Page:Encyclopedia of Virginia Biography volume 5.djvu/504

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VIRGINIA BIOGRAPHY

army in a Virginia regiment and when the war was over returned to his native county, where he continued active in business until his death. He married his cousin, Susan E., daughter of Philip Long, and sister of Captain Powell Long, of the Frederick county, Virginia, state militia. Isaac Long, a son of Michael and Susan E. (Long) Long, served in a Virginia regiment of the Confed- erate army in charge of a hospital corps at Keswick, Albemarle county, Virginia.

Gideon Lee Long, son of Michael and Susan E. (Long) Long, was born on the old Long homestead, in Page county, Virginia, eight miles from Luray. He pursued ad- vanced courses for two years at the Poly- technic Institute, Newmarket, Virginia, and for one year at Virginia Military Institute, at Lexington. He then returned to the farm and for many years devoted his life to the management of his large estate, that for two centuries has been in the Long name. He is a true type of the Virginia gentleman farmer, courteous, genial and hospitable, progressive and modern in his methods, political and religious views broad-minded and liberal.

Mr. Long married (first) Amanda Vir- ginia, daughter of Joseph and Mary (Allen) Spangler. She died September 15, 1907. He married (second) September 4, 1912, Annie, daughter of Judge J. W. Malone, of Quincy, Florida. Children : Michael Allen, born on the old homestead, November 23. 1890; Rob- ert Edward, born on the homestead. Janu- ary 10, 1898; Thomas Bayard, born in Luray, January 11, 1905.

Frank H. Couch. Incumbent of high fra- ternal office, Frank H. Couch, a native of Hampton, Virginia, is at this time a resident of the city, the greater part of his earlier business career having been passed in asso- ciation with the Newport News Shipbuild- ing Company. Son of a veteran of the Civil war. Mr. Couch is himself a veteran of the Spanish-American war, and as an officer of Company D, Fourth Virginia Volunteer Regiment, saw much strenuous service in the conflict that gave to Manila and Santi- ago more than geographical distinction. Prominent fraternally, he is also closely identified with religious work, and in ofiflcial positions aids in planning the activities of the Hampton Civic Improvement League and vigorously strives for their realization.

Frank H. Couch is a son of Villiam Couch, born at Church Falls, province of Quebec, Canada, in 1837. As a young man of twen- ty-four years William Couch enlisted as a soldier in Battery C, Thirty-ninth Regiment New York Light Artillery, at the beginning of the Civil war. He was wounded in the action before Richmond, and was placed in the national hospital at Gatewoods Corner. One of his nurses at this time, and the one whose ministrations seemed to him most tender and angelic, was Emma Smith, and in the midst of all the suffering and inisery of war there grew and flourished a romance of beauty and sweetness. When strength and health returned William Couch made his nurse his bride, and after receiving his discharge from the service made his home in Hampton, Virginia, where he made photography his occupation. He was suc- cessful in business and in Hampton kept his home until his death in 1907, aged seventy years. He was a member of the Grand Army of the Republic, held the Knights Templar degree in the Masonic order, and also affiliated with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows. In politics a loyal Demo- crat, his church was the Methodist Epis- copal, of which he was an earnest and life- long member. William and Emma (Smith) Couch were the parents of: Frank H., of whom further; Louise, born January i, 1868; married, July 13, 1896, Christopher Ethelbert Cheyne, born in 1867, and has children : Ethelbert, born May 26, 1898, Emily, born June 13, 1901, and Marian, born February 6, 1909.

Frank H. Couch, only son of William and Emma (Smith) Couch, was born in Hamp- ton, Virginia, in 1866, and after studying in the Sims-Eaton School and the Model School, entered the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, whence he was graduated in the class of 1888. For a time after leaving school he read law, never, however, advanc- ing into practice of this profession, and sub- sequently was employed by the Newport News Shipbuilding Company. For nineteen years he remained with this concern, deputy in one of the important offices of the com- pany, his term of service with the Newport News Shipbuilding Company marked by capable effort and efficient administration of a diflicult office.

When war with Spain was declared he was first lieutenant of Company D, Fourth