Crouch History Written by Jonathan G. Crouch, son of David Crouch and Clara Ann Gregory Crouch. He was born January 18, 1843, in Rochester, Sangamon, Illinois, and died December 5, 1940 in the state of Washington (Image of Jonathan Crouch, father David Crouch, brother William Henry Crouch, and sisters Kitty (Kate or Katy), Dillia (Dilly), and Prudia (Prudy)) Also see Crouch Family Reunion at Blue Mound, Ill. for a picture of many of these persons.
| Over the years I have
never found any significant errors in this document. Crouchborough is likely
Crouch's End and James P. Crouch's death at Andersonvile Prison during the
Civil War happened a month earlier than he wrote, but this was likely
due to communications of the times. So I never doubted that Herbert Hoover
was his office boy. What a delight to have this document come forward. Not
too sure about the Col. title, suspect it was honorary, but who knows? Again
from Myra's collection
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Although 2500 miles away in person, I am with you in spirit today. I will tell you what I know about the Crouch’s. I have been told that many years ago there was a hamlet or village near the city of London, England. Long since taken into the city and lost it’s identity. The population of hits hamlet was mostly made up by people by the name of Crouch, hence it was called Crouchborough. Many of them emigrated to the U. S., principally New Jersey, Virginia, and Georgia. I have met many of their descendants that would say to me. "Are you any relation to that old Preacher Crouch that I used to know?" But I never have met that old preacher Crouch.
David Crouch and his good wife Elizabeth (Cassity) who were married in 1785 on December 6th, emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky in Dan Boone’s time. I know very little of his family except my grandfather, Col. Jonathan Crouch, who was in early life a Colonel of the State Militia. Every able citizen, at that time, was summoned to appear armed and equipped as a soldier, at the County Seat, to train and drill, as the Indians at that time were bad. My grandfather was Colonel of the regiment. He was married to a Cassiday (Cassity). They raised several children, Of them, I know very little. There were three boys. The oldest named Harrison. He had one son that enlisted in Co. D. 10 Ky. Inf. (James P. Crouch). He was captured and confined in the Andersonville prison and died November 15, 1864. Harrison Crouch was a Republican. He is the only Crouch that I ever knew who was a Republican. He passed away May 16, 1895.
Another brother, Ambrose Crouch, raised a large family in Washington County, Kentucky, Martin VanBuren Crouch, or Mart as he was called, enlisted in Co. D 10 Ky. Inf. He served through the war of the Rebellion. He lived and died in Washington County, Kentucky, He told me that he has taught one Sunday School Class for 43 years. Of his family I know very little. One son, Barbour, went from Kentucky to Decatur, Ill. I learned he has several sons who are very prominent men in their county.
Richard J. Crouch, a twin brother off Mart’s, was raised in Kentucky. He was always called Dick. He married a Miss Laura Logan, who passed away leaving two daughters. The youngest one Martha, married in Kentucky to R. A. Breckenridge of a very prominent family in Kentucky. He is a successful farmer and lives near Morrisonville, Ill. They have quite a family. Dick visited our home in Ill. in early life. He was a quiet bashful boy and when we were called on the carpet for any mischief we had been caught in, we’d always tell our stories so as to bring Dick into it. My mother would say "You boys needn’t try to bring Richard into this, he doesn’t engage in any such mischief." MY ANGEL MOTHER HAS LONG SINCE GONE TO HER REWARD.
Tyler Crouch, another brother of Dick’s and Mart’s, enlisted in Co. D 10 Ky. Inf. and died of disease early in the war.
Dave Crouch, another brother, I have lost track of. (He went to Denton, Texas)
John Crouch, another brother lives in California. I visited him several years ago and found him on a fruit farm with ten acres of pecan trees. He seemed prosperous and happy.
Stephen D. Crouch, another brother, known as Judge Crouch, married in Kentucky to Bettie Lynch, and moved to Missouri about 1882. He was a good businessman and became quite well off. He was a prominent man and had become Judge of Barton County, Missouri. He passed away October 22, 1916. I was told that Judge Crouch had the largest funeral ever held in Barton County. The funeral procession was 2 miles long.
