HISTORICAL ENCYCLOPEDIA OF ILLINOIS.
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L. C. P. Freer, Judge James H. Collins and Messrs. Skinner & Hoyne; finally entered into a contract with Judge Skinner to perfect the title to 320 acres of land held under tax-title within the present limits of Hyde Park, which he succeeded in doing by visiting the original owners, thereby securing one-half of the property in his own name. He thus became the founder of the village of Hyde Park, meanwhile adding to his possessions other lands, which increased vastly in value. He also established a watch factory at Cornell (now a part of Chicago), which did a large business until removed to California. Mr. Cornell was a member of the first Park Board, and therefore has the credit of assisting to organize Chicago^ extensive park system.
CORWIN, Franklin Congressman, was born at Lebanon, Ohio, Jan. 12, 1818, and admitted to the bar at the age of 21. While a resident of Ohio he served in both Houses of the Legislature, and settled in Illinois in 1857, making his home at Peru. He was a member of the lower house of the Twenty-fourth, Twenty-fifth and Twenty-sixth General Assemblies, being Speaker in 1867, and again in 1869. In 1872 he was elected to Congress as a Republican, but, in 1874, was defeated by Alexander Campbell, who made the race as an Independent. Died, at Peru, Ill., June 15, 1879.
COUCH, James, pioneer hotel-keeper, was born at Fort Edward, N, Y., August 31, 1800; removed to Chautauqua County, in the same State, where he remained until his twentieth year, receiving a fair English education. After engaging successively, but with indifferent success, as hotel-clerk, stage-house keeper, lumber-dealer, and in the distilling business, in 1836, in company with his younger brother, Ira, he visited Chicago. They both decided to go into business there, first opening a small store, and later entering upon their hotel ventures which proved so eminently successful, and gave the Tremont House of Chicago so wide and enviable a reputation. Mr. Couch superintended for his brother Ira the erection, at various times, of many large business blocks in the city. Upon the death of his brother, in 1857, he was made one of the trustees of his estate, and, with other trustees, rebuilt the Tremont House after the Chicago fire of 1871. In April, 1892, while boarding a
