To say that Jess Couch was an unusual person would be a great understatement. He learned how to wrestle when he was about 14 and continued to enjoy that sport for many years thereafter. At age 18, he joined the U.S. Navy and, according to the 1920 U.S. Census, he was stationed at the Tanner Creek Naval Operating Base assigned to the electric shop. In addition to that s assignment, he was on the Navy's wrestling team, winning his share of matches. After his release from the Navy (ca. 1922), he returned home and worked as a salesman.
In 1930, Jess joined the U.S. Army and was listed on the U.S. Census of that year at March Field, Perris, Riverside County, California. While in the Army for 3 years, Jess was on the boxing team. He was discharged from the Army on January 12, 1933, at Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Between his release from the Navy and his induction into the Army, Jess was married three times: 1) Mable Emmabelle McKinley in 1923, 2) Mrs. Bertha M. Wilson (1924), and 3) Birdie Belle Winter (1925).
In March of 1935, Jess married again, this time to Daisy Mable Knight. Unfortunately, this marriage did not succeed and by 1938, Jess was single again. This time, however, he was blessed with a daughter, Daisy Vianna Couch.
From 1938 to early in 1940, Jess lived with his semi-invalid mother in Port Arthur, again working as a salesman and helping her with her confectioner's business.
At the time of the 1940 U.S. Census, Jess is listed with a cousin, Maurice Patton and his family, in Hale County, just north of Lubbock. He states his residence in 1935 as Fort Worth, Texas.
By 1945, Jess is in Denver, Colorado, working for the railroad. He remains in Denver until after 1950 where we find him on the U.S. Census in that city. Shortly after that, he returned to Texas, this time to Motley County where he lived for the remainder of his life.
In an interview with Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reporter Luron Brown in 1974, Jess related more details of his life. He tells of winning the lightweight wrestling title in the Navy in 1919. He also related he got the nickname "Cannonball" while in the Navy because he could see the cannon balls during target practice. Also in this interview, he admits "I was married four times before I found out I was cut out to be a bachelor."
He was probably best known for his pack of 24 dogs that he trained to pull a cart. He used the dog-rig not only in parades, but sometimes just to go into Matador to visit or shop.
After his death in 1989, many of his things were donated to the Motley County Museum. These included his tape recordings of older cowboys that worked on nearby ranches and, being an amateur photographer, numerous photographs he had taken and developed over many years.
In 1930, Jess joined the U.S. Army and was listed on the U.S. Census of that year at March Field, Perris, Riverside County, California. While in the Army for 3 years, Jess was on the boxing team. He was discharged from the Army on January 12, 1933, at Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Between his release from the Navy and his induction into the Army, Jess was married three times: 1) Mable Emmabelle McKinley in 1923, 2) Mrs. Bertha M. Wilson (1924), and 3) Birdie Belle Winter (1925).
In March of 1935, Jess married again, this time to Daisy Mable Knight. Unfortunately, this marriage did not succeed and by 1938, Jess was single again. This time, however, he was blessed with a daughter, Daisy Vianna Couch.
From 1938 to early in 1940, Jess lived with his semi-invalid mother in Port Arthur, again working as a salesman and helping her with her confectioner's business.
At the time of the 1940 U.S. Census, Jess is listed with a cousin, Maurice Patton and his family, in Hale County, just north of Lubbock. He states his residence in 1935 as Fort Worth, Texas.
By 1945, Jess is in Denver, Colorado, working for the railroad. He remains in Denver until after 1950 where we find him on the U.S. Census in that city. Shortly after that, he returned to Texas, this time to Motley County where he lived for the remainder of his life.
In an interview with Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reporter Luron Brown in 1974, Jess related more details of his life. He tells of winning the lightweight wrestling title in the Navy in 1919. He also related he got the nickname "Cannonball" while in the Navy because he could see the cannon balls during target practice. Also in this interview, he admits "I was married four times before I found out I was cut out to be a bachelor."
He was probably best known for his pack of 24 dogs that he trained to pull a cart. He used the dog-rig not only in parades, but sometimes just to go into Matador to visit or shop.
After his death in 1989, many of his things were donated to the Motley County Museum. These included his tape recordings of older cowboys that worked on nearby ranches and, being an amateur photographer, numerous photographs he had taken and developed over many years.
