Yuma County, Colorado
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Yuma County Pioneers:
James was one of the many children of Charles Counter /Caunter and Jane
Adelaide WATTS. Charles was born in England, immigrated to Ontario,
Canada, where James was born, and thence to Belleville, Kansas
One Ancestry tree says James was born January 10, 1858 in Clinton, Ontario,
Canada. The 1900 census said James immigrated in 1870.
The tree has Mary Anne (May) Tucker born Jun 27, 1858 in Schlsburg,
Wisconsin, marrying James July 29 1883 in Belleville, Kansas.
In 1885 James, May, and James C. are in Belleville, Kansas
James "proved-up" eighty acres in east Wray in 1898, and later a "tree-claim"
about five miles north of town.
In 1899 Jim and Ben Counter took in the circus at Haigler.
June 24, 1899 "Mrs. Adela Perry and son, Charlie, are expected to arrive Saturday night to spend the summer with
the families of J. N. Counter and A. W. Lawrence. Mrs. Perry is a sister of Mr. Counter and Mrs. Lawrence."
"Jim Counter was received as a full member of the Methodist Church."
December 1899 
1899
February 1900 "The second annual essay contest of the ninth grade occurred at
the Methodist church Thursday night and a fairly crowded house greeted the contestants.
The rostrum was surrounded by a profusion of beautiful plants and flowers,
with a large flag, the stars and stripes, as a background.
The contestants - Cora Dorman, Ida Hedrick, Carrie Staininger, Vesta McKee, and Ben Counter,
and Principal Dow occupied seats on the platform.
Ben Counter won first prize. The subject was "The People of the Trauma." The essay was
well written, the thought most forcefull and comprehensively expressed. His delivery was good,
and his pronunciation most excellent. After he had read his essay there was no cloubt in the minds
of the audience as to who would take first place.
The second prize was won by
Cora Dorman with "Earth's Paradise." Miss Dorman had memorized her essay,
and familiarity with her subject enabled her to deliver it with good effect.
It was probably this that gave her second place, although the composition of her essay was good,
The essays of the three unsuccessful contestants were also qaite good.
The fact is, if composition alone had been considered, the winners would have
been difficult to choose. Pronunciation counted against one, while another read too low.
Taken as a whole, tbe ninth grade has upheld its reputation, and it is gratifying to note
their proficiency. The prizes were S5.00 first and $3.00 second.
Hon. August Muntzing, of Akron, Miss Gertrude Barr of Benkelman, and Mrs. Flora Hendrie
of Wray acted as judges Mr. Muntzing presented the prizes, addressing a few words to each
as he handed them their prize. The mesic on the program was furnished
by Mesdnmes Hudgel and Zepp, Mr. and Mrs. Ellis abd Misses Beckwith and Hubier.
Their masic was appreciated, as it always is. The audience was pleased to again greet Mrs.
Hudgel. The duets by Meadames Hudgel and Zepp are a pleasure to our music lovers."
1900 "Wood" Lawrence was working on plaster for the Counter house.
In 1900 Wray James N. is a lumber dealer, born February 1858 in Canada, with
May, born 1858 in Wisconsin. They have James C., May 1884 in Kansas, Ben
J. March 1886 in Kansas, Clara March 1889 in Colorado, and Mildred August 1893
in Colorado.
1901 "Harry Cox this week bought the Counter home. He moves to town to
give his children better school advantages. Mrs. Counter and the children
will leave next week for Fort Collins, where Jim will attend college.
1901 "Miss Adele G. Humphrey, of Belleville, Kans., a cousin of Jim Counter,
was here this week to attend the commencement exercises. Miss Humphrey is
one of the proprietors and manager of the Telescope, one of the best weeklies in
Kansas. Miss Humphrey is also a practical job printer, a distinction of
which very few ladies can boast."
She was one of the judges in the school essay contest, too.
November 1901 "A letter received from Fort Collins states that Jim Counter was chosen to represent the Freshman
class in the oratorical contest with the Sophomore. This is an honor for which the many friends of that young man
will rejoice. In the manual training department Jim is working at the carpenters bench and Ben at the Blacksmiths forge."
January 1902 "J. N. Counter has bought the Poudre Valley Trading Co. establishment at Fort Collins. We bespeak for him success."
March 1902 
March 1904 Wray 
August 1905 
June 12, 1908 
1909 Mrs. J.N. Counter, who has been visiting her sister-in-law, Mrs. A.W.
Lawrence, for a few days, left Sunday for her home in Brighton.
February 5, 1909 
In 1910 they're in Brighton, Colorado, and James is still a lumberman..
James C. is a county surveyor. and the two girls don't have an occupation
June 30, 1911
James Clarence Counter registered for WWI in Butte County, South Dakota,
where he was working for the U.S. Reclamation Service. He said he was born
May 5, 1884. He's still there in 1920, married to Hedvig from Austria, and
they have James. M 7., born in South Dakota.
