My cousin Lana and I have been working on connecting to the Taney & Cedar Co., MO Coulter's for a very long time and we believe we've finally made that connection.

I recently received the pension file for George W. Coulter who is the youngest brother of our direct ancestor Thomas A. Coulter b. 1841 in TN. The pension file is nearly 2" thick, the reason being George was investigated because he was apparently with the Confederacy as well as the Union Armies. He says he was taken against his will from his father's and made to serve with the Confederacy, when he finally "got away" he went to stay with his brother, Thomas A. Coulter, in Dade Co., MO and signed up for the Union Army with Thomas, this was Thomas' second time serving, first with Co E 6th MO Cavalry, then Co E 14th Vol. Calvalry with George.

Because of the investigation there are several affidavits & depositions from various family members and neighbors. One in particular dated Aug. 5, 1908 in which George states: "Father had a brother Thos. H. Coulter about 10 mi north of Dubuque his post office was Forsythe. He had sons named Tom, one named Will and one named Jim, I do not know where they live now." Other papers refer to cousins Thomas Coulter, William Coulter, James Coulter, all of Forsythe, Taney Co., MO. We believe this Thomas H. is Thomas Harris Coulter, unless there was another Thomas H. Coulter in Taney Co., MO, we haven't found one. One deposition states that "Flem Smith married my cousin" I haven't found anything on Flem yet but it appears he married one of Thomas H. Coulter's daughters. There's also a questionaire filled out by Mrs. Thomas Coulter, widow, dated 1908 Forsythe, Taney Co., MO, in which she states, "yes, her husband had a cousin named George W. Coulter". There are 3 Thomas Coulter's mentioned in this huge file, Thomas A. Coulter, brother; Thomas H. Coulter, uncle; Thomas A. Coulter cousin.

We know that George & Thomas' father is John J. Coulter one source being Thomas' death certificate and the other, despositions from George, Thomas and their sister Marilda T. Coulter describing family members & neighbors.

So if Thomas H. Coulter is John J. Coulter's brother it appears our John J. Coulter is another son of Brig. Gen. Thomas Coulter.

So briefly, this is what we've gathered so far:

John J. Coulter
b. abt 1809 TN
d. unk, aft 1870
Married Elizbeth Smith bef 1830 in probably TN
We don't have info on Elizabeth Smith yet, her name comes from Thomas' death certificate that Lana obtained.

Children:
1) James Lafayette Coulter
b. abt 1830 in TN
m. Olive M. Unknown

2) Benjamin Carroll Coulter
b. July 1832 in TN
m. Kate Unknown
(these two brothers went to Humboldt Co., CA abt 1852 or '53 where they lived out their lives)

3) Jane E. Coulter
b. abt 1835 in TN
d. bef 1908 MO
m. Benjamin Polson, 17 AUG 1851, Cedar Co., MO
Lived in Stockton, Cedar Co., MO

4) Mary "Polly" Coulter
b. abt 1838 in TN or MO
m. Miles M. Russell, 17 MAY 1859, Dade Co., MO
m. John Armstrong, 8 AUG 1871, Dade Co., MO
m. Lewis Redman, 31 JAN 1881, Dade Co., MO
Widowed by 1908 living in Lamar, Barton Co., MO

5) Marilda T. Coulter
b. abt 1839 in TN
m. James Washington Hobbs abt 1860
m. William F. Parks 13 MAR 1888 in Dade Co., MO
Living in Dade Co., MO in 1908

6) Thomas A. Coulter
b. 18 NOV 1841 in TN
d. 21 JAN 1916 in KS
m. Dicy Jane Faulkenberry 17 JUL 1864 in Greenfield, Dade Co., MO

7) Elizabeth Coulter
b. abt 1843 in TN or MO
m. James G. Gardner
Lived in Springfield, MO

8) George W. Coulter
b. 17 APR 1845 in Cedar Co., MO d. 15 MAR 1931 in OK
m. Amanda Mitchell
m. Elizabeth unk, divorced in 1928
m. Mattie Duncan
m. Eliza McGill

John J. Coulter married Emaline Hooten 24 NOV 1852 in Cedar Co., MO

Children:
1) Sarah Coulter b. abt 1854 in MO
2) John Coulter b. abt 1855 in MO
3) Nancy Coulter b. abt 1859 in MO
4) Martha Coulter b. abt 1860 in MO
5) Jefferson Coulter b. abt 1862 in MO
6) Emaline Coulter b. abt 1868 in MO
7) William P. Coulter b. 1870 in MO

The family can be found in 1860 Taney Co., MO census and the 1870 Cedar Co., MO census. We believe we have Mary & Thomas in 1850 living with the Allen Kennedy family in Cedar Co., MO, so far haven't found the other family members in 1850. We don't know yet of the connection to the Kennedy family or if there is one.

