The Counts Family settled in Paint Rock Valley in the mid to late 1860's, following the end of the Civil War. The Andrew Jackson Counts Family came to Jackson County, Alabama, from Lincoln County, Tennessee, and were perhaps seeking a better life for themselves during this time of "Reconstruction" in the South. Perhaps their home had been destroyed during the onslaught of the War. One could speculate on many reasons for the move. The Counts are believed to have been in Tennessee as early as 1780; but as of this time, the origin of the family before this era is unknown.

Andrew Jackson Counts mother was Sally Rich Counts. Sally's grandfather was a German immigrant, making Sally a second generation German-American. The Rich name was originally Riech; but apparently was changed after coming to America. The Counts name, coincidentally, is also believed to have been German, and was originally spelled Kuntz.

George Counts was born c. 1780, presumably in Tennessee.

George married Sarah "Sally" Rich on July 23, 1806, in Rutherford County, Tennessee. Sally, the daughter of Jacob Rich, Sr. and Philpina N. Sharp, was born October 10, 1784, in North Carolina. Sally's father, Jacob, was born December 16, 1762, in North Carolina. He was the son of Thomas Rich, Sr. and Susannah Noah. Thomas Rich, Sr. was born in Germany around the year 1730. He migrated to America, and was later killed during the Revolutionary War in South Carolina. Susannah Noah was the daughter of Peter & Hannah Noah (Noe) of Orange County, North Carolina.

Sally's father also served in the Revolutionary War, as did his brothers, Thomas Jr. and Peter; and as a result, all three received federal land grants. Jacob Rich, Sally's father, and his first wife, Philpina, are believed to be the parents of twelve known children - Sarah "Sally", Thomas Jefferson, Elizabeth, Mary, Eleanor, Barbara, Margaret, Joseph, Jacob Jr., William, Philpena, and Anna. Philpena Sharp Counts died August 2, 1808, in Tennessee. Afterwards, Jacob married Rosannah Sartin Counts, and had seven additional children - George W., James S., Richard V., Louisa, Marshall H., Edward C., and Andrew J. This made Jacob Counts, Sr. the father of seventeen known children. Jacob Rich, Sr. died August 14, 1838, in Tennessee.

George and Sally Counts are believed to be the parents of seven children - Daniel (c. 1810), George W. (c. 1815), Nicholas (c. 1819), David (c. 1822), Lucinda (c. 1827), Andrew Jackson (1827), and Thenia A. (c. 1830). Most, if not all of these children were probably born in either Franklin or Lincoln Counties, Tennessee.

1. Sarah Ann Counts was born September 7, 1849, in Tennessee. Sarah, also known as "Sallie", apparently never married as she is found listed in the 1910 Federal Census as being sixty years old, single, and living with her father, Andrew Jackson Counts.
2. Eliza Catherine Counts was born April 14, 1851, in Tennessee. Eliza married Albert A. Hinshaw on August 6, 1868, in Jackson County, Alabama. Albert, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Hinshaw, was born May 28, 1842, in Jackson County, Alabama. Albert and Eliza had children - William A. (1869), Monroe (1873), Mary (1875), John Thomas (1877), James (1880), Emma (1882), Annie (1884), Lucy (1887), Louella (1888), and Walter Jack (1891). Albert A. Hinshaw died June 2, 1928, in Jackson County, Alabama. Eliza Catherine Counts Hinshaw died May 16, 1929, in Jackson County, Alabama.
3. Mary Lucinda Counts was born February 5, 1854, in Tennessee. Mary L. Counts married William P. Bates on February 19, 1874, in Jackson County, Alabama. Nothing else is known about Mary.
4. John Andrew Counts was born December 9, 1855, in Tennessee. He married Bettie Shelton c. 1875, in Oklahoma. Bettie was born c. 1858, in Oklahoma. John and Bettie had three known children - Andrew Jackson (c. 1890), Mary E. (c. 1894), and Alice M. (c. 1899), all presumably born in Oklahoma. Both John and Bettie must have been dead by 1910, for in that year's Census the children are enumerated with their grandfather, Andrew Jackson Counts.
5. Dicey Susannah Counts was born December 9, 1857, in Tennessee. Susannah married William Freeman on February 19, 1874, in Jackson County, Alabama. Nothing else is known about Susannah.
6. Louise Adaline Counts was born February 25, 1859, in Tennessee. She is listed in the 1880 Federal Census as "Addaline", being nineteen years old, living with her parents. No further information is known about Adaline at this time.
7. James Robert Counts was born June 20, 1862, in Tennessee. Bob, as he was commonly known, married Lydia Wright on December 23, 1883, in Jackson County, Alabama.
8. Obadiah M. Counts was born August 15, 1864, in Tennessee. He supposedly married a Beckie White c. 1888. Nothing else is known about Obadiah at this time.
9. Martha Elizabeth Counts was born August 20, 1866, in Tennessee. She is listed in the 1880 Federal Census as "Martha E.", living with her parents. Nothing else is known about Martha.
10. Vina Arvella Counts was born September 27, 1869, in Jackson County, Alabama. For more information regarding Vina, please click on her name.
11. Emily Ida Counts was born August 19, 1871, in Jackson County, Alabama. In the 1910 Federal Census, she is listed as "E. Ida Oliver", a thirty-six year old widow. Her children, "Jasper? J." and "John T." are listed as being born in Alabama, as was their dead father. This family is enumerated in the household of Ida's father, Andrew Jackson Counts.
12. Nancy Jane Counts was born July 19, 1873, in Jackson County, Alabama. She is listed in the 1880 Federal Census as six year old "Nancy Jane", living with her parents. She reportedly died in 1894, presumably in Jackson County, Alabama.
13. David Monroe Counts was born July 19, 1873, in Jackson County, Alabama. In the 1880 Federal Census, he is listed as "David M", four years old, and living with his parents. He reportedly died in 1891, presumably in Jackson County, Alabama.
14. Margaret Almeda Counts was born April 23, 1878, in Jackson County, Alabama. In the 1880 Federal Census, she is listed as "Marragret A.", two years old, and living with her parents. She reportedly married Jones Thomas c. 1898. Nothing else is known about Margaret.

In the 1910 Federal Census for Jackson County, Alabama, which was enumerated April 15, 1910, by John A. Jones, Andrew is found living in the Hambrick district. "Andrew J. Counts" is listed as the eighty-two year old head of household, owning a farm free of mortgage, and employed as a farm manager. Also listed is daughter, Sarah A. Counts (60), grandson Andrew J. (20), and granddaughters Mary E. (16) and Alice M. (11). These three children belonged to Andrew's son, John, who must have been dead by 1910. The birthplaces of these children are listed as Oklahoma. Their father's birthplace is Tennessee; and their mother's birthplace is Oklahoma.

Also enumerated with Andrew in the 1910 Census are his daughter "E. Ida Oliver" (36), and her children - Jasper J.? (19) and John T. (16). The birthplace of these children and their father is Alabama. Ida is listed as a widow mother of three children, only two of whom were living at the time.

Andrew Jackson Counts died in 1912, in Jackson County, Alabama. He was approximately eighty-four years old. Andrew is also buried in the Counts Cemetery, which is located on County Road 3, near Princeton, Alabama, in Jackson County. It is located on what is known as the "old Graham place", and is in the edge of a wooded area above a pasture. There are approximately fifteen graves with fieldstone markers.