Couts Family Collection, 1826 - 1964, bulk Bulk, 1838-1896

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Summary

Title:
Couts Family Collection
Dates:
1826 - 1964, bulk Bulk, 1838-1896
Creators:
Couts, Cave Johnson, 1821-1874
Abstract:
This collection contains the military, business, and personal papers of Cave J. Couts, a prominent businessman in early San Diego, as well as business papers and personal papers of other members of the Couts Family.
Extent:
0.5 Linear feet (1 box)
Language:
Preferred citation:

Couts Family Collection, MS 18, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.

Background

Scope and content:

This collection contains the military, business, and personal papers of Cave J. Couts. Military papers consist of correspondence regarding Couts’ army expedition to the Colorado River with Lieutenant Whipple, as well as certificates of appointment. Business papers include correspondence with business partners such as E.W. Morse, lists of taxable property, and a traders’ licenses. Personal papers include estate papers as well as correspondence with family.

The collection also contains business papers and personal papers of other members of Cave Cout’s family: his sons, William Bandini, Cave Johnson Jr., and Robert Lee; his brothers, John Forster and William Blount; as well as assorted wills, marriage licenses, and genealogical notes.

Biographical / historical:

Cave Johnson Couts was born near Springfield, Tennessee on November 11, 1821. His uncle, Cave Johnson, was Postmaster General under President Polk and had him appointed to West Point, where he graduated in 1843. Cave served on the frontier until after the Mexican war, and then in Los Angeles, San Luis Rey, and San Diego from 1848 to 1851. In 1849, he was the commander for the escort of Lt. Amiel Weeks Whipple’s expedition to the Colorado River. In 1851, he retired from the army and accepted an appointment as aid-de-camp to Governor Bigler.

He married Ysidora Bandini, daughter of Juan Bandini, on April 5, 1851 and they built a ranch on a tract of land known as the Guajome, gifted to Ysidora by her brother-in-law Abel Stearns. They had ten children together: Abel Stearns, MarĂ­a AntonĂ­a Arcadia, William Bandini Guillermo Antonio, Cave Johnson Jr., Nancy Dolores, Ysidora Forster, Elena Francisca, Robert Lee, John Forster, and MarĂ­a Carolina (Caroline). Cave grew wealthy through the cattle industry and expanded onto ranchos in San Marcos, Buena Vista, and La Jolla. He died in San Diego on June 10, 1874. Ysidora continued to live on the rancho and managed it until her death in 1897.

Processing information:

Collection processed by Samantha Mills in June 2013.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged in two series:

Series I: Cave J. Couts Papers;

Series II: Couts Family Papers.

Series I is arranged by subject and Series II is arranged alphabetically by family member.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

About this collection guide

Collection Guide Author:
Finding aid prepared by Samantha Mills
Date Prepared:
August 18, 2016
Date Encoded:
This finding aid was produced using the Archivists' Toolkit 2016-08-18T09:21-0700

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is open for research.

Terms of access:

The San Diego History Center (SDHC) holds the copyright to any unpublished materials. SDHC Library regulations do apply.

Preferred citation:

Couts Family Collection, MS 18, San Diego History Center Document Archives, San Diego, CA.

Location of this collection:
1649 El Prado, Suite 3
San Diego, CA 92101, US
Contact:
(619) 232-6203
Website