schlauch (Slough),daughter of Jacob Slough, a prominent innkeeper in Lancaster Co., Pa.
Inasmuch as Hans Michael Pfautz, Sr., was an innkeeper, both in Germany and Pennsylvania, and the Pfautz family trade was innkeeping, (only the Bishop did not follow the trade), there was a logic to Brumbaugh's identification. Further, Dr. Brumbaugh was a scholar of note.
Having a few moments at the Genealogical Library in Salt Lake City a few days past, we decided to make a quick test of the Slough connection. It fell apart rapidly. Jacob Slough did not arrive in Lancaster Co., Pa., until 1747, did not start his inn ("Sign of The White Swan") until 1750, did not have a daughter! The Bishop married cl733. So, it's. back to Neff.
WE OVERLOOKED THE MARYLAND FOUTS IN THE CIVIL WAR
DESPITE MANY OF SURNAME IN STATE, ONLY THREE FOUTZ SERVED WITH UNION
When we made up the schedule of displaying the data of the Fouts, etc., who served in either the Union or Confederate armies during the Civil War, we somehow overlooked the three from Maryland. Two of the three are of a from an enigmatic Foutz line. Service and pension records are as follows:
GEORGE FOUTS, Co. F, lst Regiment, Maryland Potomac Home Brigade (subsequently Co. F, 13th Maryland Infantry); enlisted 21 Aug 1861 at Frederick, Maryland, as a musician and assigned to the Regimental Band, later assigned as Company drummer. Served until 4 Sep 1864 when discharged at Harpers Ferry, Va. All duty was on Maryland-Virginia border. On 25 1907, George W. Foutz of Burkittsville, Frederick Co., Md., applied for a pension, based his attainment of the age of 70. He stated that he had been born in Clear Spring [Washington Co.], Maryland, on 25 Nov 1836 and had been a resident of Frederick Co., Md., for the past 43 years. In 1899, responding to a government questionnaire, Foutz has reported that he had been married three times: (1) Carrie Wolf, 6 Apr 1859, divorced 5 Apr 1864, both Washington Co., Md., one child (Foutz said he could not remember name or date of birth, but appears to have been Sarah A. Foutz, b. 1861, who M. Thomas J. Nunimaker); (2) Mary Smith, 16 Jun 1864, at Frederick, Md., who died 13 Nov 1888 at Burkittsville, Md. (baptized name was Margaret B. Schmidt daughter of Jacob Schmidt), leaving eight children: Katherine, Caroline, Emma, George H., Martin L., Rosa, Frank, William B., and Anna [George W. told the Pension Bureau nine, but could not give their birth dates]; (3) Eleanor Boyce, 15 Dec 1889, Burkittsville, Md. She survived George W. who died 9 Dec 1908 at Burkittsville, The widow, who had no children by Foutz, died 15 Mar 1925 at Saratoga Springs, New York. George W. Foutz was the son of Henry Foutz, hatter, of Clear Spring, Md.; the grandson of John Frederick Foutz, hatter, of Mt. Eaton, Wayne Co., Ohio; and the great-grandson of Frederick Foutz, of Washington Co., Md., who was the oldest son of John David Pfautz, immigrant of 1749.
JACOB FOUTZ, Pvt., Co. A, 3rd Potomac Home Brigade, Maryland Infantry, enrolled 29 Feb 1864 at Ellicott Mills, mustered-out 29 May 1865 at Baltimore. On 2 Apr 1894, Jacob Foutz, age 67, of Barton, Allegany Co., Md., applied for an invalid pension. An illiterate, Foutz had difficulty answering questions posed to him by the Pension Bureau. His file, therefore, has data generally found in such records missing. He said he had been married, that his wife had been dead for 21 years, that he had not remarried, and that he had 11 children living in 1898, but he offered no names or dates. Jacob died 27 Jul 1900 at Barton, Allegany Co., Md. By other sources, Jacob Foutz was married 5 Nov 1865 to Nancy Broadwater in Cumberland, Allegany Co., Md. The Census of 1880 lists the wifeless Jacob Foutz with the following children: John T., 20; Margaret B., 17; Mary Jane, 14; Noble W. and Minnie E., twins, 13; Margie, 9; Laura, 8; William B., 6; and Jacob, Jr., 5. This accounts for nine children and some complications.
