Enumerated as Rachel Gutheridge, 18 years old and born in Kentucky, in the household of John Gutheridge in the 1850 Census for Bates Co., MO.

There is a family story that there was a “trail divorce” between John Guttridge and Rachel during the 1853 Hagans-Cockrill immigration (however, this contradicts his supposed date of death). From the Zilhart diary, which may be a reference either to her or it might be Martha Adams (whoever Zilhart was most attracted to at the time):

May 15th... About 2 o'clock I witnessed a parting scene of man and wife; there was several of our train that shed tears but I laughed and shouted. The man went back and she went on with her father.

However, in S. T. Coulter's Spanish American War pension request, it supposedly says that John Guttridge died on the trail and never returned to Bates County.

From the San Francisco Chronicle, Sunday, February 14, 1904, p. 26, c. 2:

PIONEER COUPLE OF SANTA ROSA
Mr. and Mrs. Sterling Coulter to Celebrate Half a Century of Wedded Life in Sonoma.

SANTA ROSA, February 13 -- Sonoma county is gaining a certain distinction of recent years by reason of the number of its citizens who have braved the dangers of pioneer life in the Golden West and lived to celebrate the golden anniversaries of their wedding day. Several have recently celebrated marriages which lasted half the century, but all of these marriages were contracted elsewhere than in the place where the golden jubilee was celebrated. In this connection the golden anniversary of Mr. and Mrs. Sterling Taylor Coulter is unique. On February 21, 1854, they were wedded in what is now Santa Rosa, known in the pioneer days as Franklin, and here they have since resided.

Fifty years of wedded life spent in one place is certainly a distinction worthy for more than passing notice. Both Mr. and Mrs. Coulter were among the earliest settlers in this vicinity, and were here long before the present Santa Rosa was thought of. That was in the good days of the padres. To add to the pleasure of the anniversary it is expected to have several persons present who attended the wedding fifty years ago. Among these are Mrs. J. Claypool and two ladies of San Francisco, formerly the Misses Beaver of Santa Rosa.

None of the residents of the county are more highly esteemed or more generally known than Mr. and Mrs. Coulter. Theirs has been an unassuming life, calculated to make warm friendships and maintain them. Mr. Coulter was at one time master of the State Grange of California and was one of the first members of the order in this State. He is an active participant at all Grange meetings and farmers institutes in the vicinity. He is also prominent in fraternal circles. During his residence here he was been elected Supervisor and was Justice of the Peace. From the latter position became known as "Squire" Coulter and as such is known to his old friends and the younger generations.

As the wedding anniversary falls on Sunday, the celebration of the event will take place Monday, and the Coulter home on Cleveland Avenue will have a hospitable welcome for all on that day. The couple have seven children living. County Superintendent of Schools, Miss Minnie Coulter, her deputy, Miss Nellie Coulter, Miss Judith Coulter, Miss Lida Coulter, Mrs. George Severson and William S. and Paul T. Coulter.