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Below is a family biography included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Columbia County, Arkansas published by Goodspeed Publishing Company in 1890.  These biographies are valuable for genealogy research in discovering missing ancestors or filling in the details of a family tree. Family biographies often include far more information than can be found in a census record or obituary.  Details will vary with each biography but will often include the date and place of birth, parent names including mothers' maiden name, name of wife including maiden name, her parents' names, name of children (including spouses if married), former places of residence, occupation details, military service, church and social organization affiliations, and more.  There are often ancestry details included that cannot be found in any other type of genealogical record.

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Sanford O. Couch is a member of a general mercantile firm which has become well known throughout Southern Arkansas—Couch, Blewster & Co., of Magnolia, Ark. He is a Georgian, born in 1853, and is the third of six children born to Guinett and Alice (Crawford) Couch, who were also born in that State, but since 1853 have been residents of Arkansas. After residing for one year in Union County they came to Columbia County, Ark., and here began to till the soil, an occupation he had previously followed. He soon became well known throughout this region as a man of sound intellect, and being an active politician, he was elected to represent this county in the State Legislature and made a faithful and efficient public servant. Upon the opening of the war he joined Company K, Nineteenth Arkansas Cavalry, becoming lieutenant, and served throughout the entire war, returning home in February, 1865. He did not live long, however, to enjoy the peaceful state of affairs, but died on March 4, 1865, at the age of forty years, he being an earnest member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, at the time of his death, and a member of the Masonic fraternity. His wife died in 1861, and of the six children born to them only two are now living: Sanford O., and J. P. (who resides in Henrietta, Tex., and is engaged in the hardware business). He was married in 1885 to Miss Sallie E. Lankford, of Union County, Ark., a daughter of J. R. and Harriett Lankford, a merchant of Champagnolle, Ark. Sanford O. Couch attended the common schools in his youth, and at the age of twenty-one years began merchandising, having had a six-months’ previous experience as a clerk with Kelum & Morgan, of Camden, Ark., and became associated in business with a cousin, the style of the firm being Couch & Couch. After their business connection had lasted five years, Sanford O. purchased his partner’s interest, but after conducting affairs alone for a short time, sold out and spent the following year in clerking for a Mr. Power. This firm existed for six years then Mr. Couch bought Mr. Power’s interest and soon after became associated in business with T. J. Blewster and T. G. Couch, the firm name being Couch, Blewster & Co. [For a more complete history of the business see sketch of Mr. Blewster.] Mr. Couch was married in 1876 to Miss Jennie Kelso, but on August 10, 1883, was called upon to mourn her death, she having borne him two children, Alice and Fred. His marriage to his present wife was consummated in 1888, she being Mrs. Lucy Anderson, nee Kelso, a sister of his first wife. They are worthy members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and he belongs to Columbia Lodge No. 24 of the K. of P. In addition to his mercantile interests he owns ten or twelve good farms with fair improvements on all, each having from forty to 100 acres under cultivation, and improved with good buildings. He and his partners are engaged in buying and selling horses, in which they are doing well, and every enterprise to which they have given their attention has prospered. Mr. Couch is a Democrat in his political views.

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This family biography is one of 106 biographies included in Biographical and Historical Memoirs of Columbia County, Arkansas published in 1890.  For the complete description, click here: Columbia County, Arkansas History, Genealogy, and Maps

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