TOBIAS FOUTZ, Pvt., Co. A, 3rd Regt., Potomac Home Brigade, Maryland Infantry, Enlisted at Barton, Allegany Co., Md., 25 Mar 1864; mustered-out at Buchannon, West Virginia, 2 Jan 1865. In various documents filed with the Pension Bureau beginning in 1904, Foutz stated that he was born 17 Apr 1832 at Borden Shaft, (Allegany) Md.; that he had married Annie M. Miller in 1860 at Frostburg, and that his wife had died 3 Jun 1913, and that he had fathered ten children: Susan Jane, b. 24 Apr 1862; Ida Willard, 3 Apr 1866; William Thomas, 5 Jan 1868; Sarah Carolina, 17 Oct 1869; Mary Ellen, 25 Jun 1871; Charles Henry, 16 Dec 1872; Isaac, 27 Oct 1874; John W., 2 May 1876; Clity S., 14 Jun 1878; and Anna May, 7 Sep 1882. Tobias Foutz died 22 Mar 1922 at Frostburg, Md.
By other records, Tobias Foutz was a younger brother of the Jacob Foutz previously identified; he was married to Ann M. Miller, 13 May 1863; that he was previously married to Emeline Mayhue, 24 Mar 1859.
Jacob and Tobias Foutz are enigmatic in that they cannot be attributed to a known Foutz immigrant ancestor. Allegany Co., Md., is a difficult FOUTZ county because of the presence therein (before and during) of the FOUTY family. Several FOUTZ family searchers have been confused by the script "y" which looks like a script "z" and have identified FOUTYS as FOUTZ, both in Maryland and Ohio. A TOBIAS FOUSE appears in Baltimore City with a large house-hold in 1800. No further Tobiases until the 1820 when a Tobias FOUTS appears in Allegany County's enumeration. In 1830, the name is Tobias FOUCH with a household including eight children under the age of 15 years. No enumeration’s, FOUTS or FOUTZ, in the Census of 1840. In 1850, there is a mixture of F'OUTZ and FOLK.
In 1857, the Estate of John Foutz, late of Allegany County, Deceased, was distributed to his brothers and sisters; the heirs were identified as brothers Morris Foutz, Jacob Foutz, and Tobias Foutz, and sisters or their heirs as Sarah Leo's children, Hannah Stott, and Louisa McKinzie. The family was illiterate, hence the spelling of the surname was left to others. Most likely, these FOUTZ have their roots in another surname, such as FAAS, FOCHE, etc..
Tobias, as a given name, occurs nowhere else among the Pfautz-Fouts-Foutz. "Morris" is unique also. Morris, suggesting "Maurice," and Tobias suggest French, not German roots.
MISCELLANEOUS GENEALOGY ITEMS
COFFEE COUNTY, KANSAS MARRIAGES
15 Nov 1866 - Mary Ellen Fouts and Archibel K. SUTTON, at LeRoy, Kansas, by Rev. G. W. Walter, M.E.
POLK CO, MISSOURI, LAND ENTRIES
1838 - Emsley Fouts, in T32, Range 31.
1839 - Pleasant Fouts, in T32, Range 22.
1840 - Larkin Fouts, in T33, Range 22.
1845 - John Fouts, in T32, Range 31.
WASHINGTON COUNTY, MARYLAND, FAMILY
Jacob Foutz, 6 Oct 1764, Lancaster Co., Pa., son of Frederick Foutz, d. 26 Apr 1832, Washington Co., Md.,
m. 2 Jan 1802, Elizabeth Storm, 25 Oct 1766 - 13 Apr 1836, Washington Co., Md.:
>
Children: Samuel Strong Foutz, 20 Aug 1806 - 20 Jun 1877. Died in Illinois. Unmarried.
Susan Foutz, 6 Mar 1811 - 9 Dec 1868, (Died in Iowa), m. 28 Mar 1833, Jacob Buck,
28 Feb 1806 - 17 Sep 1890.
Anyone interested in this family should write: George A. Buck, 726-50th St., Des Moines, Iowa 50312.
GERMAN BAPTISMAL RECORD -
Steinsfurt Reformed Church: 19 Jun 1712, Anna Margretha, daughter of Hans Michael Pfautz, innkeeper, and wife Ursula.
