Born in New York on January 31, 1820. He came to Waterloo in 1853. He built the first flour mill (which was also the first mill to use water power) on the west bank of the Cedar River where the YMCA was later built. He was county judge in 1860-61, and in 1861 was confined to Probate. Mr. Couch helped organize the First National Bank in February, 1865 and was the first cashier of the bank. He was a member of the state senate from 1870-71. His home was built on the corner of Commercial and Third Streets. The judge moved to Chicago in 1871 and became a member of the Board of Trade.