Obituary in Daytona Beach News-Journal (FL) - December 10, 2010:
"Emma Oglesby Counts came to Ormond Beach 57 years ago from Illinois, where she was part of a political family of historic note since the days of President Abraham Lincoln.
A fashion plate who worked at a local Belk-Lindsey department store for 30 years, Counts was the 87-year-old granddaughter of former Illinois Gov. and Sen. Richard J. Oglesby. He was known as Lincoln's rail-splitter, close friend and ally in the early Republican party and nominated Lincoln for the presidency.
Counts died Monday at home surrounded by loved ones.
Ormond Beach Zone 2 Commissioner Troy Kent, Counts' grandson, said she was a wonderful matriarch in all the traditional ways. But she also shared her grandfather's legacy with him in a meaningful way.
"She was top notch. Her love for her kids and grandkids was extremely evident in her everyday life," Kent said. "She loved making pound cake for my older brother whenever he came into town. And she was a loving, caring grandmother who would bring me as a kid to her house to stay overnight.
"And politically, she was one of my largest supporters. She was always there, was inspiring, always with advice, and she supported me financially in my first campaign," he said. "She did tell me stories about her grandfather who was the governor of Illinois and nominated Lincoln for the presidency."
Named for her grandmother Emma Gillett Oglesby, Counts was often a guest of honor at dinners for lifetime supporters of the Gov. Oglesby Historical Mansion in Decatur, Ill., which has been preserved as a historical site and cultural center.
"She was the last closest relative of the three-time governor and U.S. senator," said Bruce Leonard, past president emeritus of the mansion's board of directors in a phone interview. "She and her husband were active at the mansion, even though they lived in Florida. They came to our functions and she continued to come after her husband died.
"Although she was 900 miles away, she supported it financially, and we revered her because she was an actual closest relative of Gov. Oglesby."
Oglesby had been an Infantry 1st Lieutenant during the Mexican-American War and a brigadier general during the Civil War. After being wounded in the Civil War, he was brought to Washington by Lincoln to preside over a court-martial of the Surgeon General.
Oglesby was invited to be Lincoln's guest at Ford's Theatre the night he was fatally shot.
Oglesby had just returned from traveling and declined the invitation to attend on the fateful evening, but was immediately notified and was at Lincoln's bedside when he died.
In 2004, Counts, nicknamed "Gigi," attended a dinner at the mansion with her granddaughter, Sue Thompson, Ormond Beach, and family with whom she lived.
"Gigi was the life of every party," Thompson said. "My grandmother was the most giving, loving, elegant and vivacious person I have ever known."
Additional survivors include three daughters, Stephanie Baker, Leesburg, Johnette Kent, Ormond Beach, Georgia Smith, Arlington, Texas; 14 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. New Life Cremation is in charge."
"Emma Oglesby Counts came to Ormond Beach 57 years ago from Illinois, where she was part of a political family of historic note since the days of President Abraham Lincoln.
A fashion plate who worked at a local Belk-Lindsey department store for 30 years, Counts was the 87-year-old granddaughter of former Illinois Gov. and Sen. Richard J. Oglesby. He was known as Lincoln's rail-splitter, close friend and ally in the early Republican party and nominated Lincoln for the presidency.
Counts died Monday at home surrounded by loved ones.
Ormond Beach Zone 2 Commissioner Troy Kent, Counts' grandson, said she was a wonderful matriarch in all the traditional ways. But she also shared her grandfather's legacy with him in a meaningful way.
"She was top notch. Her love for her kids and grandkids was extremely evident in her everyday life," Kent said. "She loved making pound cake for my older brother whenever he came into town. And she was a loving, caring grandmother who would bring me as a kid to her house to stay overnight.
"And politically, she was one of my largest supporters. She was always there, was inspiring, always with advice, and she supported me financially in my first campaign," he said. "She did tell me stories about her grandfather who was the governor of Illinois and nominated Lincoln for the presidency."
Named for her grandmother Emma Gillett Oglesby, Counts was often a guest of honor at dinners for lifetime supporters of the Gov. Oglesby Historical Mansion in Decatur, Ill., which has been preserved as a historical site and cultural center.
"She was the last closest relative of the three-time governor and U.S. senator," said Bruce Leonard, past president emeritus of the mansion's board of directors in a phone interview. "She and her husband were active at the mansion, even though they lived in Florida. They came to our functions and she continued to come after her husband died.
"Although she was 900 miles away, she supported it financially, and we revered her because she was an actual closest relative of Gov. Oglesby."
Oglesby had been an Infantry 1st Lieutenant during the Mexican-American War and a brigadier general during the Civil War. After being wounded in the Civil War, he was brought to Washington by Lincoln to preside over a court-martial of the Surgeon General.
Oglesby was invited to be Lincoln's guest at Ford's Theatre the night he was fatally shot.
Oglesby had just returned from traveling and declined the invitation to attend on the fateful evening, but was immediately notified and was at Lincoln's bedside when he died.
In 2004, Counts, nicknamed "Gigi," attended a dinner at the mansion with her granddaughter, Sue Thompson, Ormond Beach, and family with whom she lived.
"Gigi was the life of every party," Thompson said. "My grandmother was the most giving, loving, elegant and vivacious person I have ever known."
Additional survivors include three daughters, Stephanie Baker, Leesburg, Johnette Kent, Ormond Beach, Georgia Smith, Arlington, Texas; 14 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. New Life Cremation is in charge."
