Ouray County CO Archives Biographies.....Couchman, George R. 1846 - ?
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Judy Crook jlcrook@rof.net December 20, 2005, 12:55 am

Author: Progressive Men of Western Colorado

     Born and reared on an Indiana farm and learning the science and the
practical work of agriculture in that region where they are highly developed and
vigorously followed, George R. Couchman, of Ouray county, with a fine ranch and
comfortable residence about four miles and a half northeast of Ridgeway, came to
this country when it was new and undeveloped well prepared for his part in
starting its agricultural interests forward on a career of gratifying and almost
unexampled success.  He was born in 1846, the son of Andrew and Margaret (Evans)
Couchman, natives of Indiana, and prosperous farmers in that state, and on the
paternal homestead he grew to manhood and in the neighboring district schools
received his education.  His father died when he was quite young and the burden
of helping to conduct the farm and the affairs of the household fell heavily on
his shoulders early in his life.  He remained at home until the breaking out of
the Civil war, then enlisted in Company G, Thirty-third Indiana Infantry.  After
a service of one hundred days in this command he was discharged, and he then
enlisted in Company H, One Hundred and Thirty-Eighth Indiana Infantry, in which
he served to the end of the war, and although his regiment was in active field
work and confronted the enemy on many a bloody field, he escaped unhurt, and at
the close of the contest returned to his Indiana home, later he moved to
southwestern Missouri, and the next year to Kansas.  Here he was engaged in
farming five years, and in 1873 came to Colorado, locating at Colorado Springs.
 During the next five years he was farming and carrying on a lumber business at
this point, and in 1879 moved to Leadville and turned his attention to mining. 
In 1884 he came to Ouray county and located his present ranch, which consists of
two hundred and eighty acres of superior hay land that yields abundant crops and
furnishes a plentiful supply of provender for his stock.  He was also engaged in
merchandising for four years at Ridgeway, and is now conducting, in addition to
his farming and stock operations, a large flouring mill that has an appreciative
body of patrons and supplies an extensive district with its high-grade products.
 Mr. Couchman has been a wide-awake and progressive citizen, deeply interested
in the welfare of the county.  He served a number of years as county
commissioner, and in many other ways has aided in the development and proper
growth of his section of the state and the improvement and increased comfort of
its people.  In fraternal relations he is a zealous and energetic member of the
Knights of Pythias.  In 1870, while living in Kansas, he was married to Miss
Sarah Holbrook, a native of Michigan.  They have four children, Mary, Jessie,
Lulu V. and Mabel.  The family occupies an attractive residence at Ridgeway,
which is maintained there in order that the children may have the best school
facilities available.  Among the enterprising, far-seeing and progressive
citizens of Ouray county none stand higher than Mr. Couchman in the public
esteem, and none has done more to deserve the cordial good will and confidence
of his fellow men.

Additional Comments:
From Progressive Men of Western Colorado.  Chicago:  A.W. Bowen & Co., 1905

File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/co/ouray/bios/couchman75gbs.txt

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