Judge S. D. Crouch died at the German hospital at 8:00 o'clock Friday morning. The writer received, a card, the substance of which appears elsewhere, from Mrs. Crouch a short time before the message came. It was evident from the contents that there had been no hope for several days. In fact, there was none from the time the patient underwent the second operation. Judge Crouch went to the hospital about three weeks ago. It was found that the bladder was badly diseased, and the only hope was a very severe operation. When the Judge came out of from under the anesthetic, he is said to have remarked, "I can't stand this." S. D. Crouch was born near Willetsburg Kentucky, about fifty seven years ago. When a very young man he migrated to Sangamon County, Illinois, where for some years, he worked as a farm h and Later he went back to his Kentucky home, and married the sweetheart who sat over him, ministering to him tenderly when he passed beyond. Shortly after his marriage he came to Barton County. This was in the very early eighties. Judge Crouch rented some land and lived about a quarter mile north of Nashville for several years. He began at the bottom financially, but he climbed the ladder round by round. So that 16 years ago, when the great Main estate was put up at the Courthouse door and sold, he was able to pay spot cash for nearly 300 acres of fine bottom land, about a mile and a half west of Nashville. This is now one of the finest farms in this part of the county. Judge Crouch is survived by a sweet-faced motherly woman, four sons, and one daughter. The former are Messrs. Palmer Crouch, Meredith Crouch, Carl Crouch, and Archie Crouch. None of his sons are married. Carl holds a responsible position in the National Bank at Pittsburg Kansas. The daughter is Miss Emma, in the bloom of her young womanhood. She was the apple of her father's eye. Everybody for miles around Nashville knew and loved Judge Crouch. They all called him "Steve." Many is the eye that will be wet when he is laid away, there in the little cemetery on the hillside. Many is the heart that will be heavy arid sad, long thence, when there comes up some memory of this genial, wholehearted and loyal man. Judge Crouch was very strong in his opinions without being intolerant. He possessed for the Democratic party that warm affection characteristic of a native Kentuckian. His heart was bound up in the Christian church, of which he had been a member since boyhood. But he never trampled upon the feelings of those who were bound to other creeds and beliefs. He always took an active part in politics, but he would not use a cent even indirectly to influence a vote. He would not stoop to a dishonorable act. His work was true. His acts were as his words. Judge Crouch was elected in 1906 as Judge of the Western District. He was often solicited and urged to run for other offices, but politics, save as he got out and helped his friends and stood up boldly and honorably for his party, was a game that smacked of too much dirt for his clean white soul. Judge Crouch was a powerful man physically, his habits were temperate, he led an exemplary life in all respects. Yet he died at a comparatively early age. It is proof that there is something baffling and hidden in the great prompting cause of disease and death. Many is the man who has been helped to position and power by Steve Crouch's friendship. Many is the bond of obligation that he forged out of the pure generosity of this great heart. He was loyal, kindly, sympathetic, tolerant with his friends. His going reminds the many of us who loved him that the shades of evening are gathering in the valley below us, and that, one by one, silently but surely, we will be gathered to join him in that relentless and eternal embrace of the commingling and inevitable soil.

From the Lamar Democrat October 28, 1915

Mrs. Betty Crouch, who had lived in the vicinity of Nashville, for nearly fifty-three years, died at the home of her daughter, Mrs. Aris Parker, about 8 o'clock Saturday evening The funeral was held at Nashville at 2 o'clock, Monday afternoon. Her remains were interred in the Nashville cemetery, by the grave of her late husband. Mrs. Crouch had suffered more or less chronically from bronchial affection, for some years. The bronchitis became very acute and the lungs tended to fill, so for several days before the end there was little hope of her recovery. The deceased was the widow of the late Judge S. D. who died October 22nd, 1915, nineteen years before the death of his wife. Mrs. Crouch was 75 years of age. She was born at Wellesburg, Kentucky, August 29 1859. Her maiden name was Miss Betty Lynch. She grew to womanhood in her native community, where, February 14th, 1880, she was married to S. D. Crouch. About a year after they were married, the young folks moved to Sangamon County, Illinois, where they remained less than a year, before they came to Barton County, arriving here in the spring of 1882. They went on a farm, where they thrived and prospered. The handsome, athletic young husband adored the slender, graceful, good-looking girl, and, to the end of his life, she remained the apple of his eye. Children came to them and grew up. Finally about thirty-five years ago Judge Crouch purchased a very fertile farm in the s<?> bottoms of West<?>, about a mile and a half west of Nashville. There he lived to the end of his days, and since his death the farm has been occupied and conducted by his son, Meredith Crouch. Judge Crouch was elected upon the Barton county court in 1906. He had many friends all over the county, especially here in Lamar. Everyone who knew Steve well, felt as if he knew Betty, for he referred to her often. She was one of those retiring modest, but still charming women who easily won the hearts of all who knew her. Two of her children died before their parents. Blalock grew to manhood and was killed by a bolt of lightning while plowing upon his father's farm. Chester, the second son, died in earliest childhood. The Surviving children are Mr. Palmer Crouch, of Lamar; Mr. Meredith Crouch of Nashville, Mssrs Carl and Archie Crouch of Pittsburg, and one daughter, Mrs. Aris Parker, formerly Miss Emma Crouch, at whose home in Nashville, her mother died. Two brothers and two sisters also survive. They are Meredith Lynch of Shelbyville. Kentucky, Isaac Lynch of Lebanon, Kentucky, Mrs. Rolinda Scruggs of Wellesburg, Kentucky, and Mrs. Diera<?> Curtinger of Dallas, Texas. Nineteen years did Betty Lynch Crouch survive her husband. Her life was wrapped up in the thirty-five years she spent at his side. She waited calmly and serenely for the end, never morose, never brooding, but with a gently cheerful faith that they would know each other once more upon another shore. She had the interest and affection of the whole country side in which she lived and beyond her passing will linger the memory of her sweet and gentle presence and the quiet and steadfast impress of womanly virtues.