To say that Jess Couch was an unusual person would be a great understatement. He learned how to wrestle when he was about 14 and continued to enjoy that sport for many years thereafter. At age 18, he joined the U.S. Navy and, according to the 1920 U.S. Census, he was stationed at the Tanner Creek Naval Operating Base assigned to the electric shop. In addition to that s assignment, he was on the Navy's wrestling team, winning his share of matches. After his release from the Navy (ca. 1922), he returned home and worked as a salesman.
In 1930, Jess joined the U.S. Army and was listed on the U.S. Census of that year at March Field, Perris, Riverside County, California. While in the Army for 3 years, Jess was on the boxing team. He was discharged from the Army on January 12, 1933, at Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Between his release from the Navy and his induction into the Army, Jess was married three times: 1) Mable Emmabelle McKinley in 1923, 2) Mrs. Bertha M. Wilson (1924), and 3) Birdie Belle Winter (1925).
In March of 1935, Jess married again, this time to Daisy Mable Knight. Unfortunately, this marriage did not succeed and by 1938, Jess was single again. This time, however, he was blessed with a daughter, Daisy Vianna Couch.
From 1938 to early in 1940, Jess lived with his semi-invalid mother in Port Arthur, again working as a salesman and helping her with her confectioner's business.
At the time of the 1940 U.S. Census, Jess is listed with a cousin, Maurice Patton and his family, in Hale County, just north of Lubbock. He states his residence in 1935 as Fort Worth, Texas.
By 1945, Jess is in Denver, Colorado, working for the railroad. He remains in Denver until after 1950 where we find him on the U.S. Census in that city. Shortly after that, he returned to Texas, this time to Motley County where he lived for the remainder of his life.
In an interview with Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reporter Luron Brown in 1974, Jess related more details of his life. He tells of winning the lightweight wrestling title in the Navy in 1919. He also related he got the nickname "Cannonball" while in the Navy because he could see the cannon balls during target practice. Also in this interview, he admits "I was married four times before I found out I was cut out to be a bachelor."
He was probably best known for his pack of 24 dogs that he trained to pull a cart. He used the dog-rig not only in parades, but sometimes just to go into Matador to visit or shop.
After his death in 1989, many of his things were donated to the Motley County Museum. These included his tape recordings of older cowboys that worked on nearby ranches and, being an amateur photographer, numerous photographs he had taken and developed over many years.
In 1930, Jess joined the U.S. Army and was listed on the U.S. Census of that year at March Field, Perris, Riverside County, California. While in the Army for 3 years, Jess was on the boxing team. He was discharged from the Army on January 12, 1933, at Lake Charles, Louisiana.
Between his release from the Navy and his induction into the Army, Jess was married three times: 1) Mable Emmabelle McKinley in 1923, 2) Mrs. Bertha M. Wilson (1924), and 3) Birdie Belle Winter (1925).
In March of 1935, Jess married again, this time to Daisy Mable Knight. Unfortunately, this marriage did not succeed and by 1938, Jess was single again. This time, however, he was blessed with a daughter, Daisy Vianna Couch.
From 1938 to early in 1940, Jess lived with his semi-invalid mother in Port Arthur, again working as a salesman and helping her with her confectioner's business.
At the time of the 1940 U.S. Census, Jess is listed with a cousin, Maurice Patton and his family, in Hale County, just north of Lubbock. He states his residence in 1935 as Fort Worth, Texas.
By 1945, Jess is in Denver, Colorado, working for the railroad. He remains in Denver until after 1950 where we find him on the U.S. Census in that city. Shortly after that, he returned to Texas, this time to Motley County where he lived for the remainder of his life.
In an interview with Lubbock Avalanche-Journal reporter Luron Brown in 1974, Jess related more details of his life. He tells of winning the lightweight wrestling title in the Navy in 1919. He also related he got the nickname "Cannonball" while in the Navy because he could see the cannon balls during target practice. Also in this interview, he admits "I was married four times before I found out I was cut out to be a bachelor."
He was probably best known for his pack of 24 dogs that he trained to pull a cart. He used the dog-rig not only in parades, but sometimes just to go into Matador to visit or shop.
After his death in 1989, many of his things were donated to the Motley County Museum. These included his tape recordings of older cowboys that worked on nearby ranches and, being an amateur photographer, numerous photographs he had taken and developed over many years.
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