Couffer, John DuBois (Died)

DuBois Couffer, official of the Pennsylvania railroad at Chicago, and a former president of the Village of Wilmette, died Saturday evening, October 13, at his residence, 903 Lake avenue. Mr. Couffer was born October 30, 1867, at Covington, Ohio. He entered the service of the Pennsylvania railroad at Chicago, in 1886, was appointed agent, Green Line, Chicago, in 1903 and in 1914 was promoted to the position of general western freight agent of the Pittsburgh, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis railroad at Chicago. On March 1, 1920, he was appointed assistant general freight agent of the Northwestern region.

Leader in Village
He was very active in civic affairs of the village being elected a trustee in 1904, and in 1906, elected president of the village, holding that office for nine years. During his term of office, many important local improvements were completed and the village advanced to a position of prominence among north shore suburbs. The more important improvements sponsored by him were the construction of a new Village hall, the storm water relief sewer, the sanitary district bridges and pumping station, as well as many miles of paving and street improvements. He was also instrumental in the creation of the Wilmette Park district.

He was a member of Wilmette Lodge No. 931, A. F. and A. M.; the Union League, and the Traffic clubs of Chicago, as well as being active in the Chicago Switching committee, Illinois Freight and Central Freight associations. He was a member of the Wilmette Plan commission and also served in an advisory capacity in the Wilmette Board of Appeals on Zoning.

Mr. Couffer is survived by his widow, Mary Prentiss, a daughter Margaret of Wilmette, and a son, Lewis Prentiss of Los Angeles, California; also, by his sister Pearl E. and brother Clint of Wilmette, William E. of Oak Park, Illinois, and Ulysses Grant of Pittsburgh, Pa.

Services Tuesday
Services were held at the residence on Tuesday, October 16. Active pallbearers were: J. B. Olwin, G. W. Kibby, S. S. Dingee, A. C. Wenban, F. J. Scheidenhelm, and Lyman M. Drake. Honorary pall-bearers were: E. T. Whiter, William Hodgdon, J. E. Weller, M. I. Connolly, W. H. Johnson, Carl Latham, Truman Brophy, Edward Zipf, C. C. Schultz, Frank Seng, F. A. Waidner, F. A. Waidner, Jr., E. E. Orner, Henry Fowler, W. E. Hudson, W. C. Shurtleff, Thomas Knox, C. H. Jackson, G. W. Springer, Dr. R. B. Stolp, Donald Gallie, Hon. Peter M. Hoffman and George Foss.

The Wilmette Village board of trustees, in regular session Tuesday evening of this week, passed the following resolution in memory of John DuBois Couffer.

Honor His Memory
"Whereas, with deep regret, we are called upon to record the death of John D. Couffer, who served as President of the Village of Wilmette from 1906-1915, and, during the entire period of his service, gave to the performance of his public duties close, unremitting attention and business ability of the highest order. In his death the village has suffered the loss of one who was an honest and faithful public servant and a member of the community held in the highest esteem; therefore, be it

"Resolved, that we, the President and Board of Trustees of the Village of Wilmette, desire to place on record this tribute of respect to the memory of our friend and late associate, and to extend to his family assurances of our sincerest sympathy in their sad bereavement.

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