Georgia:  Coweta County:  Biography of M. H. COUCH 

====================================================================
USGENWEB NOTICE: In keeping with our policy of providing
free information on the Internet, data may be used by
non-commercial entities, as long as this message
remains on all copied material. These electronic
pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit
or for presentation by other persons or organizations.

Persons or organizations desiring to use this material
for purposes other than stated above must obtain the
written consent of the file contributor.

The submitter has given permission to the USGenWeb
Archives to store this file permanently for free access.
This file was contributed by:
Nel Rocklein 
TAROCKLEIN@aol.com
====================================================================

M. H. COUCH, one of the leading business men of Senoia, was born in Coweta 
county in 1837. His parents were Matthew and Jane (Ensley) Couch, both 
natives of South Carolina, making the long journey in a one-horse wagon. 
They brought with them their two children and settled in the dense woods that 
then covered this section, their nearest neighbor being ten miles away. Mr. 
Couch purchased fifty acres of land on two years' time, and the man of whom 
he bought it, a Mr. Shoats, is said to have remarked that "he never expected 
to get his pay for the land." He was agreeably surprised, therefore, at the 
expiration of the time to received from his debtor the full amount of $300. 
It must be evident to the reader that this payment could only have been made 
by the most heroic effort and self sacrifice on the part of Mr. Couch. He 
worked hard through the day clearing up the woodland for his farm, then 
worked a part of the night splitting rails in the woods of a neighbor by 
which he could earn something toward the payment of his debt, and to furnish 
bread for his family. Wild game was plenty, which helped to supply them with 
food. A man of this stamp could not fail to succeed, and so by the same 
pluck and industry with which he had paid for his farm Mr. Couch conquered 
fortune and is now one of the men of wealth and standing in Coweta county, 
where he has reared a family of eleven children. Three of these, Berry, 
Andrew and John, were killed in the late war, and another son, Madison, lost 
his life from illness caused by exposure while serving in the war. Mr. Couch 
was an uncompromising democrat, but would never apply for any position. He 
was the son of Enoch Couch, of German origin. Mrs. Couch is the daughter of 
James and Elisabeth Ensley, of Irish descent, and her father was a soldier of 
the Mexican war, serving through the entire war. The son, M. H. Couch, spent 
his early years upon the farm, with few opportunities of school attendance, 
and these only amid the unfavorable surroundings of the little log school 
house, with its shabby and comfortless interior. But the lad was studiously 
inclined, and by his own persevering effort learned more out of school than 
in. At the outbreak of the war he enlisted in the Second Georgia battalion 
under Maj. Tom Hardeman, his captain being L. T. Doyle. In 1862 he was 
elected sergeant and in this position served to the end of the war. He was 
in the battle of Norfolk, both battles of Manassas, and through the Maryland 
campaigns, and accompanied his battalion through all the stirring scenes in 
which it was engaged. After the war he returned to Senoia and entered into 
the mercantile business, in which he was very successful, having at the 
present time the largest store in Senoia. On March 2, 1872, he married Miss 
Henrietta Cock, daughter of Judge Benj. F. and Margaret Cock, a sketch of 
whom has been given. She was born in Lee county in 1845 and like himself is 
a member of the Baptist church. They have four children: Pearl, Madge, 
Mabelle, and Frank D. Mr. Couch is a Mason of the royal arch degree, and 
thrice illustrious of the council and king in the chapter. He is one of the 
leading democrats of the county, but would never consent to be a candidate 
for any office. As a citizen Mr. Couch holds a prominent place in the 
community, where he is warmly liked and sincerely respected by all who know 
him.

Transcribed from MEMOIRS OF GEORGIA published by the Southern Historical 
Association, 1895.