Sarah Ann Peterman

     Sarah Ann was born on Monday, 22 June 1818 in Windsor Township, York County, Pennsylvania. Sarah Ann married Henry Couts on 25 April 1833 in Crawford County, Ohio.¹ Henry & Sarah had children: Samuel [4/10/1834-11/23/1865][m. Sarah Nichols], David [11/04/1835-3/10/1911][m. 1858 Sarah Palmer], John A. [10/02/1837-7/19/1920][m. Mary A Borst], William Henry Harrison [3/16/1840-10/15/1937][m. Harriet Lavina], Barbara Ellen [3/18/1842-8/02 /1913][m. Jacob Shoop], Jacob [3/03/1844], Jerimiah [3/12/1846-7/04/1919][m. Susan Myers], Frances [7/18/1848-died in infancy], Hiriam Andrew [11/06/1849-5/07/1871], Eliza Ann [4/07/1852-died in infancy], Sanford F. [9/21/1854-9/17/1917][m. 12/23/1873 Cythia Ann Dixon], & Charles Fremont [3/28/1857-10/27/1888][m. Hattie Mahaffey]. 20 September 1850, Sarah and her husband, Henry, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Bucyrus Township, Crawford County, Ohio. Enumerated in this household were Henry Couts [41 Pennsylvania - farmer], his wife: Sarah [32 Pennsylvania], children: Samuel [16 Ohio], male [14 Ohio], John [13 Ohio], William U. [11 Ohio]. Barbara E. [9 Ohio], Jacob [5 Ohio], Jerimiah [4 Ohio], & Hiriam A. [9 mos. Ohio].² 24 June 1860, Sarah and her husband Henry were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Bucyrus. Enumerated in this household were Henry Courts [50 Pennsylvania, his wife: Sarah [42 Pennsylvania], Jerimiah [15 Ohio], Hiriam A. [12 Ohio], Sanford [6 Ohio], & Charles [3 Ohio]. Henry is a farmer & horse doctor.³ 14 June 1870, Sarah and her husband, Henry, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Bucyrus Township. Enumerated in this household were Henry Courts [57 Pennsylvania], his wife: Sarah [52 Pennsylvania], children: Barbary[25 Ohio], Hiriam A. [22 Ohio], Sanford [17 Ohio], Charles [14 Ohio], Elmore [9 Ohi], & William [2 Ohio]. Henry is a farmer.⁴ 12 June 1880, Sarah and her husband, Henry, were listed on the U.S. Federal Census in Bucyrus Township. Enumerated in this household were Henry Couts [69 Pennsylvania], his wife: Sarah [62 Ohio], & son, Elmer [19 Ohio]. Henry is a farmer.⁵ Sarah's husband, Henry, died on 31 July 1889 in Bucyrus leaving her a widow. Sarah departed this life on Saturday, 31 May 1890 in Bucyrus at age 71 years, 11 months and 9 days.

Obituary - MRS. SARAH COUTS, widow of the late Henry Couts, died of dropsy at the home of her son-in-law, Jacob Shoop, on the Converse farm at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 31, aged 72 years. The funeral took place on Sunday at 4 p.m. with the brief service conducted by Rev. J. S. Reager, after which the remains were laid beside those of her ate husband, Henry Couts, in beautiful Oakwood.
Mother Couts, as she was familiarly called, has been known in this community for more than the ordinary time of a generation. She was born June 22, 1818, and consequently would have reached the age of 72 in the present month. She was the mother of a large family, and enjoyed the unusual distinction in the hour of the country’s needs, of sending to th front, with her blessing, a husband and five sons. In other years she was a strong, active woman, but of late years has been a constant and uncomplaining sufferer. Especially since the death of her husband, by falling from a train last summer, she continued to fail very rapidly. Her end was peaceful and she now rests from her labors.

She was buried there in Oakwood Cemetery.⁶