Fearless Females

Cora Alice Amick-Couch

She was born 12 Oct 1874 in LaMars, Ia. She married James Baird Couch 3 Mar 1898. They had 7 children.

Cora is one of my favorite Female ancestors, she was my great-grandmother. That's not why I am drawn her. It's because she must of been a very strong women to endure so much at time that couldn't of been easy. 1898 brought the Spanish War, the first person to buy an automobile. The most popular song at the time was The Amorous Goldfish sung by Syria Lamonte. Annie Oakly promoted the service of women in combat. There were a record number of world disasters and the world's first pornographic film, Tickling the Soles of Her Feet came out.

It was a tough time to get married and start a family, but she did and times only became harder. Her husband James and her son Earl James Couch went out to do some hunting so they would have food to eat. Jan 1, 1908 in Elgin, NE. Earl was 9 years old.

They were walking through the fields and as they were stepping over a fence. James handed his son his shot gun and it discharged killing James. How that little boy must of felt right at that moment. The fear. James died leaving 6 children under the age of 11 and one on the way.

Cora was 6 months pregnant with Jewel Bernice Couch who would never know her father.

How did Cora manage to raise these children all alone? She never re-married.I know they took in sewing and ironing to help feed everyone according to my grandmother Dorothy. My mom would tell me that Cora was a bitter women. I could only imagine why. That's a lot for any women to handle, but in 1908 when running water and electricity were scarce, it would make things even harder.

I would like to find more pictures of Cora and find her birth record. I have the 1920 and 1930 census for her living in Iowa. I would also love to hear more stories.