John J. Coulter came to MO from TN sometime before 1845 as George was born in MO. There is a John J. Coulter in Rhea Co., TN in 1830. We would love to hear from anybody who can connect to this family, as well as anyone who can prove or disprove that John J. Coulter is another son of Brig. Gen. Thomas Coulter.

Thank you for reading!

Do you happen to know any more information on the Thomas A. Coulter you mentioned that died in Kansas. I was wondering if there is a possibillaty if this man may be my great great grandfather.

Hi Angela,
Yes, Thomas A. Coulter is the reason I started researching the Coulter's, he is my 3rd great grandfather. I do have a lot of information on him, his Civil War pension papers, an old picture of him with his wife Dicy Faulkenberry, as well as many other documents that my cousin Lana and I gathered on a research trip we took to Missouri. How do you think you're connected? If you give me some names and dates I can probably tell you if you're connected and would be happy to share what I've got on him.
I look forward to hearing from you!
Tami

All I know comes from my father, it is what he has been told. My great grandfather was Rippley Roosevelt Coulter born 1901 died 1947 in Kansas. He married Francis E. Borovicka. The family talk says that Rippley's father came to Kansas from Missouri. I have been told that Rippley's father or grandfather was named Thomas. Like I said this is all family talk, so I don't know how much is really accurate, except for Rippley's dates, I got them from his tombstone. I hope you can help me make a connection.
Angela

Angela, Sorry it took so long for me to reply back I'm in the process of transferring files to a new computer. It doesn't look like there's a connection to my Thomas Coulter, I did however do a couple of quick searches and found your Ripley with his mother & father. Fathers name is Eugene M. Coulter b. Jan 1852 in OH, father born in OH, mother born in VA, married a Paulina in abt 1872. Paulina was b. Jun 1861 in IN, father born in OH, mother born in IN. Email me directly at willades@comcast.net and I can give you the names of Ripley's siblings as well.

Hi Angela,

I am a descendant of Brig Gen Thomas Coulter and just recently discovered this...we are having a family reunion this summer for the Trainers...my grandmother is a great granddaughter of Thomas Coulter. I would love to have a copy of the photo of him, and anything else you would share. I can give you my ancestors if that helps you in any way. We live in Blanco Texas. I am trying to get as much info together while we still have some of the older ones with us. Such interesting histories. Thank you for any help you can give me. Chris Bushong

There are two Brig.Gen. Thomas Coulter
1st Brig.Gen. Thomas Coulter is the son of Alexander Coulter and Mary
This Thomas was born 20 Oct 1777 North Carolina d 1826 , Bledsoe , Tennessee married Louisa "Lucy" Johnson. Lucy took young children to Newton, Missouri

Their children are

Alexander Hiram Coulter b: 1803 in , , Tennessee
Matilda Coulter b: 21 Mar 1810 in Lookout Mountain, Bledsoe, Tennessee
Thomas Harris Coulter b: 30 Jun 1813 in Bledsoe , Tennessee
Hudson Johnson Coulter b: 16 Jan 1815 in Bledsoe , Tennessee
Pleasant Monroe Coulter b: 1821 in Bledsoe , Tennessee
William J. Coulter b: 1824 in Bledsoe , Tennessee

2nd Brig.Gen. Thomas Coulter is son James Coulter and Catherine Tunnnel. This Thomas was born 25 Jun 1795 in North Carolina died 14 May 1876 in Hamilton, Tennessee
married Rebecca Parks b: 20 Apr 1793 in South Carolina Married: 26 Apr 1815 in Roane, Tennessee

Their Children
Thomas Jefferson “Jeff” Coulter b: 15 Apr 1816 in Sale Creek, Hamilton, Tennessee
James Parks Coulter b: 24 Oct 1817 in Sale Creek, Hamilton, Tennessee
Margaret Coulter b: 1819 in Sale Creek, Hamilton, Tennessee
Robert W. Coulter b: 4 Jul 1819 in Sale Creek, Hamilton, Tennessee
Catherine Coulter b: 1823 in Sale Creek, Hamilton, Tennessee
John Jerome Coulter b: 17 Mar 1827 in Sale Creek, Hamilton, Tennessee
Ruth Coulter b: 1829 in Sale Creek, Hamilton, Tennessee
Milo B. Coulter b: 1830 in Sale Creek, Hamilton, Tennessee

James and Catherine Tunnell Coulter are my ancestor.
I lik learn more about the Coulter here is my family bush site

