Edward H. Couse Biography


	This biography appears on page 1048 in "History of Dakota 
	Territory" by George W. Kingsbury, Vol. IV (1915) and was 
	scanned, OCRed and edited by Maurice Krueger, mkrueger@iw.net.

	This file may be freely copied by individuals and non-profit 
	organizations for their private use. 

	Any other use, including publication, storage in a retrieval 
	system, or transmission by electronic, mechanical, or other 
	means requires the written approval of the file's author.

	This file is part of the SDGENWEB Archives. If you arrived here inside
	a frame or from a link from somewhere else, our front door is at

	http://usgwarchives.org/sd/sdfiles.htm


				EDWARD H. COUSE.  

	Edward H. Couse, one of the venerable and highly esteemed 
residents of De Smet, was a pioneer merchant of the town but has lived 
retired since 1902. He has made his home in this state for more than a 
third of a century and is moreover entitled to distinction as one of 
the honored veterans of the Civil war. His birth occurred in New York 
on the 1st of April, 1830, his parents being Henry H. and Caroline 
(Smith) Couse, both of whom are deceased. He attended the public 
schools in his youth but his knowledge was largely acquired in the 
difficult school of experience. When the Civil war broke out he was 
engaged in opening up a farm which he had purchased from the government 
at a dollar and a quarter per acre, but the call of his country was 
paramount and in 1862, before he had finished breaking his land, he 
enlisted for service in the Ninth Minnesota Volunteer Infantry as an 
adjutant, having been appointed to this rank by Governor Ramsey During 
his three years' service he participated in some of the principal 
engagements of the conflict, though the first year following his 
enlistment was spent in Minnesota on account of the Indian outbreak. He 
was wounded at the battle of Nashville and honorably discharged on the 
1st of September, 1865, having made a most creditable record as a brave 
and loyal defender of the Union cause.  

	Following the cessation of hostilities Mr. Couse was engaged in 
milling for a period of four years and subsequently followed farming 
until he came to South Dakota, locating at De Smet in 1880. The 
previous year he had filed on a homestead and tree claim. Eventually he 
embarked in the hardware business and conducted an enterprise of that 
character continuously and successfully until 1902, when he disposed of 
his interests and retired to private life. He still owns considerable 
real estate, however, and is widely recognized as one of the wealthy, 
respected and representative citizens of his community.  

	In 1855 Mr. Couse was united in marriage to Miss Lydia Eaton. The 
latter adheres to the faith of the Episcopal church. Mr. Couse has 
never indulged in intoxicants nor tobacco and his temperateness in all 
things has brought him to a hale and ripe old age. His political 
allegiance is given to the republican party and he is a valued member 
of the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic. He is well known 
throughout the community and has hosts of friends, who accord him the 
esteem which he well deserves.