Biography of Benjamin C. Esq. Couch of Tiskilwa, Illinois

Benjamin C. Couch, Esq., Tiskilwa, was born September 19, 1822, in Boscawen, Merrimack County, New Hampshire. He is a grandson of Benjamin Couch Sr., a native of New Hampshire, and a soldier in the Revolutionary war, participating in the battle of Bunker Hill, where he had a bullet shot through his ear. He married a Miss Heath, who was the mother of five children. Of these Benjamin Couch, Jr. was the father of our subject. He was a farmer by occupation, and was a native of New Hampshire, where he died. The mother of our subject, Mrs. Sallie (Morse) Couch, was born in Portsmouth, New Hampshire. She died January 24, 1866, aged seventy-five years. She was the mother of eight children, viz.: Prescott, James S., Amos A., Plummer, Rachel, Benjamin C. (our subject). Harriman and Caleb K. Of these Prescott, James S., Plummer and Caleb K. are deceased.

Squire Couch was educated in his native State. In 1843 he removed to Tazewell County, Illinois, and in the winter of 1845 to Henry County. In 1851 he came to this county, and first settled in Wyanet Township, where he followed the carpenter business till 1853, when he removed to Tiskilwa, where he was a grain and lumber merchant for fifteen years. Since then he has followed various occupations, and filled the office of Township Clerk and Justice of the Peace for many years with tact and ability.

Mr. Couch was married in Rhode Island to Martha J. Caleb, who died in Tiskilwa. She was the mother of nine children, viz.: Dion, Cornelia A., Laura and Lucy (twins), Sarah J., Charles S., Ilus, Buel and Bias (twins), the latter deceased.

Subject’s second wife, Lydia M. Peck, died here leaving two children, viz.: Minnie I. And Hattie B. At present Mr. Couch is married to Emilie Thompson, a daughter of Daniel Thompson, of Bath, Steuben County, New York.

Politically, Squire Couch comes from the old Underground Abolition stock. At present he is not identified with any party.

Source: History of Bureau County, Illinois, H. C. Bradsby, Editor. World Publishing Company Chicago 1885

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