BACK TO THE OLD RECORDS
WE RENEW THE SEARCH FOR THE PFAUTZ IN GERMAN GOVERNMENT AND CHURCH FILES
We are pleased to advise you that research has begun again in the Old German records in Wurtemburg, Germany, and on microfilm at the LDS Genealogical Library in Salt Lake City to identify and define the Pfautz in Germany. The last German search, being sponsored by the Jacob Foutz Family Association was centered around Zweibruecken, west of the Rhine, where Conrad Foutz was supposedly born. However, Pfautz is not a surname of West of the Rhine and the search consumed much time, considerable money, and netted virtually nothing.
This effort, being funded by the Editor for the nonce, will be directed specifically at the Lower Neckar Valley, east of the Rhine, where multiple evidence of Pfautz existence is already in hand. The work is being conducted by Kory Meyerink, A.G., C.G., of Salt Lake City, of Dutch ancestry but with an excellent working knowledge of the German language and Old German script. Kory will read those records available on microfilm and undertake the correspondence (in German) necessary to obtain readings in Germany.
Those interested in participating in the project by assisting with the underwriting are invited to write the Editor. All of the data will ultimately be shared, but initial reports will be distributed first among those who support the research. Full disclosure of the project to those participating.
LET'S TRY TO GET THIS ONE RIGHT, FOR ONCE
THEOBALD FOUTS, JR., MARRIED DAUGHTER OF FOUTS COUSIN., HAD FOUR BLIND CHILDREN WHO LIVED TO OLD AGES ON THE CAROLINA AND OHIO FRONTIERS
For those of you who have not been through the routine before, the nickname in German for Theobald is "Dewald." Pronounced with a thick German accent (is there any other kind?), the name, to the English-tuned ear, sounds like a half-swallowed "David." Hence, Theobald Fouts, Sr., his son Theobald, Jr., and his grandson Theobald (eldest son of eldest son John Daniel) all ended their lives as David Foutses. Senior died before 1793 in North Carolina. Junior was settled in Ashe Co., N.C., until 1809 when he moved to Randolph Twp., Montgomery Co., Ohio. The grandson "David" Fouts lived first in Rowan (now Davidson) Co., N.C., then Barren Co., Ky., and finally in Clay Co., Indiana. Grandpa was married to Catherine Spengel, Junior was married to Elizabeth Hoover, and Grandson was married at least twice, first to a Winkler.
Theobald, Jr., as David Fouts (one of his descendants noting than his land patent in Ohio had been issued to "Theobald Fouts" said it was an Entry Agent's error) --- anyway, as David Fouts is renown off being the father of four children who were born blind and all of whom survived the frontier in both North Carolina and Ohio: John Fouts, 1767 - 1834; Jonas Fouts, 1769 - cl825; Catherine Fouts, 1785 - 1865; and Hannah, cl787 - 1866.
Br. George Soelle, the Moravian missionary who visited the family in 1772 when they were living in Guilford (now Randolph) Co., N.C., recorded that the children (then only John and Jonas) had eye structures that had not formed correctly and that their eyes were the size of peas. Whether it was a case of too close kinship between father and mother is moot, but a similar situation occurred among the Fouts and Hoovers on an intermarriage in Miami Co., Ohio, in the next generation.
Elizabeth, wife of Theobald, Jr., was the eldest daughter of Andrew Hoover, Sr., and Anna Margaretha Pfautz. The degree of relationship between Margaret Hoover (as she is known in family annals) and Theobald, Sr., is unknown, but likely cousins of a near degree. They were approximately the same age, both being born cl722 - 23 in Germany.
Of the six children of Theobald, Jr. and Elizabeth only Susanna, who married David Burket, and Andrew, who married Barbara Roland, had families.
Andrew's wife Barbara, 8 Jun 1781 - 8 Jun 1847, was the daughter of Abraham Roland, a granddaughter of Elder Gasper Roland, the frontier Dunker minister of Maryland, North Carolina, and Kentucky. The name Roland has been corrupted in Miami Valley genealogies to Rollins---which is incorrect.
Andrew and Barbara had six children:
David R. Fouts, who married Sarah Mast;
Joseph Fouts, who married Nancy Curtis;
Catherine Fouts who married Michael Hoover;
Elizabeth Fouts who David Eller;
John Fouts who died as a youth; and
Andrew Fouts, Jr., who married Mariah Gable (Widow Snyder).