Emma Crouch, a sister of Judge Crouch, was married in Ill. to my brother, W. H. Crouch, known as Captain Crouch. He served in 138 Ill. Inf. during the Civil War. He moved to Missouri about 1882. He kept a store and was postmaster and filled different offices in the County. He passed away in 1921, leaving a wife and one son, Claude. Emma and Claude live in Nashville, Missouri, where Claude is postmaster and a strong worker in the Christian Church. Aunt Em, as she is called, draws a pension of $40 a month. She is loved and respected by everyone for her deeds of charity, which are many. If anyone is sick or dies, Aunt Em is the first one called for.
That brings me to my own family. My father, David Crouch, was born in Nicholas County, Kentucky. He came to Ill., in 1834, when he was a young man. He was married to Clare A. Stafford, in 1836. Her maiden name was Gregory. He passed away at the age of 57, leaving a family of 2 boys and 3 girls. The oldest named Pruda, married John S. Craig and passed away several years ago.
Dillia Ann, born January 25, 1840, was married in January 8, 1857 to A. D. Young. He was born in Kentucky, February 28, 1837. They had one child, Julie, who was born in Anderson County, Kentucky. She came to Ill. and married Tom Hall. She passed away several years ago, leaving 2 sons and one daughter – Roy of Harrisonville, Ill., Ira of N. D., and Ora in Kansas.
Kitty Crouch was born in Ill., October 11, 1851. She married Henry George. He passed away leaving one daughter, Clara. She married to a man named J. M. Thompson, a wealthy lumber dealer in Barton County, Missouri. He passed away, leaving her all of his property. She is a good businesswoman and manages her property successfully. Kitty went to Missouri and married G. A. Smith. They had one boy, Albert, who married and went to California. He is a successful businessman in San Diego, California.
This brings it down to your humble servant. I was born at Rochester, Ill., January 18, 1843. I was raised and worked on a farm until I was 21 years old. Then I was employed by the Government as a cattle driver. I helped drive the beef cattle from Sherman’s army through Tenn., Ga., and Alabama in 1864, when I was discharged by reason of expiration of term of service. I don’t find any congressional medals or records laying around the house commemorating me for any heroic deeds of valor I performed during my services in the army. I came west to Washington Territiory in September, 1889. Washington was made a state in November 11, 1889, so the state came to me. I engaged as a real estate salesman out of the Oregon Land Co. office at Salem, Ore., with Herbert Hoover as my office boy. He later became president of the U. S.
I served as a forest ranger for 3 years in the Olympic forest reserve. I have a family of 2 boys and 1 daughter. B. F. Crouch is a mining engineer and lives in Oakland, California. F. R. Crouch is in the taxi business in Oakland. He had one son, Darrell, engaged in the oil business in Oakland. Iva, the daughter, married in Olympia to Dr. G. F. Zerne, and resided at 1125 St. St. (sic), Olympia.
I was married in 1868 to Margaret A. Bell, in Ill. She passed away August 1, 1900. I was married to Mattie F. Smith in 1920, who’s maiden name was Mattie F. Galloway, whom I had known from childhood. She was an orphan without a blood relative existing she knew of. She was raised in the family of Sanford Galloway.
We were married in 1920 and well mated. We have a pleasant home with everything we need. Our income is small but with proper economy we have enough to keep us.
With best wishes for all.
J. G. Crouch
May God Be With You Until We Meet again
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Crouch, David and Clara's Children Front: Kitty, Dilla, Pruda Back: Capt. William H, Jonathan G., Bob (Alfred Stafford) |
| Jonathan's son and daughter in law with Claude and Aunt Em |
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A part of the history
he forgot? There other versions of the story, generally involving chickens
or other livestock, so maybe it's only a legend. 1940 Sally Thomas provided this article.
There is
another on the site in the
Dick Crouch history |