Clara had married William G. Gaddis, and in 1930 they're in West Deerfield,
Illinois. William is an attorney They have Ella Mae and William
In 1920 Ben is managing a lumberyard in Brighton, married to Daisy
Margariet,27. They have Benj. Frank 7 and Ruth Elaine 4.
In 1930 James is in Brighton, managing a lumberyard. He's married to
Blanche, born in Nebraska. and James N. 17 is with them.
December 1919 "JIM COUNTER SUFFERS MISFORTUNE
Friends of Jim Counter will regret to learn that Mr. Counter is losing his eyesight.
Mr. Counter will be remembered as a former editor of the Rattler.
For some years he has been living at Brighton. The report is that he is nearly blind."
In 1920 James and Mary are alone.
February 9, 1922 "J. N. Counter died at his home at Brighton, Colo., Thursday, Feb. 2, at the age of 65 years.
Death was the result of an affliction of diabetes, from which he had suffered for several years.
Funeral services were held Sunday, Feb. 5 , at the Alhambra theatre in Brighton.
The services were in charge of the Knight Templar lodge.
This brief announcement marks the passing of one of Wray's early day pioneers and worthy citizens.
Mr. Counter came to Wray from Belleville, Kansas, about the year 1888, He purchased the Wray Rattler from Barney Condon
and conducted the same for a number of years with profit and pleasure to himself and valued service to the community.
He was the second owner of the Rattler. Mr. Counter disposed of the Rattler to a young man by the name of Otto Dorr,
after which he engaged in the lumber business. Like the printing business, Mr. Counter also made a success of the lumber
business. It was nearly thirty years ago that he disposed of his lumber business and moved to Fort Collins.
Later he moved to Brighton, where he had resided for the past 25 years. Mr Counter mode a signal success
of the lumber business in which he engaged in Brighton, and at his death was rated as one of tho richest men in
that city. He was the owner of the Counter Lumber Co. at the time of his death. He was always active in local
and state politics. He served four terms as mayor of Brighton and was a member of tho state legislature from Adams
county two sessions. Shortly after Jim Counter came tc Wray he homesteaded the 80-acre tract now owned by R. F.
Roberts, just at the east edge of the city limits of Wray. Mr. Counter lived on this place for a number of years.
He was a member of the local Masonic lodge and was a past master of that order. He was a brother of the late Mrs.
A W Lawrence and an uncle of Jim Lawrence of this city.
Mr. Counter enjoyed the esteem nnd confidence of his follow men. He was regarded of the highest type of citizen,
was a capable editor and business man and a distinct asset to any community."
January 29, 1910 
December 28, 1922
April 4, 1923 "According to the Brighton Blade, Mrs. James C. Counter of Brighton,
passed away at the St. Luke's hospital in Denver last Friday and was buried Sunday,
the services being conducted by the Eastern Star lodge, at Brighton. Mrs. Counter was born in Vienna Austria in
October 1890 and met Mr. Counter at Del Norte where they were married June 23, 1911. The husband and one son,
James, aged ten, survive. Mr. Counter will be remembered in Fort Collins, the family
having resided here for a number of years. He is a graduate of the civil engineering department of the Colorado
Agricultural college. His father conducted a lumber yard here and later at Brighton, where the
son was associated with him in business, giving up the engineering work. When a lad he was a carrier of the Fort
Collins Courior."
Hedwig Counter 1890-1923 is buried in Brighton # 35917285.
September 6, 1923 
In 1930 Brighton Mary is living alone in Brighton, but daughter Clara J.
Gaddis, also widowed, is on the next line. Clara has Ellamay, 18, and
William S. 14
1899 "F.T. Counter of Twin Bridge, Mont, brother of J.N. Counter and
Mrs. A.W. Lawrence, spent a few days in Wray this week. He has been a
resident of Montana for the past eighteen years, not having met any of his
family for that length of time."
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Chauncey Perry was born in Lenawee county, Michigan, April 21st,
1843. He was raised on the farm, working thereon during the summer and going to school in winter. He
enlisted December 5th, 1861, in Co. E, 3d Michigan Cavalry and
served until February 12th, 1866. Soon after his discharge he moved
to Iowa and took a course in the Great Western Business College at
Mt. Pleasant, from which he graduated September 10th, 1866, and for
nearly three years held an important clerkship in the state asylum
for the insane. He came to Kansas in 1870, taking the NE 1/4 of
section 1, in Jefferson township as a homestead and while making it
his home, taught school for about eighteen months. He was appointed
deputy clerk of the district court, and was elected to that office
in 1872; was elected county clerk in November, 1873, which office he
filled in a creditable and satisfactory manner for ten years. He was
married November 18th, 1872, to Miss Adela E. Counter. Soon after
leaving the county clerk's office he engaged in banking, and
continued in the business about seven years; was elected councilman
of the city of Belleville in 1878, and again in 1882, and mayor in
1880 and 1881. Mr. Perry always took a lively interest in everything
that pertained to the welfare and advancement of the community, and
his advice and counsel were often sought. He died at the residence
of his brother-in-law, Mr. J. N. Counter, in Wray, Colorado, August
17th, 1894.
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