Descendants of these children, particularly Fouts, settled Cass, Fulton, Miami, and Wabash cos., Indiana; Lee Co., Iowa; and Osborne Co.. Kansas.
Pfautz-Fouts-Foutz Newsletter
IS PUBLISHED MORE-OR-LESS QUARTERLY BY DEAN R. FOUTZ, 1600 KAPIOLANI BLVD., SUITE 1130, HONOLULU, HA 96814, AND IS WRITTEN AND EDITED BY DR. JOHN SCOTT DAVENPORT, 1101N AMERICAN TOWERS 40 WEST 300 SOUTH, SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH 84101. DEAN FOUTZ IS A DESCENDANT OF JACOB PFAUTZ, IMMIGRANT BEFORE 1730. THIS PUBLICATION IS A NON-PROFIT VENTURE IN THE INTEREST OF BETTER DEFINITION OF THE PFAUTZ-FOUTS-FOUTZ AND RELATED SURNAME LINEAGES IN AMERICA AND GERMANY. SUBSCRIPTION IS OBTAINABLE WITHOUT OBLIGATION BY WRITING DEAN FOUTZ.
CONTRIBUTIONS TO HELP SUPPORT THE PRINTING MAILING COSTS ARE WELCOME, AND SHOULD BE SENT TO DEAN FOUTZ, DATA, ITEMS, QUERIES FOR THE NEWSLETTER SHOULD BE SENT TO DR. DAVENPORT.
IF YOU HAVE A MISSING LINK OR SEEK IDENTIFICATION OF YOUR PFAUTZ-FOUTS-FOUTZ, ETC., LINEAGE, DR. DAVENPORT WILL SEARCH THE FILES WITHOUT COST --- OTHER THAN POSTAGE. ALWAYS INCLUDE A SELF ADDRESSED, STAMPED ENVELOPE WITH YOUR REQUEST
BE PATIENT ABOUT REPLIES. DEAN IS GENERAL AGENT FOR CONNECTICUT MUTUAL INSURANCE IN THE STATE OF HAWAII. DR. DAVENPORT IS VICE-PRESIDENT, RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT FOR BONNEVILLE INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION. GENEALOGY IS A SIDELINE --- SOMETIMES HAS TO BE PLACED ON THE BACK BURNER.
Order of Immigrant Ancestors
For reference as well as for the information of our new readers, we repeat the PFAUTZ-FOUTS-FOUTZ Ancestor List in order of emigration from Germany to America. The ancestor letter, e.g., (A), (B), etc., is used to identify lines within this Newsletter. This list is revised to January 1, 1987:
(A) Hans Michael PFAUTZ, Sr., of Lancaster Co., Pa.; Immigrant of 1727.
(B) Jacob PFAUTZ, of York Co., Pa.; Immigrant before 1730.
(C) Theobald (Dewald, David) PFAUTZ, of Frederick Co., Md., and Randolph Co., N,C.; Immigrant of 1738.
(D) Johan David PFAUTZ, of Lancaster Co., Pa.: Issue of first wife, Washington Co., Md., Issue of second wife,
Rowan (now Davidson) Co., N.C.; Immigrant of 1749.
(E) Christian FOUTS, of Lancaster Co., Pa., and Barnwell District, S.C.; Immigrant of 1750.
(F) Conrad PFAUTZ, of York, Northumberland, Lancaster, and Franklin Cos., Pa.; Immigrant of 1752.
(G) John Jacob PFAUTZ, of Philadelphia, Pa.; Immigrant of 1783. (No male Issue known)
(H) Michael PFOUTS, Sr.. of Washington Co., Md., and Harrison Co., Ohio; Immigrant of 1787.
(I) John FOUTS, of Morgan Co., Ohio; Immigrant of 1820.
(J) Adam FOUTZ, of Adams Co., Pa.; Immigrant of 1839.
(K) Jacob FOUTZ, of Baltimore Co., Md.; Immigrant of 1849.
(L) Lewis FOUTZ, of Montgomery Co., Ohio: Immigrant of 1850.
(M) William FAUTZ. of San Francisco, Cal . ; Immigrant of 1855.
