My Genealogy Hound

JOSEPH COUCH, mechanic, Bridgeville, was born in this county in 1831, a son of Simon and Elizabeth (Kerr) Couch, to whom were born ten children, two of whom are living. William, the grandfather of Joseph, also a native of this county, married Elizabeth Whitmore, of German descent, and they had twelve children, of whom Simon was the second son. William was the son of Joseph, and Joseph the son of Nathaniel, the pioneer of the family in Allegheny county, who took up one hundred acres of land in what is now known as Snowden township. He there built a fort, and resided until his death. The family have been mechanics and farmers. Joseph died in 1837, aged eighty-eight years; William in 1841, aged seventy, and Simon in 1878, aged seventy-two. Since the first settlement in this county by Nathaniel Couch, his descendants have all been born and reared and have lived within a radius of five miles. They were all imbued with a spirit of patriotism; Nathaniel fought with Braddock at the latter’s defeat; he was in the Virginia Rifles under Washington. William was in the war of 1812 under Gen. W. H. Harrison, and participated in his Canada campaign. The subject of this memoir, named in honor of his great-grandfather, was born near his present home in Upper St. Clair township, learned the millwright’s trade of his father, and has followed it through life. He married, in 1850, Sarah, daughter of John Rankin, of Ireland, and ten children were born to them, seven yet living: Harriet, Sallie (Mrs. McMillin), Simon, Josephine (Mrs. Reed), Harry P., Wesley and Charles G. Mr. Couch enlisted in 1861 in Co. H, 62d P. V., serving for three years; was with the Army of the Potomac, participating in all its battles, and was honorably discharged at Pittsburgh. He is a member of the G. A. R.; politically, a, republican.