Obituary in Daytona Beach News-Journal (FL) - December 10, 2010:
"Emma Oglesby Counts came to Ormond Beach 57 years ago from Illinois, where she was part of a political family of historic note since the days of President Abraham Lincoln.
A fashion plate who worked at a local Belk-Lindsey department store for 30 years, Counts was the 87-year-old granddaughter of former Illinois Gov. and Sen. Richard J. Oglesby. He was known as Lincoln's rail-splitter, close friend and ally in the early Republican party and nominated Lincoln for the presidency.
Counts died Monday at home surrounded by loved ones.
Ormond Beach Zone 2 Commissioner Troy Kent, Counts' grandson, said she was a wonderful matriarch in all the traditional ways. But she also shared her grandfather's legacy with him in a meaningful way.
"She was top notch. Her love for her kids and grandkids was extremely evident in her everyday life," Kent said. "She loved making pound cake for my older brother whenever he came into town. And she was a loving, caring grandmother who would bring me as a kid to her house to stay overnight.
"And politically, she was one of my largest supporters. She was always there, was inspiring, always with advice, and she supported me financially in my first campaign," he said. "She did tell me stories about her grandfather who was the governor of Illinois and nominated Lincoln for the presidency."
Named for her grandmother Emma Gillett Oglesby, Counts was often a guest of honor at dinners for lifetime supporters of the Gov. Oglesby Historical Mansion in Decatur, Ill., which has been preserved as a historical site and cultural center.
"She was the last closest relative of the three-time governor and U.S. senator," said Bruce Leonard, past president emeritus of the mansion's board of directors in a phone interview. "She and her husband were active at the mansion, even though they lived in Florida. They came to our functions and she continued to come after her husband died.
"Although she was 900 miles away, she supported it financially, and we revered her because she was an actual closest relative of Gov. Oglesby."
Oglesby had been an Infantry 1st Lieutenant during the Mexican-American War and a brigadier general during the Civil War. After being wounded in the Civil War, he was brought to Washington by Lincoln to preside over a court-martial of the Surgeon General.
Oglesby was invited to be Lincoln's guest at Ford's Theatre the night he was fatally shot.
Oglesby had just returned from traveling and declined the invitation to attend on the fateful evening, but was immediately notified and was at Lincoln's bedside when he died.
In 2004, Counts, nicknamed "Gigi," attended a dinner at the mansion with her granddaughter, Sue Thompson, Ormond Beach, and family with whom she lived.
"Gigi was the life of every party," Thompson said. "My grandmother was the most giving, loving, elegant and vivacious person I have ever known."
Additional survivors include three daughters, Stephanie Baker, Leesburg, Johnette Kent, Ormond Beach, Georgia Smith, Arlington, Texas; 14 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. New Life Cremation is in charge."
"Emma Oglesby Counts came to Ormond Beach 57 years ago from Illinois, where she was part of a political family of historic note since the days of President Abraham Lincoln.
A fashion plate who worked at a local Belk-Lindsey department store for 30 years, Counts was the 87-year-old granddaughter of former Illinois Gov. and Sen. Richard J. Oglesby. He was known as Lincoln's rail-splitter, close friend and ally in the early Republican party and nominated Lincoln for the presidency.
Counts died Monday at home surrounded by loved ones.
Ormond Beach Zone 2 Commissioner Troy Kent, Counts' grandson, said she was a wonderful matriarch in all the traditional ways. But she also shared her grandfather's legacy with him in a meaningful way.
"She was top notch. Her love for her kids and grandkids was extremely evident in her everyday life," Kent said. "She loved making pound cake for my older brother whenever he came into town. And she was a loving, caring grandmother who would bring me as a kid to her house to stay overnight.
"And politically, she was one of my largest supporters. She was always there, was inspiring, always with advice, and she supported me financially in my first campaign," he said. "She did tell me stories about her grandfather who was the governor of Illinois and nominated Lincoln for the presidency."
Named for her grandmother Emma Gillett Oglesby, Counts was often a guest of honor at dinners for lifetime supporters of the Gov. Oglesby Historical Mansion in Decatur, Ill., which has been preserved as a historical site and cultural center.
"She was the last closest relative of the three-time governor and U.S. senator," said Bruce Leonard, past president emeritus of the mansion's board of directors in a phone interview. "She and her husband were active at the mansion, even though they lived in Florida. They came to our functions and she continued to come after her husband died.
"Although she was 900 miles away, she supported it financially, and we revered her because she was an actual closest relative of Gov. Oglesby."
Oglesby had been an Infantry 1st Lieutenant during the Mexican-American War and a brigadier general during the Civil War. After being wounded in the Civil War, he was brought to Washington by Lincoln to preside over a court-martial of the Surgeon General.
Oglesby was invited to be Lincoln's guest at Ford's Theatre the night he was fatally shot.
Oglesby had just returned from traveling and declined the invitation to attend on the fateful evening, but was immediately notified and was at Lincoln's bedside when he died.
In 2004, Counts, nicknamed "Gigi," attended a dinner at the mansion with her granddaughter, Sue Thompson, Ormond Beach, and family with whom she lived.
"Gigi was the life of every party," Thompson said. "My grandmother was the most giving, loving, elegant and vivacious person I have ever known."
Additional survivors include three daughters, Stephanie Baker, Leesburg, Johnette Kent, Ormond Beach, Georgia Smith, Arlington, Texas; 14 grandchildren and 29 great-grandchildren. New Life Cremation is in charge."
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