(N) Gottlief PFAUTZ, of Philadelphia, Pa.; Immigrant of 1857.
(0) William FOUTZ, of Norfolk, Va.; Immigrant of 1866.
Not included here are immigrants of the surname who did not have issue. i.e., have no descendants, and two yet unidentified females, issue unknown. There were at least a dozen of the surname who emigrated to America after the civil War. These will be added to the list as their emigrant dates become known. The PFAUTZ Family originates in the Lower Neckar Valley, east of the Rhine, in what is now Baden and Wurtemburg states of West Germany.
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Comments and other stuff . . .
DOC DAVENPORT AND OTHERS
Henceforth, the Newsletter is going to be less of a monologue and more of a joint effort. We’ve been asked to include queries, articles written by others in the family circle. Suits us.
We respond herewith to the request of one Pfautz lady who wanted to know what the Editor looked like. She wonders if the Pfautz-Fouts-Foutz good looks came through the seven generations of Davenports. This is a reduction of a “Wanted” poster done of the Editor by a police artist in Gila Bend, Arizona, in 1986. A good likeness considering he was working thur the bars.
WE REGRET TO ANNOUNCE THE PASSING OF TWO OF OUR LONG TIME FOUTS CORRESPONDENTS:
MRS. MARIAN GRAY OF COLUMBUS, INDIANA, PASSED AWAY IN NOVEMBER. MRS. GRAY WAS A LEADER IN THE FOUTS FAMILY RESEARCH IN THE FIFTIES AND SIXTIES, AND SHE FREQUENTLY TOOK US TO TASK WHEN WE FIRST STARTED TO DO GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH. 'PROVE IT' WAS HER FAVORITE CHALLENGE. SHE HAD LITTLE PATIENCE FOR THOSE WHO GILDED THE LILY AND TRIED TO MAKE 'DEAR OLD UNCLE JACOB' LESS THE REPROBATE HE REALLY WAS. WE'LL MISS MRS. GRAY.
HELEN SQUIRES OF ELYRIA, OHIO, PASSED AWAY FEBRUARY 18,1987, AND WAS BURIED IN FAMILY PLOT IN SEYMOUR, IOWA. HELEN WAS A MILITANT RESEARCHER AND PROTECTOR OF THE REPUTATION OF THE MORGAN CO., OHIO, FOUTS. IT WAS A BIG JOB, FOR THEY WERE AN ACTIVE GROUP OF FRONTIERSMEN. WE'LL NEVER FORGET WHEN WE FOUND TWO FOUTS CONVICTED OF MURDER AND SENTENCED TO THE OHIO STATE PENITENTIARY IN 1850S. HELEN REFUSED TO ACCEPT THE IDENTIFICATION, DUG THROUGH THE ARCHIVES IN COLUMBUS AND PROVED THAT THE TWO WERE ‘FOUT' (WITHOUT THE -S-) FROM LAWRENCE CO., OHIO, WITH NO CONNECTION TO HER FOUTS KIN. NO ONE COULD SULLY THE MEMORY OF THE MORGAN COUNTY FOUTS WITHOUT HAVING TO CONTEND WITH HELEN.
HELEN'S EYES WENT BAD IN 1982, AND SHE HAD TO GIVE UP SEARCHING THE OLD RECORDS, BUT SHE WAS STILL CONTRIBUTING UNTIL 1984. WE'LL MISS HELEN, TOO.
QUERY: "I would like to get in touch with descendants of Benjamin Franklin Fouts of Worth Co., Missouri. There were three children: Mary E. who married an Okey; Alexander who was evidentially a black sheep (a gambler); and the third was my grandmother." Phyllis Michaux, 7535 Spring Lake Drive, Bethesda, MD 20817.
QUERY: "Does anyone know what happened to William Pfouts, son of Reuben Pfouts and Anne Eagler of Holmes Co., Ohio? William sold his share of his father's estate in 1860 and disappeared somewhere?" Send replies to R. W. Pfouts, c/o Newsletter Editor, 1101N American Towers, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101.
If you have anything that you would like to circulate among the more than 650 who read this Newsletter, be it a Query, Comment, or Cuss, mail to: Dr. John Scott Davenport, 1101N American Towers, 48 West Broadway, Salt Lake City, Utah 84101. We reserve the right to edit.