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi?db=monkeys

I am indirectly related to this Thomas, as he was the brother of my GGGGG Grandfather, James Coulter (both of them sons of Alexander Coulter of NC and TN). Thomas had a relatively long career in the militia, culminating in his involvement in the later months of the War of 1812. As outlined in a biography of General James Winchester (Winchester was Thomas' immediate superior; his biography is authored by Walter T. Durham), Thomas was supposed to take his regiment from Knoxville to Mobile in order to assist in preventing a possible British invasion there. His departure from Knoxville was to occur about the middle of November in 1814; he was expected to arrive in Mobile within a month. Unfortunately, and much to the stress of Winchester, no one heard anything from Thomas until February of 1815, when he finally shows up outside of Mobile. Even then, it takes him another week to make the last few miles into the city, and most of his men are unarmed. While being ill-equipped might not have been Thomas' fault, his tardy arrival was certainly an issue (even though the war was now over). In Durham's book -- which is excellent, by the way -- this is pretty much the end of the story.
The rest of the story can be found in Thomas' service records held at the National Archives in Washington, D.C. Following his arrival in Mobile, Thomas was almost immediately arrested and subjected to courtmartial, on multiple counts of drunkenness and conduct unbecoming an officer and a gentleman. In essence, Thomas seems to have suffered from a serious case of alcoholism (not an unknown problem in the military in those days, of course!) His courtmartial trial dragged on for three weeks, with Thomas frequently manuevering to delay the proceedings. In his final defense, Thomas resorts to lengthy arguments over technicalities, such as seeking the prosecution's definition of "beastly drunk" (as opposed, I guess, to being normally drunk!). The record of the proceedings runs to thirty-six pages, many of which are water damaged. Still, what's left makes for excellent reading. In the end, he was found guilty of all of the charges and specifications except one, which was dismissed because of its lack of specificity regarding the date of a particular incident of drunkenness. He was sentenced to be cashiered (to be dismissed from the service in disgrace), and his final service record confirms that this occurred. Interestingly, his widow makes application years later for bounty land based upon his service, but apparently never receives the grant, which I seriously doubt she would have been entitled to anyway, due to Thomas' dishonorable discharge. I have the records of her application process as well...her son-in-law (who was in Thomas' regiment) makes a number of inquiries (over several years) as to why an answer to her application has been delayed, but she dies before this answer is apparently ever received. I've always been curious about this situation....did she not know what had happened in Mobile? Did she know, but didn't think it would matter? Did the authorities deliberately delay her application as a polite way of avoiding embarrassment for an aging wife? This last supposition is hard to buy; it's almost impossible to believe that she hadn't heard anything about it in all these years....after all, many of the men in Thomas' regiment were local to their home area in Tennessee, and country gossip would surely have reached her ears eventually! Even then, the government probably wouldn't have been too terribly sensitive regarding her feelings. It's all fascinating, that's for sure.
I'll admit that I was very disappointed to uncover this information years ago....I was so proud to have a high-ranking officer in our ancestry! It just goes to show you that alcohol never loses its ability to damage people's lives, now or then.
Copies of Thomas' records, including his courtmartial, may be obtained from the National Archives. Please respond if you have any questions, or just want to theorize about the situation.

Sincerely....
M. Coulter

Good Morning Michael
This Janet Ariciu a descend of Alexander Coutler son James Coulter and Catherine Tunnell
Through their dau Margaret and her husband William Monkres.
to their son James Henry Monkres and wife Rachel Burke
to daughter Virginia and her 2nd husband Luther Watts to son Emmett Watts wife Margaret Ural Scivally to daughter LaVena whose husband John Green were my parents

Janet Ariciu
monkeys@getgoin.net

Hi Janet! I am also descended from James Coulter and Catherine Tunnell, but through James' eldest son Thomas. It's good to meet you! I've been fortunate enough to visit Cane Hill, Ark. (where James and most of the children ended up after Caty's death)on several occasions. It's a beautiful area, and I could easily see why they chose it.

Also, a clarification on my previous post. When I mentioned that Lucy (Thomas' widow) made application for bounty land, I didn't make it clear that she was in Missouri at the time, rather than back in Tennessee. My reference to gossip about Thomas' courtmartial reaching her in Tennessee was meant to refer to the time period before she left for Arkansas and Missouri. There would have been plenty of time (years) for her to have heard about the situation before she moved west. In my previous post, it sounded as though she was making application for the land while still in Tennessee, which wasn't my intention. I do have a letter from one of James' grandchildren which states that she clearly remembers Lucy living in Cane Hill for a time, thus she must have resided in both Arkansas and Missouri at different times.

Thanks for introducing yourself.....stay in touch!